Support is an essential part of an individual’s life. Having a strong support system from understanding people can help you cope with everyday stress and anxiety easily. It gives you a sense of hope and power to deal with any situation. and it’s also essential for companies to get their employees’ support.
In stressful places like offices, hospitals, MNC’s, and any workplace in general, where the workflow is endless, a supportive employer can save the day. When an employee is facing a crisis and needs assistance, a supportive employee who has your back is all you need to keep the work progressing. To win the support of the employees, one needs to be a supportive employer first. Good HR management will also provide a strong support system for the employees.
Importance of gaining employees support
A good support system is crucial for an effective workplace and inculcating a productive and efficient workplace environment. The support of the employer is extremely important as it impacts the positive nature of workplace culture. It is up to the employer to turn the office into a friendly or hostile place. It will not only reduce workplace anxiety but also make the employees feel valued.
A supportive work environment requires a two-way process. In the employer-employee relationship, where one person holds authority or power over another at times creates distrust. Both sides need to maintain mutual understanding within the workplace. It is equally important to gain the support of the employees as well. Attaining this will result in high productivity in the company, benefit both sides, and create a sense of team spirit.
As an employee spends a lot of time in the workplace, it is important to check on the overall health. Studies show that having a stable social support system has both mental and physical health benefits. It will reduce the risk of health issues like unhealthy body mass index, high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety, thus ensuring lesser days off and more productivity.
How to create a supportive workplace environment?
Employees spent their time in their workplace, so creating a strong support system to boost productivity and emotional health is essential. And a large part of this is in the hands of the employer. An employer can provide support to the employees in various ways. Some of them have been described below in brief.
1. Promote training and learning
Providing virtual training and learning will nurture the career growth requirements of your employee. This will create a sense of affection among employees at the workplace, and in turn, they will give their best to the company. Training employees will increase their productivity while providing them with career growth. Planning and organizing training programs related to the company projects will have an overall benefit to the company and the employees. You can sit down with your staff and discuss which areas need development and plan training programs accordingly.
2. Maintain a work-life balance
You could offer a flexible work schedule that is not too loose, neither too tight. You can schedule certain weekdays on which they can choose to work from home. Employers can choose a certain day where the working hours can be cut in half. It should be kept in mind that your employees have a life outside of the office as well. Allowing them to take unpaid leaves for emergencies will indirectly gain you their support at the time of crisis.
Employees are often worried about their salary being deducted on their day off. Allowing paid time off or PTO will let your employee create a better work-life balance. Make use of the time off the app and show your employee that you care and support them.
Refrain from contacting them if their time off app shows so. Employees are often worried about their salary being deducted on their day off.
3. Good HR management
The role of the HR manager is vital when it comes to providing a supportive environment, ensuring the development and career growth of the employees. Since they act as a link between the staff and the superior authorities, they contribute immensely in providing support to the employees. During the recruitment process, the HR manager should deliver all the policies, PTO tracker usage, schemes, and so on of the company to the new employee in a friendly and honest manner to feel safe and fully supported.
4. Listen to employee concerns
Ask your staff to tell you or the HR Management their concerns and issues, however small they may be. Be consistent in your efforts and solve the issues concerning your employees without delay. This will make you a concerned recruiter. Be in touch with the HR team to hold all the staff issues and formulate effective solutions. Be it issues related to benefits, compensation, insurance policies, free time off the tracker, and so on. Being an active listener is one of the main elements for gaining the support of your employees.
5. Praise their work
Everyone likes that little pat on the back saying that they did well every once in a while. Likewise, your employee’s efforts can also be appreciated by a formal ‘thank-you’ note or an appreciative email for the successful completion of a big tenure or project. You can award special achievements. While praising staff, do so positively. Be brief and specific, as employees like to stay behind the spotlight, not in on it. So, be specific and brief while talking about what the individual did and how it helped the company, and so on.
Conclusion
Support in a need and want for every walk of life. Like it is said, a kind word or a good deed doesn’t go unnoticed or in vain, so does a strong support system. When people witness a good deed, they feel inspired to do the same. Likewise, being a supportive employer will gain the employee’s trust, and the employee, in turn, will want to go ahead and give more to the company. What comes around goes around. Hence, a little support can go a long way.