In the manufacturing business, “productivity” and “efficiency” are buzzwords. Warehouse managers are always looking for a way to increase both. Streamlining production, eliminating waste and reducing unnecessary expenditures can help create a more productive and efficient workplace, but one of the easiest ways to get results is simply to take better care of employees.
Happy, healthy, comfortable employees tend to contribute to a more productive workplace. And it doesn’t take much to make workers feel appreciated.
The benefits of happiness
A Gallup-Healthways poll estimates that unhappy workers result in $300 billion a year in lost productivity. Grouchy employees are more likely to call in sick or produce low-quality work, so understanding how you can boost morale is important.
You have to pay your employees, obviously, but what else can you offer them that shows you care about them as people, and not just as cogs in a machine? Perks like flexible hours, an occasional catered lunch or a company-sponsored bowling league can go a long way in making workers feel appreciated. Many such perks cost you very little to implement, but will result in big returns in productivity.
Comfort is key
Warehouse work is hard on the body. Employees spend a lot of time on their feet handling heavy objects that can result in back pain, and overuse injuries are common. Do what you can to minimize environmental stress on workers.
In areas with a lot of foot traffic, or where employees spend a lot of time standing, add non-skid rubber mats that will help alleviate pressure on knee joints and provide a cushion between tired feet and the concrete floor. Provide good safety gear, and in cold spaces like loading docks, invest in a few specialty heaters that will keep workers comfortable.
Ask for feedback
When employees feel like no one listens to them, or their input isn’t important, they develop an “Us vs. Them” mentality, and relationships with management may become adversarial. Develop a means of soliciting feedback from employees — whether that’s an anonymous suggestion box or an open forum where everyone feels comfortable discussing ways to improve the workplace.
Make sure managers are visible in the production area — not to police operations, but to be there as a sounding board for employees. Managers should take an interest in what workers are doing both on and off the job. A good boss strives to know employees as whole individuals, and that means asking about their families, hobbies or plans for the future.
Provide training and incentives
Your employees may aspire to move up within your business to take on more responsibility, so provide training opportunities that can help them achieve their goals. Outline objectives employees should aim for, if they hope to earn more money. Recognize employees who routinely do more than what’s expected of them, and provide some incentives for people to achieve certain goals. For example, if employees are expected to complete a certain volume of work, perhaps you can provide a bonus to workers to exceed that goal.
In business, it’s important to let employees know you value them. And in turn, they will care more about the work they do.
Originally posted on October 3, 2013 @ 7:36 pm