For a long time, the discussions on unhealthy workplaces were centered around questionable ventures such as sweatshops. Who would have ever imagined that Hollywood and top corporate firms would one day face the same scrutiny? Yet, the past few years have brought forth jaw-dropping revelations.
What may have seemed like another fleeting Hollywood scandal has morphed into a wider social conversation on toxic workplaces. Further, it is becoming obvious that these emergent issues can not simply be wished away. As an employer, choosing to ignore them may result in you contending with reduced productivity, losing staff members, and even lawsuits.
So, what are the crucial issues affecting the modern workplace and how can you address them as an employer? Read on to find out.
Fair and Equal Pay
Payment is arguably the anchor of any employer-employee relationship. However, beyond simply offering your employees a wage you need to consider if it is fair and equitable
Fair Pay
Fair pay envisions that first, every employee would receive sufficient wages for the amount of work they do. In addition, it should be a wage that they can, within reason, comfortably live on. When you pay your staff unfairly, they are forced to supplement their income through other jobs. It is likely they will be spread too thin to give you their best levels of productivity.
Equal Pay
There are many schools of thought when it comes to the argument on equal pay. One of them is that every employee has the chance to negotiate their pay at the start of their contract or during reviews.
If you follow this model, there will likely be huge disparities in pay between employees that are in the same levels of employment. Plus, it can be construed as discrimination especially when earnings are skewed against a particular race or gender.
Paying staff members that work at the same cadre different wages implies that you value one’s labor more than the others. You would be sowing discord among your own employees and could possibly face legal action for discrimination. In light of these possible repercussions, it is advisable and imperative that you remunerate your staff equally.
A Healthy and Conducive Work Culture
Dresscode, interpersonal relations, and company traditions are some of the many aspects of workplace culture. Some companies like law firms are strictly formal while others like Facebook are famous for flexibility and an easy-going environment. Some markers of a healthy workplace culture include:
- Cordial and respectful interactions
- Fairness
- Conducive workspaces
- Firm and actionable sexual harassment policies
As you evaluate your company’s work environment, consider how it impacts your employees. Does it make them more effective in their work? Are they comfortable? It may seem as though you are coddling your staff but such factors influence productivity.
Encouraging staff to offer suggestions on how they can be facilitated to do better would be a good approach. Studies have shown that changes such as allowing telecommuting when necessary and collaborative environments can be helpful.
Mental Health
There are managers and department heads that believe in leading through force and fear. In some instances, that may not even be the prescribed culture but more of an individual character flaw. The bottom line is, such leadership styles have severe negative effects on the well-being and mental health of your staff.
As opposed to intimidation and humiliation, your workers may benefit more from leaders that offer constructive criticism and mentorship. It is equally essential that staff are not overworked and that they are given sufficient support for work-life balance. Empathic leadership on major life events such as bereavement, childbirth, or illness goes a long way to help staff cope.
The individuals you appoint into leadership positions as well as their leadership styles matter a lot. They can either improve workplace performance or have everyone resigning in no time.
Morale and Motivation
Day to day challenges on the job can easily leave your staff feeling depleted and inadequate. Similarly, when your staff team is not cohesive and focused on delivering objectives, your business will certainly suffer for it. How can you prevent this from happening?
Appreciative gestures are great motivators. Examples include:
Bonuses
Given as bonuses are extra pay, employees get a chance to possibly do something special for themselves or their family. It could be a down payment for a car or finally fix the broken watch they have been wearing with proper Sofly watch parts. Whichever the case, having their effort rewarded encourages them to endeavor to do more.
Fair Promotions and Credit
After toiling through piles of work, it is utterly demoralizing to hear someone else take credit for your work. Such misdeeds are a big source of animosity in the workplace.
As a remedy, insist that all departmental leaders properly acknowledge the work of their juniors. Not only will it motivate them, but you will also be able to identify upcoming talent at your firm and nurture it. Further, such performance indicators would guide you in promoting the right people that deserve it.
Conclusion
When you establish a business or are a leader of an organization, you can easily get caught up in numbers. Profits, shareholders’ dividends, or meeting clients’ demands can blind you to other pertinent issues. However, all of that would be put in jeopardy when the cracks of a toxic workplace start to show.
Improvements in any business or company are a process, not necessarily an event. Nevertheless, if you commit to them, you will eventually see the rewards they bring.
