Annually, Fortune Magazine publishes the top 100 companies to work for in collaboration with Great Place to Work. This is one of the most anticipated lists in corporate America.
Many companies take pride in being considered as having a great workplace.
It means higher prestige, increased likelihood of attracting top talent, and higher employee motivation.
But what are the qualities of a good workplace?
A good workplace's characteristics include positive workplace culture, career development opportunities, work-life balance, and meaningful work.
This article shall expound more on what makes a good workplace.
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Good workplaces work for everyone. Employees and management can bring out their best, resulting in work environments that foster creativity, trust, and improvement in a company's performance.
Moreover, Michael J. Burchell and Jennifer Robin, in their book, No Excuses: How You Can Turn Any Workplace into a Great One, argue that a good workplace brings out better societies.
When people have work relationships characterized by trust, pride, and camaraderie, their potential for success is greater. And when people feel like they've succeeded, they are more present and giv- ing with their families, more engaged in community activities
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One of the distinguishing features of a good workplace is a healthy work-life balance built into the company culture. This means that there is a clear demarcation between personal and professional life. When achieved in a workplace, It pays dividends long-term, and research proves this point.
Such great workplaces have the following characteristics: flexible work hours, time-off policies, and resources to help them manage their family obligations. Moreover, it boosts employee engagement and can catalyze positive change as employees feel more in control of their professional lives.
A good workplace ensures impartiality by treating all employees equally without any discrimination. A company can demonstrate impartiality by creating clear guidelines and policies that ensure everyone is fairly treated. Ultimately, this makes everyone feel heard and appreciated.
This is particularly important for human resources managers who might be called to arbitrate disputes, promote top performers, and recommend dismissal, among other assigned duties.
Some skills needed for impartiality include emotional intelligence, excellent communication skills, and the ability to observe and understand events from different perspectives.
A good workplace prioritizes the psychological safety of its employees.
When this is achieved, employees feel comfortable expressing their ideas, concerns, and opinions without fear of reprisal.
An example of psychological safety is a workplace with an open-door policy where employees can freely communicate their issues and concerns with management.
A good workplace offers its employees development opportunities for personal and professional growth.
This can come through training, mentorship, or educational opportunities.
For example, some companies offer on-the-job training or leadership development to help employees improve their skills and advance their careers.
A good workplace has a positive and supportive culture that fosters collaboration and teamwork.
Some traits of a positive workplace culture include cohesive teams, work delegation, management with helpful solutions, and career development opportunities.
some tips for creating a positive work culture include: prioritizing open communication, celebrating achievements, fostering a sense of community, and offering actional feedback.
A good workplace provides job security to employees, meaning they can depend on their jobs for a stable income and benefits.
This is one of the assurances an employer must offer for optimum performance.
Whenever a job is never assured, you are likely to end up with a workplace with absenteeism, low motivation, absence of new ideas, and often poor customer retention, as employees don't get an incentive to put in the extra effort.
A good workplace fosters effective communication between management, employees, and other stakeholders.
Some building blocks of effective communication include regular feedback, performance reviews, charisma, collaboration skills, interpersonal skills, and open communication channels.
Examples of effective communication in the workplace include one-on-one meetings between employees and managers to discuss their progress and goals.
A good workplace compensates its employees fairly and competitively. A competitive remuneration mirrors what is offered in the market, or in some cases, better.
Competitive remuneration may also encompass other incentives, such as gym membership and health insurance.
A competitive salary is often a competitive edge for employers looking to attract and retaining top performers.
A good workplace embraces diversity and encourages employees from different backgrounds to work together.
Increasingly, many employees prefer working with a diverse workforce. A survey by glassdoor established that up to 67% of job seekers prefer diversity.
This can include diversity and inclusion training, employee resource groups, and cultural events. For example, some companies have employee groups representing different cultural or ethnic backgrounds to promote understanding and inclusivity.
In a good workplace, managers delegate to employees based on their skills and strengths.
This fosters positive work as employees can work independently, and managers can practice effective leadership as they focus on more critical roles within the organization.
In such a workplace, employees' decision-making is enhanced, and they take ownership of their work.
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In conclusion, a good workplace is characterized by work-life balance, impartiality, psychological safety, personal development opportunities, positive workplace culture, job security, effective communication, competitive remuneration, diversity, and delegation. These qualities are essential for creating a healthy and productive work environment where employees thrive.
Highrise coaching is a service that can help companies improve their workplace environment by providing tailored coaching and consulting services. Through Highrise coaching, companies can identify areas for improvement and implement strategies to address any issues hindering their productivity and success.
Companies can create a workplace culture that fosters growth, creativity, and innovation by working with Highrise coaching, increasing employee satisfaction and business success.
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