Improving the quality of working life is essential for many reasons. It helps to meet employees’ needs in the workplace, strengthen bonds and motivation, prevent occupational hazards such as accidents, illnesses and so on, and support transformation. In this article, you’ll find some ideas for improving quality of life at work.
Quality of life at work: definition and composition
It is also a means of reconciling professional and personal life. The QWL (Quality of Life at Work) approach is at the root of a company’s overall success and development.
Quality of life at work is not just about employee well-being and comfort. On the contrary, it’s a vast subject that touches on many aspects of daily life. According to the French National Agency for the Improvement of Working Conditions (ANACT), Quality of Life at Work enables workers to reconcile the improvement of their working conditions with their overall performance.
QWL (Quality of Life at Work) is generally based on three pillars:
- Working conditions (daily environment, education, career, transport, etc.) ;
- Expressiveness and capacity for action (dialogue between employees, support from the manager, teamwork, etc.);
- Job content (duration of shift, value of work, possibility of measuring performance, etc.).
The objectives also refer to current issues such as change in the field of occupational health, dedication, reduced variability and low stress levels in the face of change.
Ideas for implementation
Implementing the QWL approach is not a fixed process. Rather, it involves principles for conducting internal reflection, taking stock and identifying potential improvements, adapted to the specificities of each company. Here’s a list of ideas for optimizing QWL within your company:
Create a dynamic training plan
For a better quality of life at work, there are a number of options open to you. Training is the first option to consider. Indeed, every employer has a duty to train and develop the professional skills of its employees. However, these obligations are fairly flexible, since employees must undergo training at least every six years. Maintaining a dynamic professional training plan is the best way to enable staff to progress.
To achieve this, you can draw up an ambitious training plan. There are a wide variety of training methods, including face-to-face, distance, intra-company and even inter-company meetings. E-learning is not to be overlooked either. This enables structures of any size to implement training policies that ensure the development of all employee skills. How to choose your sourcing tool?
Acquire a corporate social network
Building social ties is an important part of corporate life. Of course, the coffee machine does a good job of this. Today, however, it faces stiff competition from social networks. Companies are also promoting collaboration platforms designed to enhance the employee experience. These platforms intelligently connect employees, business applications and data. The aim is to foster and stimulate professional development and employee engagement.
From newsgroups to communities of interest, there’s no shortage of features within a corporate social network. They optimize the way you collaborate and communicate internally. With these multiple functionalities, employees have direct access to the tools and applications they need to carry out their regular tasks. Finally, users can take advantage of native integrations with collaboration suites such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
Recognition for work done
Recognition must be the cornerstone of any QWL approach. It enables each employee to measure the importance of his or her tasks in achieving the company’s most important objectives.
It begins with a “thank you” from the manager once the project is completed. It can also be expressed in the form of interviews or portraits in the in-house magazine. Some organizations don’t hesitate to set up recognition programs to ensure that every employee’s efforts are rewarded.
Creating a comfortable working environment
Valuing employees through recognition also means offering them the opportunity to carry out their activities in ideal conditions. It’s not just a question of creating a rest room. First of all, consider the organization of the work environment, so that it becomes the focus of your thinking. You can, for example, opt for a number of different arrangements for employees, such as personalized decoration or the possibility of switching from a classic office to a standing-desk.
Workers in the field or on production lines need to work alongside ergonomists to improve postures and movements. At the same time, measures must be taken to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. Telecommuting employees can also receive advice on setting up a work environment that meets comfort requirements. Become one of those companies that facilitate gender equality.
Pay your annual vacation bonus
The vacation bonus is governed by the agreement applicable to the company’s field of activity in France. Otherwise, it is regulated by a company agreement or employment contract. In this case, it refers to a sum paid to employees on a one-off basis. In the vast majority of cases, this takes place at the same time as summer vacation. The amount is determined as a percentage of remuneration, or as a lump sum.
If your company does not have a bonus policy, you can choose to pay one to improve your QWL. The upper limit must be requested from URSSAF. As a reminder, the bonus remains subject to Social Security contributions. Don’t hesitate to combine it with the vacation voucher offer issued by the Agence Nationale des Chèques-Vacances (ANCV). How do you ensure parity on the COMEX?
Improving feedback within a company
To succeed at work, you need to know your strengths and where you can improve.
Of course, this also includes the annual performance review. However, to be effective, feedback needs to be frequent. For example, encourage monthly check-ins and regular team meetings. In this way, managers can quickly identify problems and identify opportunities for improvement with the people concerned.
