Eight tips to build a healthy work environment

CapeTalk’s Clarence Ford speaks with Julia Finnis-Bedford, owner of Amazing Spaces with 25 years of experience as a business leader.

Listen below:

The start of the work week usually brings low energy and a lack of drive.

A study by MIT Sloan in 2021 found that toxic workplace culture is the number one reason employees are quitting their jobs.

It showed that they were 10 times more likely to leave over a bad environment than if they were just underpaid.

Finnis-Bedford has had a number of employees stay on her team for decades.

She says she has always used these eight principles to ensure a healthy work environment:

Mentorship:

Having a senior ‘team leader’ in a workplace can help employees feel that their voices are heard in the business.

A mentor can also offer much needed guidance to help them find their feet at work.

Promote Well-being:

Whether it is through yoga with other employees or giving time off for doctors appointments and therapy, taking employee well-being seriously will help create a positive work environment.

An employer should ensure employees are given the opportunity to be the best version of themselves.

Connection:

Finnis-Bedford tries to ensure her employees have a space to connect by providing lunch every day.

At these lunches employees have a chance to sit and talk about something other than work and build a connection.

“It is such a small thing to do for your staff that creates a healthy workspace.”

- Julia Finnis-Bedford, owner of Amazing Spaces

Team building:

Whether it is once a month or once a quarter, team building exercises can be a great way to boost employee morale.

At Finnis-Bedford’s company she ensures they do an annual two-day team building getaway, as well as a monthly fun activity that brings them out of the workspace.

Foster vulnerability:

While it might feel like a shock to the system at first, being able to be vulnerable at work can help build a stronger team.

“You cannot build connections without vulnerability.”

- Julia Finnis-Bedford, owner of Amazing Spaces

Strength tests:

In order to work well in a team, you need to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Regular strength tests at work and discussions around this can help employees find the best ways to work together and feel valued in their team.

“We either do enneagrams or the Clifton strength exercises and we chat amongst ourselves about who is good at what.”

- Julia Finnis-Bedford, owner of Amazing Spaces

Look to leaders for a work-life balance:

If the managers and leaders in an office are those who revere working until midnight and practically live in the office, chances are that will be an expectation of all employees.

Finnis-Bedford believes leaders should promote a good work-life balance so employees can follow suit.

Foster autonomy:

Allowing employees to make their own business decisions and suggest solutions in their space can massively boost self-worth.

“It is not always about the money. They have got to feel valued and like they are enjoying what they are doing.” 

- Julia Finnis-Bedford, owner of Amazing Spaces

Some major red flags of a toxic workplace she recommends looking out for are: clock-watching, micromanaging, and a lack of focus of employee wellness.

Scroll up to the audio player for more.