7 key signs you have a productive workplace

If you google the words ‘productive workplace’, you’ll see there are about 87 million results – which shows just how important productivity and happy employees are. The stats don’t lie: a happy worker will stay in their job 4 times longer than an unhappy one, and they’ll be 12 times more productive.

And here’s the rub: no manager wants their employees to be thinking about talking to recruitment specialists and looking at job vacancies! You want to retain them – and a lot of that comes down to creating an environment your employees enjoy coming to each day. Here are seven key signs of a productive workplace.

1: Your employees have a ‘beehive’ mentality

If you have a happy, productive team, they’ll think about the good of the ‘hive’ – they’ll see how an individual’s work and ideas benefits the whole team. They’ll feel free to share their ideas, enthusiastically workshop solutions (no matter how ‘out there’) and there’ll be a high level of collaboration and respect for their co-workers. Employees will also look out for one another.

2: They’re often at work early or stay a bit later

Happy, productive employees like being at work – and probably enjoy their job! So they won’t be clock-watching quite as much as miserable employees would. In fact, you might notice your staff clocking in a little earlier, or staying late if they have to finish a last minute task (but they won’t be complaining about it – it’ll just matter to them to get it done).

3. Friendships flourish easily

A happy, productive workplace doesn’t just mean your staff get their work done on time – it can also be a place where you facilitate real, long-lasting friendships between employees. If you find your staff happily turn up to casual work events, crack jokes with one another and generally seem to get on well, that’s a great sign that you’ve created a workplace in which they feel content.

4. Your staff have a goal mindset

If your team work well together to meet the company’s overall goals, and are invested in meeting their own personal milestones, that’s a great sign. Talking to your employees about the company’s direction can also give you insights on how they feel about working for you – if they speak positively, offer solutions and seem to care about the company’s future, that can be a strong indication of overall job satisfaction.

5. Absenteeism will drop

It’s estimated that absenteeism can cost Australian businesses up to $35 billion per annum – and reasons for it can include anything from genuine illness to disengagement, to workplace bullying. The good news is, fostering a positive culture at work can reduce absenteeism, and if you’re seeing less staff calling in sick, it’s a good sign you’re doing just that.

6. Employees are open about problems

Managers in a happy, productive workplace are more likely to create incentives for employees and think about ways to keep their staff motivated. They may also have an ‘open door’ policy where staff feel like they matter and are comfortable approaching upper management with issues or problems they may be having.

7. They’re well-trained and open to learning

Countless studies (including our own Frontline Feel Good Index Report) shows that investing in learning and development opportunities for your staff helps them feel more engaged, motivated and nurtured. It’s no secret that many industries are thinking about how AI and automation will affect their workplaces, so giving your employees on-the-job training, the chance to be mentored and to future-proof their careers can only lead to more productivity and more skilled staff.

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