Satisfactory work environment and conditions
Location, working hours, stress, safety and benefits associated with an employment are satisfactory.
DESCRIPTION
The work environment comprises the physical, geographical location and the immediate surroundings of a workplace (including factors like air quality, noise level, etc.), as well as the perks and benefits associated with an employment. Working conditions are defined as the circumstances such as working hours, stress, degree of safety, or danger that affect the workplace.1,2,3
PURPOSE & LINK TO INTEGRITY
Improving the work environment and conditions contributes greatly to the staff’s motivation, and subsequently to their performance. An improved work environment and better work conditions can also reduce staff turnover and the related costs.4,5
Workplace climate is also one of the nonfinancial factors affecting morale and motivation. Staff members that are satisfied with their work environment will more likely comply with the organisation’s rules and interests. As they strive to keep their position, they will prefer to put their personal interests behind the organisation’ and refrain from dishonest behaviour such as fraud, embezzlement, accepting bribes, engaging in corrupt activities, or theft.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
- Does your organisation monitor staff satisfaction to derive measures on improving work environment and conditions? (Also check tool Staff performance & satisfaction monitoring)
HOW TO
Initiatives to improve work environment and conditions should focus on four key areas:
- Customer/staff relationship
- Staff/supervisor relationship
- Workplace environment
- Worker wellness
To ensure a good and enabling working environment, the organisation´s management needs to:
- help employees achieve work-life-balance
- foster open communication
- allow for constant development of skills
- recognise hard work
- strengthen team spirit
Other factors of work environment and conditions that could be improved by the organisation include:6,7
- Vacation and holidays
- Payment and compensation of overtime
- Job security
- Work intensity and pace
- Teamwork
- Autonomy and freedom
- Flexibility of working hours
- Health and safety
- Training and personal development
You might also consider getting ISO certification. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies. The following ISO standard is applicable for this tool:
ISO 6385:2004 Ergonomic principles in the design of work systems (https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:6385:ed-2:v1:en): Technological, economic, organizational and human factors affect the work behaviour and well-being of people as part of a work system. Applying ergonomic knowledge in the light of practical experience in the design of a work system is intended to satisfy human requirements.
KEY GUIDING DOCUMENTS
Hissom, A., 2009, Human resource management. Understanding and controlling employee turnover
Leblebici, D., 2012, Impact of workplace quality on employees productivity. Case study of a bank in Turkey
FURTHER READINGS
Capacity Project, 2009, What about the Health Workers? Improving the Work Climate at Rural Facilities in Kenya, IntraHealth, http://www.intrahealth.org/page/voices-from-the-capacity-project-what-about-the-health-workers, accessed 03.12.2015
FULL REFERENCES
- Business Dictionary, no year, Working conditions, Business Dictionary, http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/working-conditions.html, accessed 03.12.2015
- Business Dictionary, no year, Work environment, Business Dictionary, http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/work-environment.html, accessed 03.12.2015
- EIONET, 2012, Working conditions, EIONET, http://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/concept?ns=1&cp=9369, accessed 03.12.2015
- Hissom, A., 2009, Human resource management. Understanding and controlling employee turnover
- Leblebici, D., 2012, Impact of workplace quality on employees productivity. Case study of a bank in Turkey
- EUROFOUND, 2012, Trend of improved working conditions, EUROFOUND
- Lowe, G. S., 2006, Creating a quality work environment. Results from the HSAA 2006 work environment survey, Submitted to the health sciences association of Alberta