How to Increase Workforce Productivity In & Out Of The Office

Working is no longer as it was ten years ago. After covid 19, which forced businesses to move online, the way businesses work has forever changed.

No longer is the whole workforce in the office 24/7 under the watchful eyes of managers, but now many work hybridly, only coming in a few days a week, while others work completely remotely, from the comfort of their own home or a coffee shop.

This has created many changes in the running of businesses and offices, where before businesses were packed full of people, nowadays there are usually limited people in a workspace, making communication a lot different.

Although work-from-home strategies have proven to boost employee satisfaction by reducing or eliminating travel and commuting time, and have reduced overheads for businesses through lower energy and electricity bills, productivity has become a major cause for concern.

Whilst some feel that work from home strategies boost productivity, this is not a reality for most businesses, as working from home can increase distractions and cause work levels to drop.

Not to mention the obvious communication issues that can arise from at-home work, as well as general employee motivation from creating relationships and bonds within the workplace. 

This has left many businesses wondering what they can do to implement strategies that boost employee motivation, whether they are in the office or out of the office, to improve the quality and quantity of work and get the most out of their employees.

Well, this article offers some solutions so you can not only boost your productivity but also create a much more connected and integrated business.

In the office 

Optimize your workspace

Ensuring that your workspace is optimized for productivity is an important part of improving productivity in the workplace. This starts with ensuring that workers are comfortable by looking after their health.

Ergonomic seating for employees is the first place to start. When employees are sitting at their desks all day, if the seating is uncomfortable, not only is it a distraction, but it can also lead to health issues, causing time off and less work to be done. This can be fixed with easy additions such as back rests, wrist supports and ensuring that employees have time to stand up and walk around through consistent breaks.

In addition to this, implementing ergonomic lighting is also an effective way to boost productivity.

Harsh lighting from screens can be damaging and drying for employees’ eyes. Ensuring that office lighting is low and natural, as well as recommending that employees look away from their screens every 15 to 30 minutes, can reduce eye strain and allow them to work at 100% for longer. 

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Foster culture

Atmosphere and company culture are essential for not just productivity but overall survival.

When a business ensures that its employees are able to work in a culture that is open and communicative and rewards hard work, not only do employees feel appreciated, but they are more likely to come into work eager and ready to work hard.

Overall, this can boost the quality of work done, meaning there are fewer mistakes, fewer issues and more work done per day, meaning the business has maximum productivity. 

Leverage technology

Technology may be the reason for many productivity issues; however, it can can alos help with productivity in the office.

While working online all day using Teams, online spreadsheets, and email, companies need fast, reliable internet. In a world where everything is online, it’s essential that the internet works as these disruptions can cause hours or even days of delay, affecting productivity and work levels severely.

As well as video conferencing tools such as Meet and Teams, are more important than ever to connect employees who are in the office and at home, whilst also facilitating collaboration

Out of the office

Flexible routines

Routine is essential to establish when working from home. Without this, those working from home can do too little or not enough work.

Overworking is often a huge problem for those new to a home work as it is difficult to separate home life from work life, leading to burnout and lower productivity overall. It can also start to take a toll on mental health as working until late at night can disrupt sleep and also start to affect a person’s social life.

The other end is that many who work from home tend to get easily distracted by others in their home as well as household duties, which can lower productivity.

Overall, creating solid but flexible routines can help employees work around their preferences whilst also preventing over- or underworking, looking after their mental health in the process through reducing stress around workload. 

Wellness programs

Looking after employees even when they are at home, not only keep them happy and healthy but also can boost the general company culture.

Doing group wellness programmes such as group fitness classes or adventure day outs can ensure that staff are physically and mentally well, whilst also maintaining a work-life balance.

This keeps staff, especially those who sit on their laptops all day or are on the phone all day, such as virtual receptionist services, a chance to get fit and mingle with other employees, which they may not have a chance to do from home. 

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Main takeaways

Boosting productivity in and out of the workplace doesn’t have to be about implementing drastic changes, just ones that are effective and boost the health and well-being of employees.

After all, happy workers are hard workers.