Establish the right to make mistakes even within the company. Employees are more likely to innovate when they know they can make mistakes. Improve the candidate experience with better strategies.
Ensure the smooth flow of information internally
In order to fulfill a mission, it’s vital to know the company’s purpose and values. This is where internal communication comes in.
It must ensure that every employee is aware of what’s going on within his or her team and company. Employees must also be kept informed of planned developments and major projects.
Equal access to internal information prevents certain categories of employees, particularly those who are not connected, from feeling ignored or marginalized. The value of team spirit is also essential. It would be just as fitting to create a complementary relationship by combining QWL and recruitment.
Organizing a Christmas party
At work, Christmas trees are a great way to show appreciation to your groups. It’s also a great way to build cohesion and a sense of togetherness. With magic shows, clowns, face painters and more, celebrating Christmas in your company is also a great way to organize some entertainment for your employees’ offspring.
Don’t hesitate to invite Santa Claus to the party, with all kinds of presents in his basket. You can ask the children about the gifts they’d like to receive, and give them an idea of their budget so you’ll know where you stand. Ask the children what makes them happy.
Personal finance coaching
Managing personal finances is a daunting task for many people, especially employees.
The stress caused by your financial situation has reduced your concentration and focus. To help reduce this stress and better manage your budget, you can consult an expert.
Take a short nap at work
The subject of napping in the workplace is still taboo, as many employees dream about it. But the benefits are real! According to NASA, a 20-minute nap is a real pleasure for the body. How can you effectively reduce turnover?
Work productivity in this case is 35%. A nap of around 20 to 25 minutes is short enough to give you a real boost and prevent you from falling into phases of deep sleep. This is the famous “power nap”. You can promote this initiative in your company by providing equipment (mattresses, bunks, blackout masks, earplugs, etc.). How can you invest in well-being at home?
Coffee planning in a convivial atmosphere
Depending on the size of the company and the pace of each employee’s work, informal meetings with colleagues at the machine are not always so straightforward. However, it’s a much-appreciated informal break that promotes integration and social cohesion. If your team is huge, or if your company has several departments, you can advocate a few “cafés convivialité” every two weeks or every month. It’s a place where all employees can get together and chat.
Involving the company in charitable programs
Charitable actions are also a good way of strengthening the employer brand and promoting team spirit among the new generation.
What’s more, the latest generations are highly sensitive to the ethical deviations of society. You can also decide to donate a day’s work to certain associations or to needy and homeless children. You can also organize events or collect donations to show your support. Discover qvt when you’re HR: 5 key points to remember.
What steps need to be taken to successfully implement QWL measures?
Step 1: Identify employee expectations
What measures would you suggest to improve quality of life at work? You can conduct a quick survey among your employees to understand their needs and expectations. Their feedback is invaluable in determining the priority actions to be taken and aligning the issues that need to be resolved.
Step 2: Select the relevant action
Knowing employee expectations and business conditions helps you choose the most relevant and feasible actions. Don’t try to meet all expectations or play on behavior. If you do, you run the risk of not quickly achieving your objectives, and of wasting a lot of time and money unnecessarily. We recommend that you take it step by step, suggesting a few actions so that you can adapt as necessary.
Step 3: Place the QWL approach in your company’s context
Each organization has its own objectives, different logistical or time constraints, different employee profiles, different expectations in terms of Quality of Life at Work. Define the context of your Quality of Life at Work approach and initiatives to ensure the successful implementation of your actions.
Step 4: Choose the right speakers
We generally recommend using an external service provider for QVT events. Their neutrality and speed of intervention ensure a quality service.
Make sure your speakers already have preferences within your company, so that you understand their motivations and concerns. A good speaker must adapt his or her workshop or training to the company’s audience and working conditions.
Step 5: Measure the impact and effectiveness of your initiatives
To be sure that the measures (actions) implemented meet employee needs, it’s essential to measure their impact and effectiveness. This also enables you to fine-tune your QWL strategy, correct the trajectory if you make a mistake, or even extend your initiative to a larger scale after starting in your test group.
Gather the opinions of participants in the form of a quick satisfaction survey, compare the responses with stakeholder comments and record participation rates. The best way to do this is to follow our advice on how to best support your teleworking teams.
Over the years, quality of working life has become a key issue for all companies. Employees have many expectations, but can fail to live up to them if the right steps are not taken. To achieve a pleasant work environment, don’t hesitate to follow the ideas developed above.
