5 Tips for Creating a Healthier, More Productive Work Environment
"The floggings will continue until morale improves." We've all heard the saying, a tongue-in-cheek way of criticizing workplaces that are neither healthy nor productive — and no employer or employee wants to be that workplace. Create a healthier, more productive work environment with these tips.
1. Ditch the open office
The classic open-office design, with no privacy and everyone in one communal space, was supposed to encourage collaboration and productivity. Yet multiple studies show it doesn't work. Employees seek privacy and respite from the noise by clamping on earphones and tuning out.
So what should you do if you've already invested heavily in an open floor plan? Try changing the layout to afford your employees more privacy, which in turn leads to more productivity. If a complete redesign isn't possible, you still have options. Consider letting employees book time in empty conference rooms or other quiet spaces to do their work. Or offer work-from-home days. Sound-masking, in which you pipe in subtle white noise, can also help employees feel like they can concentrate without hearing other people's conversations.
2. Change the lights
. A significant number of American workplaces have harsh fluorescent lighting that glares down from overhead. That kind of lightning causes employee fatigue and doesn't improve anyone's mood. Your best bet here is to allow natural light into the workspace. If that's not possible, changing light bulbs to daylight bulbs will help. Bringing in lamps is also beneficial, which emanate light at eye level instead of overhead.
3. Add some green
A few green indoor plants may help your bottom line get a little greener too. That's because green plants are shown to have a beneficial effect on mental health. They also clean the air, helping to avoid sick building syndrome (SBS). (SBS is a common issue where office employees experience symptoms similar to that of the common cold while in the office, only to find themselves feeling healthy sometimes almost immediately upon leaving the space.) Putting an indoor plant on every desk will mean healthier, happier workers overall. Some popular options for office plants are peace lilies, spider plants, and philodendrons.
4. Reduce presenteeism
Presenteeism makes employees feel pressure to be at the office no matter what, oftentimes ignoring their own physical or mental health. Presenteeism decreases employee productivity and happiness, which in turn impacts coworkers, whether by passing on germs or merely being present while battling depression or stress. The key here is creating a workplace culture that encourages employees to take care of themselves. Presenteeism can be improved by training managers never to question or argue when a worker calls out sick. Employers can also help employees understand that the most important measuring stick is productivity, not attendance.
5. Unplug
A dead battery is no use to anyone, and good employers understand that employees need to disengage during time off to recharge their batteries. Managers should honor workers' personal time by giving them space to detach from work. Don't email when they are on leave or vacation, or if you do, make clear that an immediate answer is not expected. The same goes for texts, phone calls, messages on Slack — any work-related communication unless it's urgent. Help your employees to treat each other with that same respect by making it a part of your work culture. You'll have people who are refreshed and ready to work, instead of emotionally exhausted employees who take extra time to get into work mode.
It's true some of these five tips for creating a healthier, more productive work environment seem counterintuitive to creating healthier, more productive employees. It's okay to feel hesitant about moving away from an open-plan workspace, or encouraging mental health days. Just remember, it's all backed by science. Your bottom line will thank you.
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Diversity Reboot 2021: The One Hundred Day Kickoff
<p><strong>When</strong>: February 1-5, 2021</p><p><strong>Where</strong>: Virtual</p><p><strong>Price to register:</strong> Free!</p><p><strong>Where to register: </strong><a href="https://summit.powertofly.com/" target="_blank">Here</a></p><p>We had to include our own Diversity Reboot on our list of the best diversity and inclusion events to attend in 2021 because we know firsthand how the quality of 100+ expert speakers, the enthusiasm of 10,000 participants, and the cutting-edge tech that enables meaningful virtual networking and job fairs combine to create a truly epic five-day experience. This year, the theme 100 Day Kickoff harnesses the energy of the new government's first 100 days in office to help jump-start personal and professional plans to build more diverse and inclusive workplaces. </p><p>Following the February summit, we'll have a monthly series of smaller virtual summits on topics spanning everything from returnships to LGBTQ+ advocacy, so be sure to stay tuned for updates!<br></p>The Future of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 2021
