During economic downturns, external stresses can find their way into the workplace. Staff may also have concerns about job security.
Creating a positive, supportive company culture helps bring teams together, improves morale and makes retaining staff much easier. When workers feel supported and valued, they’re more likely to be productive and committed to their work.
Keeping staff happy is essential – but whose responsibility is this?
“A workplace culture takes a long time to build but only a brief time to destroy.” James Timpson.
Happiness Above Everything?
James Timpson, CEO of Timpson Group, believes colleagues’ happiness comes before everything else: “We don’t always get it right and it’s a leader’s job to know this when it goes wrong.”
Measuring staff happiness through his
‘Happy Index’ has become the focus of the way the business is run. A simple, one-question annual survey is conducted to measure staff satisfaction, with space for additional comments: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy are you with the support you get from your team?”
Timpson cites an impressive 86% response rate in 2023 and says that the results are pivotal in identifying areas in the business that work well for everyone, or those parts that need some improvement.
Of course, these methods won’t be suitable for all business situations. After all, as one of the largest employers of ex-offenders in the UK and specialising in the recruitment of marginalised groups, James Timpson employs a very specific demographic.
What we do know, is that promoting employee happiness benefits everyone across all business sectors. It’s fundamental for the success of company goals and productivity.
The Right Strategies
Research by
the University of Warwick showed that workplace contentment leads to a 12% increase in productivity, while distress leads to a 10% decrease. Their findings show that we work harder when we are happy and that happier workers use the time they have more effectively.
In times of economic uncertainty, maintaining growth isn’t easy and staff satisfaction is just one part of the jigsaw. Everything is interlinked so strategy, company policies, organisation and culture should work together as a cohesive whole to give the best chance of staying both positive and profitable.
- Have a clear business plan.
- Understand your customer base.
- Prioritise customer retention.
- Provide excellent customer service.
- Communicate a distinct brand message.
- Cut out the dead wood.
- Become more efficient.
All of which should go a long way to helping keep staff motivated, engaged and happy.
Technology That Benefits Teams
HR software is a great choice for SMEs of all sizes, unlocking a world of comprehensive services that streamline daily admin tasks through the best and brightest software solutions.
The subsequent benefits to your teams are indisputable – making daily admin tasks quicker and more manageable, saving them stress, time and hassle and upping their happiness quotient.
Created and run by experienced business owners and experts in their fields,
WorkSmarter is a trusted leader of HR software services with a secure and user-friendly platform that drives efficiency.
We offer businesses a simple, affordable way to manage people tasks more effectively and connect their teams through dynamic technology solutions.
