Canadians want their employers to do more for morale

Employees think their workplaces could be doing more to improve morale. [Thinkstock]

For a generation fed a borderline pornographic display of workplace eccentricities like Hootsuite’s napping tents and Corus’ three-storey slide, it’s no wonder Canadians demand stronger efforts to raise employee morale.

To the rallying cries of “bigger cubicles, longer slides,” 83 per cent of working Canadians say that if their employers made an effort to raise spirits at work, their own satisfaction level would significantly improve, according to the latest survey by human resources and payroll services behemoth ADP Canada.

“If you feel good in your work space and you feel connected to your colleagues and energized despite the terrible weather that’s going and being layered in all these clothes and trudging from underground to underground that can have a positive impact,” says Sooky Lee, general manager of human resources business process outsourcing at ADP Canada. “(It boosts) how productive employees can be in the workplace as well as how attached they are to your workplace.”

According to the survey, 35 per cent of Canadians say their employers don’t do anything to improve morale, while 31 per cent say there are some initiatives.

“You can start with simple ideas that you can incorporate day-to-day… ways to relieve stress,” says Lee.

At ADP the company runs massage clinics and offers meditation sessions through the Employee Assistance Program.

Places like the aforementioned Hootsuite and Corus have taken a more physical approach, designing spaces that will inspire employees and allow the free flow of ideas and movement throughout the day.

“People spend a lot of time at work so you want to like where you are – the space creates different feelings, people react (differently) within their space,” Susan Steeves, principal interior designer at SSDG Interiors, the firm responsible for Hootsuite’s offbeat office, told Yahoo Canada last May. “More and more business owners and executives are realizing space is not just an expense, you can spend some money and really see some returns.”

A report released by design-focused think tank Human Spaces found employees working in environments with natural elements have a 15 per cent higher level of well-being, are six per cent more productive and 15 per cent more creative.

But for already-established offices, Lee recommends starting small with things like walking groups, themed days and wellness initiatives like bringing yoga instructors on site.

“Work your way to much more structured programs,” she says. “Lots of organizations today are trying to do a lot more with a lot less.”

She also encourages employees to speak up.

“I think employees can take the initiative to either raise ideas or suggestions to their leader and their teams,” she says.

Ignoring employee satisfaction, however, comes at a cost, she cautions.

“Even just taking advantage of the workforce you have and leveraging their ideas and input or creating something as simple as an employee committee to help focus around some of these areas,” says Lee. “Making these small investments can absolutely help keep your employees focused and retain them going forward, creating that sense of connectedness and community within your organization.”