Improve the Workplace with Technology – Part 2

Supporting Work/Life Balance

OCTOBER 2017

The world today can seem increasingly frantic and stressful.  It is important not to neglect what matters most; our passions, our friends and our family.  A happy life outside of work leads to increased productivity at work.

Part 1 of this blog looked at how workplace technology can help us to lead healthier lives.  This blog will consider how the same technology can help to enhance our social life and provide for and prioritise our family.

Time   Too many employees fit their family and social commitments around their work.  Employers can redress this balance and free their workers from regular, unchanging hours by promoting a different culture with flexible working initiatives such as, holiday trading, remote working and job sharing.  Research from the CIPD has shown that implementing flexible working practices can improve staff engagement and productivity.  Reduce the administrative burden by managing these through a self-service hub.  This is also a great way to reinforce a supportive corporate culture.

Socialise with Colleagues   Team bonding is far more effective and long-lasting when it happens organically and is employee-driven.  Company organised events can only go so far.  Instead, set-up an online social noticeboard that encourages your employees to seek out like-minded people and organise out-of-hours socialising.  This can also be used after the event to share results, stories and experiences.  This will also encourage separate departments to interact, binding your people together instead of segregating by job role or location.

Protect Your Family   Do you offer a flexible benefits scheme?  If you do, great!  But, how much support do you offer to your employees to help them make the correct choices?  What schemes are appropriate?  How much cover should they select?  Should they also cover their family?  Education and support is key if your staff are to maximise the value from these schemes.  Peace of mind will also be improved if employees are confident that they have made the correct choices.  Provide financial education and where to go to for advice on a centralised benefit communications hub.  A flexible benefits tool can also reduce your administrative burden.

Learning and Development   Vocational training funded by the employer is already an important aspect of a comprehensive benefits package (more on this in Part 3).  Don’t neglect the benefits of non-vocational training.  Expanding horizons and learning new skills will give your staff fulfilment and energise them during their time at work.  There could also be unseen benefits to your company; creative writing, foreign languages, art and music could all be applied in the workplace.  Share ideas and approve budget expenditure using a workplace hub.

Work Environment   Think about the culture of your business and look for ways to soften the work environment.  A table tennis table might be a step too far, but relaxing the dress code or allowing employees to bring their dogs to work can create a buzz in the office and allow your employees to continue with their lives as soon as they step out of the workplace.  Taking their dog for a walk on their way home or removing the need to return home to change clothes.  New workplace rules can be posted on a mobile-friendly communications hub allowing employees to access these when not at work.

Want to think outside the box when implementing and communicating your benefits?  Contact Lightbox Reward.