Allen Woo describes how to make the workday more productive

The working day for an unmotivated professional can end up becoming a real hell. Therefore, it is important to achieve a more bearable working day in which all employees are able to perform 100% of their duties without suffering. To this end, it is important that the HR department and company management are aware of this problem and devise a global strategy to solve it. Allen Woo, an expert in labor management, explains how day-to-day work can be more productive for companies.

In addition to the traditional measures against demotivation (such as financial incentives), HR experts must have alternatives that are more in line with the current reality of workers. They are looking for a more bearable working day from the point of view of intangible benefits, such as working hours, social benefits, or the feeling of belonging to an elite group.

“The HR strategy to boost employee morale and motivation should start primarily with good occupational health guidelines,” suggests Woo. “Sending out regular internal communications about proper management of the time we are at work can help lay the foundation for that new strategy:”

Correct lighting at work is critical. This is one of the first corporate recommendations to be addressed by management. According to Woo, natural light is the most suitable for a productive working day, because, in addition to being well lit, it is warm. Therefore, fluorescent lights are not a good option for illuminating company offices.

The correct body posture is one of the recommendations that should be made from the management, as it depends on each of the workers. Adopting a correct posture in front of the computer, with a straight back and taking periodic breaks to recover from fatigue, are some of the tips most recommended by occupational health experts.

Correct work planning is another point to take into account when trying to achieve a more bearable and productive working day for employees. Therefore, this reminder to employees should be one of the most important points: order and prioritization of tasks.

Then there is the disconnection in leisure time. For this first part, one more ingredient needs to be added. It is the relativization of corporate tasks. They are important and employees should pay maximum attention to them during their working day.

However, when the workday is over, they should forget about them to enjoy their leisure time and recharge their batteries to be just as productive the next morning. From here, the HR department and management must develop a global strategy to promote a more bearable, productive, and happy working day.

After informing employees of their part in achieving a more dynamic workday, it is time to implement real solutions to enhance it. Woo suggests fostering a good working environment. A team-friendly environment is easy to achieve and very positive for the company, as it is one of the best strategies for achieving full employee performance and also for retaining talent. To do this, managers should try to smile more and get more involved in getting to know their employees. If they do so, they will be remembered as good bosses in the future and that generates great satisfaction in the present.

Organizing events outside the company is also a great key. “This type of action is very positive to enhance branding and team cohesion. There is no need to organize large events or spend half the budget. It is enough to do a different leisure activity outside the office context,” explains Woo.

Financial incentives are probably not the most original strategy, but they are one of the most effective. If you set a set of goals and employees meet them, it’s only fair that they share in the benefits. That way, you can get more involvement in the workday and a greater eagerness to achieve the objectives.

When an employee performs his or her tasks well and achieves the objectives set by the company, it is very positive to use reinforcements such as certifications or titles that can be easily added as achievements on the employee’s CV. In short, achieving a more bearable and productive working day is not difficult if the concepts linked to emotional pay at work are taken into account. It is simply a matter of promoting healthy habits among employees and encouraging them to apply them with motivation and enthusiasm.