Studies have shown that happy employees are more likely to stay long-term and perform better than people who are unhappy at work. However, what makes people happy isn’t just a raise, more bonuses, or promotions. People want their work to be appreciated and want to make a difference. They want to know that their contribution matters. They also want to have a pleasant experience with their coworkers and feel like they’re part of a team. You can accomplish a lot of this by making the following upgrades to your office.
1. Get a company barbecue
If you have an outdoor area where you host retirement parties or celebrate promotions, add a grill if possible. Instead of having the same food catered every time, a modular outdoor kitchen will bring some flavor to the party. They’re easy to set up and you can get whatever you need, like an ice maker, a grill, and other appliances.
The best part about having a grill is that you can use it while hosting team building parties or to host a barbecue cookoff. When there’s BBQ food involved, you’ll probably see more people show up for the event.
2. Add an espresso machine to the kitchen
Having a coffee maker is essential, but an espresso machine will be a big upgrade that everyone will appreciate. Home espresso machines aren’t as powerful as commercial machines, but you can extract decent shots, and that’s all that matters.
Some people will still go through the drive-thru on their way to work to get a fancy drink, but for those who want to save money and make their own, an espresso machine will be a gift.
3. Stock the kitchen with snacks
Everyone loves snacks, but often they’re needed to get through the second half of the workday. For example, when 2:00 p.m. rolls around sometimes people just need a granola bar or fruit cup.
If you look at the big tech companies, most of them provide snacks for employees in a fully stocked kitchen. They’re willing to incur the expense because they know it’s a great perk. Pay raises are nice, but access to free food throughout the workday is even better.
Anyone who forgets to bring a snack to work or didn’t have time to go to the store will feel supported by a stocked kitchen. Employer-provided snacks make teams feel like you’re making an effort to take care of them.
4. Get your staff ergonomic chairs
Office workers are at risk for musculoskeletal injuries from sitting, standing, and typing all day long. If your office chairs are uncomfortable, it’s probably making people feel slightly irritated throughout the day.
Comfort and support are essential for productivity and efficiency. For example, when you support your team with ergonomic chairs, desks, and keyboards, they’ll get work done faster with more accuracy and fewer errors, and they won’t feel completely drained at the end of the day.
5. Fix the coffee maker when it breaks
Even your most dedicated employees likely rely on their morning coffee to make it through the day. If your coffee maker breaks, fix or replace it quickly so nobody has to go without. If it sounds trivial, consider that simply holding a hot beverage has been proven to make people feel better emotionally because physical warmth and emotional warmth are connected. For example, one study found that simply holding a cup of hot coffee made participants assess other people’s personalities as warmer than those who were not given a cup of coffee to hold.
That cup of hot coffee your employees make every morning before they head to their desks is more than just a caffeine boost—it’s a mood boost. Don’t leave your team hanging without coffee for too long.
6. Working equipment
Broken equipment will set people back and create massive frustration. If any of your office equipment is broken, like a fax machine or copier, get it fixed or find a replacement. For example, if your wireless printers won’t connect to your employees’ computers, call a technician to get it resolved. The best upgrade you can provide for your team is a smooth experience that makes it easy for them to do their job without running into brick walls.
Reduce turnover by fostering a satisfied team
When your team feels satisfied, they’ll be less likely to search for a new job and jump ship from your company. You can’t please everyone, but you can create a positive, supportive environment that will prevent frequent turnover of your top-performing employees.
