Business Productivity
5 Workplace Policies That Help Increase Office Efficiency
AUTHOR: Kayla Matthews
Office efficiency is the unspoken goal of every workplace. Every employee knows that to make the business successful and grow in their own career, they need to be as efficient as possible while still maintaining a high level of quality in their work.
Even though efficiency is something everyone strives to achieve, it can be difficult to actually do. There are always distractions and events that pop up and keep people from achieving what they want to achieve, but certain policies can help avoid that.
To help every employee thrive, consider implementing these five workplace policies that help improve productivity at work. In just a short period of time, you’ll see how well your office functions because of them.
1. Mandatory Breaks Policy
People who consistently go above and beyond to achieve great efficiency often face similar levels of burnout. They don’t have the energy to keep up their pace, although they’ll be the last people to admit it.
That’s why companies who enforce a mandatory breaks policy see people shine. If employees get to take a five or ten-minute break to stretch, walk around and refresh themselves, they’ll sit back down at their desk with a renewed sense of energy and focus.
2. Recruiting by Company Culture Policy
The recruiting process at every company will look slightly different, but it should always be centered around the company’s culture. Applicants should be considered based on how well they’d fit into the culture of the office and align with the company’s goals.
This saves the company in multiple ways. It makes new employees happier once they’re hired, which leads to more productivity and decreased turnover rates. Other employees will also be energized by new people that they work well with.
3. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy
Technology is everything in today’s society, especially in the workplace. Most of the time, employees are forced to work on whatever technology their company can afford, which is frustrating. They may not enjoy the operating system or struggle with the age of the tech.
Many companies are now enforcing a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. Employees can buy their own work phone, computer or tablet so they work on the tech they enjoy. Sometimes this is accompanied by partial fund coverage by the company, although people are happy to cover the full cost if it means they get to use the technology they enjoy.
Ultimately, people who pick what they work best on will increase their productivity. They won’t need to wrestle with a new operating system or work with the delays of old tech. It’s a win for everyone, especially since it saves the company money while renewing a stronger focus on productivity.
4. Regular Training Policy
New employee training is often quick and difficult to update, even though job requirements and duties change all the time. It’s also hard to find time to get everyone at the office together at the same time to review new policies, but it’ll be worth it when it comes to productivity.
A study done by the International Journal of Science and Research found that when new and existing employees were put through annual training, people worked harder and more efficiently.
Regular training policies will help everyone at the office stay on the same page about the work that needs to be done and how to do it. It’s a strong and effective way to target productivity and help as many people as possible.
5. Two-Way Communication Policy
Communication is always important and consistently difficult to keep up with. Employers may feel like they’ve clearly communicated what they wanted to say, but employees might not have actually understood. Sometimes corporate workplace hierarchy prevents people from feeling comfortable asking a question unless it’s brought up by their employer.
Establishing a two-way communication policy will help all employees feel confident that if they have a question or concern, they’ll be heard without judgment. The freedom to ask questions will solve problems faster and increase productivity down the line.
Take a Survey
Sometimes even if you’re in charge of deciding company policies, it’s hard to know what your coworkers would actually benefit from. If any of these policies seem like a good idea for your workplace, send out an anonymous survey. Ask people to rate what they think of them and suggest what might help.
Communication, training and even choosing your own technology are things that will improve the efficiency of any office and push results well into the future.
One comment
Communication is always important and consistently difficult to keep up with. Employers may feel like they’ve clearly communicated what they wanted to say, but employees might not have actually understood. Sometimes corporate workplace hierarchy prevents people from feeling comfortable asking a question unless it’s brought up by their employer.
Communication is always important and consistently difficult to keep up with. Employers may feel like they’ve clearly communicated what they wanted to say, but employees might not have actually understood. Sometimes corporate workplace hierarchy prevents people from feeling comfortable asking a question unless it’s brought up by their employer.