Research has shown that productivity is directly related to morale. The more unhappy and stressed employees are, the more productivity will suffer. However, happy and satisfied employees have been shown to produce a higher volume of work, better quality work and a positive work environment. So what are some ways to boost employee morale?

It starts with you! Recognising the value and resource of your employees is the first step in creating a productive and happy workplace. Many employers can take the stand point that employees are ‘a dime a dozen’.  This can create a “revolving door” and high staff turnover, which creates extra expenses in recruitment and training.  This message is reflected throughout the workplace and can be the beginning point of low morale amongst employees. So how do you show you care?

1. Be proactive! If you work in an industry which requires a lot of manual handling then being proactive and organising some manual handling training with one of our Occupational Therapists or Physiotherapists can be the difference between informed workers and a WorkCover Queensland claim.  You already have manual handling training and are looking for something extra? Our Exercise Physiologists can develop a stretching and exercise program specific for your workplace to ensure your employees are in peak condition!
2. You work in an office all day and aren’t required to do any ‘heavy work’? The body is not designed to be in a sustained posture such as sitting in a desk chair for eight hours a day. Arranging some Ergonomic Training or Workstation Assessments can assist you or your employees in injury prevention and allow people to work comfortably and therefore productively throughout the day.
3. Let people know they are valued and appreciated. This can be as simple as a few words congratulating someone on a job well done.

Understand that the physical environment of your workplace can affect morale.  Bland and dreary offices with minimal or no lighting can affect motivation and mood. Why not add some paintings or plants to brighten things up? If you work in an environment such as a workshop or factory where the environment cannot be changed, it is important to ensure employees have enough breaks and have an allocated lunch or break area.  If you are unsure of the risks of your physical environment and job demands of your employees, Advantage Injury Management Services can assist you with a number of injury prevention services including a Job Dictionary, Manual Task Audit, Manual Handling Risk Assessment, Task Analysis and Workstation Audit.

Blog – Angela Hesson (Occupational Therapist)