Have we ever mentioned just how many plates you have to keep spinning as a small business owner? It might have come up before., Because on top of making sure you’ve got great products, offering A* customer service, marketing your business and making sure all of the back-office processes are’ in place and working, you also need to look after the wellbeing of yourself and your employees. We know it’s yet another job to add to the list, but it’s an important one to prioritise, since it can cause issues if you don’t. So, to start the new year off on the right foot, here are a few tips on how to manage your workplace health as a small business owner.
Physical Needs Come First
First things first, are all of the physical needs of your staff being wet? This seems like a very strange point to make, but you would be amazed at how many employers forget their employees and their own) basic needs. Everyone needs access to water, food and toilets, as well as heating in the colder months. Without these basics in place, your team won’t be able to perform at their best.
Comfortable & Safe Working Conditions
Once the basic needs of your team are met, you need to make sure you have a safe and comfortable working environment. There are some minimum standards you legally have to meet here, which you can find in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. But of course, you don’t want to do the bare minimum. Investing some time and money will boost the happiness and satisfaction of everyone in your business. Things like making sure employees have ergonomic and comfortable office furniture, proper lighting and even a splash of colour on the walls can do wonders. And remember, the better the working environment, the more likely you are to attract and retain happy, productive employees.
Assurance of Job Security
Times are tough right now, especially for small businesses. So it’s understandable that a lot of people are worried about their job security. This can lead to mental health problems and performance issues, so you want to head this off as best you can. Open communication about what’s going on in the business and what your future plans are is the best way to do this. Don’t try to shield employees from issues – instead try to help them understand any changes that are happening, especially during challenging times.
Create a Sense of Community
Human beings are heard animals – we need a sense of community and group belonging for our own wellbeing. If you employ people, you should be trying to create this within your business. This is something that takes some time and effort to create, but that time will be well worth it when you see how much of a positive impact it has on your overall workplace health. As the business owner the company culture will ultimately came from you, so take some time to consider the attitudes, values and work ethic you want to instil into your team and start practicing them.
Instil Reward and Recognition
Another element for a healthy workplace that most people will agree with is appropriate pay, rewards for goals hit/achievements, and recognition This creates a strong core of mental wellbeing where employees feel valued. How exactly you do this is up to you. Rewards can be bonuses, gifts, share options or all-expenses-paid days out. Recognition may be more important than reward to some people, so things like employee of the month, star of the week, performance recognition or peer-to-peer recognition could go a long way. whatever you choose to do, it will have a positive impact. And if you aren’t sure- ask your team what they want!
And finally, make sure you’re paying everyone a fair market rate as a minimum. Times are hard for all of us, but no one deserves to go hungry.
Taking Care of Yourself
As the business owner, your health is just as important as your tea’s and your businesses. But it always seems to end up falling to the side. So this year, try to get a good work-life-blend (because balance is bullshit) in your life. Slow down when you need to, and don’t forget that you can outsource many of the admin tasks that take up so much of your time. Having a trusted VA who can look after your emails, calendar, travel, appointments and so on means you can take breaks when you need to, and make the best use of your time as possible.
Luckily, that’s what we can help with. At Your Admin Hub our job is to take all of those extra tasks off your plate, so that you can focus on building that happy, healthy workplace. To find out more about how we can help you, just get in touch with the team today.