Why is a good work environment important for business?

Live and work but do not forget to play, have fun in life and really enjoy it.                                                                                                    – Eileen Caddy

Fun at work is a great way to achieve higher productivity, better communication, and foster team spirit. Research shows that happy people are likely to be healthy, inspired, and productive. A positive work environment will have less absenteeism and lower work pressure.

Introducing fun at work will not eliminate the deadlines or amount of work. But it can pave the way to a healthy and positive working environment. Moreover, happy employees lead to better customer satisfaction. When employees are happy they would be keen on keeping the customers happy.

A business environment with a mix of fun & work enhances trust and open discussions between team members. Bob Pike, the author of “ Fun Minute Manager” opines that a fun working environment will help people lift their spirits and remind them of their value to the managers, organizations as well as each other.

Therefore Fun at work really matters.

Why does a good work environment matter at the workplace?

Let’s get to know more about it.

Productivity

Happy employees are likely to be more productive. Higher productivity of employees will take the business to greater heights.

Employees tend to be healthier

When there is fun in the workplace, employees are less likely to become victims of anxiety and stress. Healthier employees are better efficient in their work.

Creativity

Fun in the workplace enhances the enthusiasm of the team members. Moreover, it boosts creativity and innovation.

Better communication & collaboration

Fun in the workplace can lead to better communication and collaboration. Also, it encourages honest & open discussions. Ice- sessions can help team members to understand each other’s likes, dislikes, and strengths.

Job Satisfaction

People will love to work in a place that will make them happy. Fun at the workplace will motivate employees and prevent monotony in life. There happens to be a better exchange of ideas and job satisfaction among employees.

How to create a good work environment?

Here are some ways :

• Learning environment
• Challenging projects 
• Endorse the hard work
• Organize Games
• Opportunities for socializing outside the office
• Provide meaningful perks
• Celebrations (Birthday / Anniversary/  project completion / company milestones )
• Break Room

1. Learning Environment

In a rapidly changing world, organizations should spend their time and resources on creating a learning environment for the team members. Various studies have shown that organizations that are successful in building a learning culture have been able to increase their productivity, innovation, and job satisfaction, the ability of the team members to adapt to changes.

2. Challenging projects

A challenging project would enable the team members to learn new skills, gain new experiences and enhance their value. Challenging projects can also reduce monotony in work. It also keeps them engaged and motivated in their role.

3. Endorse the hard work

The Hard Work of the team members needs to be endorsed. It’s a way to express gratitude and appreciation for the efforts of the team members. Also, they would feel motivated to work.

4. Organize Games

Everyone loves playing games and studies show that games are a great way to reduce stress in the workplace. Playing games can help to escape from stress and anxiety.

The break room can be filled with some exciting games like table tennis, chess, board games, etc. Such games and fun activities can improve interpersonal relationships.

5. Opportunities for socializing outside the office

Organizing happy hours once a month would be helpful for the employees to know each other. Team lunch, dinner, picnic, etc can be a great way for the team members to know each other.

6. Provide meaningful perks

Perks provided to the employees should demonstrate that the company really cares for the well-being of the employees. For example health & wellness programs.

7. Celebrations ( (Birthday / Anniversary/  project completion / company milestones )

Who doesn’t love to celebrate and have fun moments?

Milestones achieved by the employees, whether big or small needs to be recognized.

Work anniversaries and project completion can be celebrated to showcase gratitude to the employees. We can add colors to the birthdays of each team member with a cake, card, or by giving them a small gift.

8. Break Room

Try to take a step beyond the office candy bowl. Stock the break room with snacks and drinks. Keep it healthy & at the same time, junk food can also be kept to a level that’s ideal.

Did you know?

The study conducted by Warwick’s Centre on Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE) found that happier employees are likely to be more productive by an average of 12% and in some cases up to 20% more than a control group.

Gallup’s meta-analysis found that companies with a highly committed workforce are 21% more productive. Employees will be committed when they are happy in the workplace.

The study conducted by O.C. Tanner shows that companies that value their employee’s social and emotional well-being can reduce workplace stress by 52%. A positive work culture can improve productivity and commitment to work.

According to the World Health Organization, anxiety & stress can cost the global economy $1 trillion each year. So,  a workplace must care for the mental health of the employees.

The above facts make it much more clear that having fun is of immense importance in the workplace.

Wrap up

The business environment is getting more competitive by the minute. We must develop a work culture that will adapt to the dynamic changes in the business environment along with space for fun & entertainment in the workplace.

A happy workplace produces happy employees and happy clients.