Getting productivity levels up is something all managers and HR team members have a vested interest in. Keeping the organization running at optimum levels is the best way to know when new hires are needed and also to be most effective in spending payroll dollars.
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Here are a few tips employers can utilize to increase employee productivity:
- Ensure the employees have all of the tools they need to do their jobs well. This may mean updating or getting new software or updating processes and procedures. Get input from your employees on what they’re missing.
- Invest in employee development by offering training that fills skills gaps to allow employees to perform at their best.
- Encourage managers to delegate to ensure they’re focusing on the right activities. Train them in delegation if needed.
- Get employees’ input on what can be improved about the organization and how their jobs can be made more efficient—and be sure to follow up on the input and implement as much as possible.
- Ensure employees understand their goals and how their work fits into the larger organizational goals and vision. Measure progress against goals on a regular basis, and course-correct along the way.
- Offer incentives for reaching difficult goals. These may be monetary, but they don’t necessarily have to be. Consider providing small incentives along the way to reaching larger goals. Even small incentives can be motivating.
- Regularly evaluate employee job requirements, and ensure no one is overloaded. Burnout will cause stress and will not help productivity over time.
- Check in with employees to monitor engagement levels. Engaged employees will naturally be more productive. HR has a direct role here in the form of employee engagement surveys.
- Monitor the cultural atmosphere and workplace vibe. If it starts becoming negative, take action to turn that around. Negativity can reduce morale, which could lead to frustration and less productivity.
- Give regular feedback and plenty of recognition and encouragement. Recognize a job done well to encourage more of it.
- Ensure the work space is conducive to productivity. If possible, allow natural light in, and make it more welcoming.
- Consider adding an employee wellness program if it’s not already in place. Encouraging wellness can improve health and reduce absences, thus increasing productivity. As an employee benefit, this is another area where HR is the primary department having an impact on productivity.
- Ensure the lines of communication with employees are open and that communication from HR and management happens frequently enough to keep employees in the know about what’s happening in the organization. That helps foster trust and transparency.
- Ensure breaks happen at appropriate intervals to allow the employees time to recharge. Encourage vacation time, as well, to reduce stress and burnout.
- Consider allowing flexibility in work schedules. Flexibility in scheduling can allow employees to work hours that will best suit their nonwork life and reduce issues and distractions in the workday.
- Consider allowing remote working options. Remote working can reduce commuting stress and time and can increase productivity.
What other policies or changes have you implemented to further improve employee productivity from the HR perspective?