<p><strong>When</strong>: February 3-4, 2021</p><p><strong>Where</strong>: Virtual</p><p><strong>Price to register:</strong> Free</p><p><strong>Where to register:</strong> <a href="https://www.hr.com/en/webcasts_events/virtual_events/upcoming_virtual_events/the-future-of-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-2021_kcxf8glq.html#detail" target="_blank">Here</a></p><p>This virtual conference put on by HR.com focuses on how social movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter have pushed DEI at work beyond legal compliance and into a major factor of any company or brand's culture, employee engagement, and performance. Topics include how to uncover and resolve pay gaps across your team and hire top-level diverse talent.</p>Workplace Revolution: From Talk to Collective Action
<p><strong>When</strong>: March 8-12, 2021</p><p><strong>Where</strong>: Virtual</p><p><strong>Price to register: </strong>$820</p><p><strong>Where to register:</strong> <a href="https://cvent.me/ZQ4BbE" target="_blank">Here</a></p><p>The Forum on Workplace Inclusion's 33rd annual conference includes 12 session tracks, from DEI Strategy to Social Responsibility, along with 59 workshops and daily networking sessions. This year's theme focuses on one question: "What will it take to start a workplace revolution that moves us from talk to action?"</p>Diversity: How Employers Can Match Words With Deeds
<p><strong>When</strong><strong>: </strong>May 19, 2021</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> Virtual</p><p><strong>Price to register</strong><strong>: </strong>Early bird registration is $49 and general admission is $149</p><p><strong>Where to register:</strong> <a href="https://hopin.com/events/may-virtual-conference-diversity-how-employers-can-match-words-with-deeds" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Here</a></p><p>From Day One is hosting monthly conferences in 2021 focused on different ways for companies to foster strong relationships with their customers, communities, and employees. May's half-day virtual event is focused specifically on how companies can make diversity promises that don't fall flat and features workshops, panels, and a fireside chat.</p>Hire with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
<p><strong>When:</strong> August 18, 2021</p><p><strong>Where: </strong>Virtual</p><p><strong>Price to register: </strong>$195</p><p><strong>Where to register:</strong> <a href="https://www.hci.org/conferences/2021-virtual-conference-hire-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-august-18-2021" target="_blank">Here</a></p><p>This conference put on by the Human Capital Institute is one of 12 virtual conferences that HCI has planned for 2021. This one focuses on fair and inclusive talent acquisition, including how to attract diverse talent, implement inclusive hiring practices, and addressing bias in employee selection. Other conferences will focus on optimizing talent strategy, engaging employees, and developing your workforce.</p>Virtual Grace Hopper Celebration 2021
<p><strong>When:</strong> September 26-29, 2021</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> Virtual, broadcast from Chicago, Illinois</p><p><strong>Price to register:</strong> Was $799 for regular access to the virtual conference in 2020; 2021 pricing hasn't yet been announced</p><p><strong>Where to register:</strong> <a href="https://ghc.anitab.org/attend/registration/" target="_blank">Here</a>, though 2021 registration wasn't live at the time of writing</p><p>Grace Hopper might be the best-known conference for women in tech. Through keynote presentations, networking sessions, job fairs, and community-building activities, vGHC reached over 30,000 women for their 2020 conference and are expecting even more in 2021! While not a conference focused exclusively on diversity and inclusion, many speakers plan to focus their talks on creating environments for women to thrive in the male-dominated tech field.</p>Inclusion 2021
<p><strong>When:</strong> October 25-27, 2021</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> Virtual and in person in Austin, Texas as of now</p><p><strong>Price to register:</strong> Hasn't yet been announced</p><p><strong>Where to register: </strong><a href="https://conferences.shrm.org/inclusion" target="_blank">Here</a>, though 2021 registration wasn't live at the time of writing</p><p>The Society for Human Resource Management's biggest conference of the year saw 1,200 DEI leaders participate last year; SHRM hopes to see even more come to learn, be inspired, and to walk away with a playbook of implementable strategies to create truly inclusive workplace cultures.</p>AfroTech 2021
<p><strong></strong><strong>When:</strong> November 8-13, 2021</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> Virtual</p><p><strong>Price to register:</strong> Early bird pricing is $149 for individuals and $249 for corporate attendees; regular pricing hasn't yet been announced</p><p><strong>Where to register:</strong> <a href="https://experience.afrotech.com/" target="_blank">Here</a></p><p>AfroTech is a conference hosted by Blavity, a tech media platform for Black millennials. It focuses on emerging tech trends, connecting Black talent with top tech recruiters, and providing networking and educational opportunities, with an overall goal of building a strong Black tech community. Over 10,000 people participated in 2020. While the conference isn't focused specifically on DEI, its main audience of Black tech talent is an important one to understand and to engage at work and beyond, and several speakers plan to focus on issues of race and inclusion at work. </p>Finding Her Sport: Being Part of the Team in a Startup Environment
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