Safety in the workplace is important, and your employees’ thoughts and feelings should be valued. Everyone should feel safe at work so they can work collaboratively and productively together. While you may think your workplace is safe, you might have failed to notice some problems. Talk to your employees so you can get a better idea of your company culture and health and safety issues.
Your team is far more likely to be engaged, innovative and creative in a safer workplace. Here are a few ways you can improve emotional safety in your office.
Understand your employees
Safety at work is not just about equipment, like safety glasses. You also need to think about the emotional security of your employees and what you can do to improve it. Listen to your employees’ complaints and concerns to find out what is happening in your office. You might be a little out of touch with everything that goes on in your office. You need to make a conscious effort to open the conversation with your team.
Include your team in the decisions
Your team should be the one making decisions about their workplace culture. After all, they are the ones that will be most affected by your decisions. Encourage the team to get involved and share their opinion on the decisions that need to be made. For example, they may think an employee benefits package could improve the workplace. They may be lacking a work-life balance and struggling to stay on top of their mental health.
Open an anonymous survey so employees can answer questions about the workplace without any pressure or judgement. Ask a few specific questions, such as “What would you improve about your workplace?” or “Do you feel safe at work?”
You need honest answers to make real change in your company.
Avoid blaming
Blame culture will only lead to future problems and negative effects. Blaming one person for all of the problems in your workplace will not solve the wider issue. For example, there may be a bullying issue in your office. You need to identify why this is happening and how you can reshape your company culture. A toxic workplace can make your employees feel unsafe and unhappy in the workplace.
Show that you’re engaged
Your team needs to know that you are engaged and ready to help. Your team’s well-being should be a priority on your to-do list. Reassure your employees that you are looking to improve the workplace and any issues going on.
You can transform your workplace with a few simple acts. Talk to your employees, keep the conversion open and stay engaged.
