#50 Building a Much Better Workplace: How Do We Fix It?

The numbers are alarming.  A 2015 Gallup poll found nearly 70% of U.S. employers say they're either bored or disengaged at work.   The cost to employers has been put at more than $500 billion in lost productivity. The cost to workers is incalculable - in human misery, unnecessary stress and lost opportunity.   Workplace psychologist Ron Friedman is the author of "The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace." Ron says there's an astonishing gap between the latest science and most the modern workplace.  He has some great tips for both employers and employees.    Ron's solutions for employers:

• An engaged workforce is more creative, focused and stay with their company for a long period time. This saves money.
• Employees need to be competent and connected to one another, yet they need to have autonomy - feeling they have choice in how they go about doing their work.
  
• Invite employees to share their ideas.
• Encourage learning: give your employees a quarterly reading budget. Establish an office library.
• Invite employees to take their vacation time and switch off from work at night, so they can live a balanced, healthy life.
• Workplace design and hiring a diverse workforce play a very important role in creating a better workplace.

Ron's solutions for employees:

• Reframe the way you look at your job. Present a case that could add value to your employer.
• Get out of your comfort zone. Greater variety often leads to more work satisfaction.  
• Look for ways to re-create your job to allow yourself to do more of the things you enjoy doing more often. 
• Regular exercise. It makes you smarter, more focused and creative at work.

 

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