If your staff relax, can they work harder in the long run?
Many employers find themselves trying to find new ways of getting their staff to “work harder” or more productively in the workplace. They want higher sales figures, bigger profits and ultimately, of course, more success. It may seem odd to suggest small ways of getting your staff to relax when you want to achieve all of the above. However, medical research has found that by relaxing, a person can focus more intently and work more productively afterwards. They can feel happier and more content with their surroundings, increasing and enriching their work output.
Here are some ways that you can encourage staff to get some rest in the workplace, which could ultimately benefit their productivity levels, and therefore your company;
Add a sofa to the tea room: Why don’t you add a comfortable sofa or some lounge chairs to the staff area in your office? This will encourage staff to sit down and relax on tea breaks. It is remarkable how much sitting back and relaxing can have on your stress levels. The Alexander technique suggests that by lying down, you can instantly reduce tension on your back and realign your spine. To try it for yourself, find a warm, quiet place where you can lie down or sit back for a few minutes (10-20 minutes is best for this to work, but even a couple of minutes will do you good).
Add fruit to your kitchen fruit bowl: Did you know that by offering fruit to your work colleagues, you can increase their productivity levels? When people are eating, they can also become more sociable and can bond as a team outside of work topics. They can sit back, relax, chat and eat some healthy snacks. This can only be positive on their mental stamina for the rest of the day. Adding apples, pears, bananas or cherries to your kitchen place at work, not only boosts staff morale but also shows your staff that you care about them. Fruitful office, a fruit delivery company that delivers fruit baskets to companies across the UK, found an 11% increase in staff saying that they felt more productive after the introduction of fruit in the workplace.
Yoga: Why not set up a free yoga session in lunchtime at your place of work? Yoga allows you to learn how to meditate and this can ultimately reduce your stress levels at work. This also does not cost a lot of money for you.
Check all desk chairs: A person’s posture when they are sat at their desk is often rigid, stiff and bad for the spine. It can cause a lot of back strain, headache issues and allows stress to build up in their upper shoulders. Make sure that all of your office chairs are well designed and are in line with the desk. A person’s wrists should sit comfortably on the desk and if this is not the case, then a wrist rest could be introduced as well as a keyboard typing rest.
