As your business begins to grow, there comes a point where you can no longer run things alone. Expanding and increasing profit means hiring employees and opening new departments- these are the people that will keep your business running and completing the daily tasks. So keeping them happy is key, but there are a few things you could be doing to turn them against you. Be sure to avoid these pitfalls.

Workplace bullying and/ or harassment has taken place

Workplace bullying or harassment is seriously bad news for your company. Not only will it make those affected miserable, it could lead to high staff turnover rate (which can be expensive for you) but could also lead to legal proceedings against you. If it’s suspected that you knew about the problems and didn’t act, you could be sued for negligence. If you have a case put against you, an experienced employee solicitor such as Ogletree Deakins will be able to give you advice. Encourage employees to speak to you if something isn’t right, and be open and understanding when they do. Implement a system where people can report issues anonymously, and declare a ‘no tolerance to bullying’ policy.

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They don’t have enough job security

All of us need job security, if you feel as though you could be ‘let go’ any time, chances are you’re not going to commit yourself and put 100% into your work. This is how your employees will feel if they don’t have this security. There has been a rise of zero hour contracts, and while as an employer this can be beneficial for you, it’s not good news for anyone who has one. Avoid this if at all possible, only offer jobs to those that you’re sure you have the work for. If there are areas of your work that fluctuate, utilise freelancers and contractors instead as their livelihood is made up of doing lots of shorter jobs for clients. When it comes to your actual employees, give them security. You could provide a fair wage based on experience, as well as employee benefits such as medical, dental, retirement and disability plans.

Your workplace is unpleasant to spend time in

Whether your business is an office, a shop or any other kind of premises- it’s this space that your workers will be spending a significant part of their day (and their life in general). Something that’s unpleasant to spend time in can lead to low mood and in turn, reduced productivity. There are a few simple changes you can make to ensure your workplace is up to scratch. Improve the lighting- position desks, or employees workspaces close to windows. Invest in good overhead lighting, as anything too harsh or dim can cause eye strain or migraine. Purchase good quality desks and chairs to keep your employees comfortable. None of us want to be stuck in a dark, dingy or unpleasant space for the majority of our day. Even painting the walls, having new flooring fitted and getting a cleaning company to come in a few times a month can all improve this.

There’s no flexibility

When you’re running a business, you need people to show up, log on and get to the grind. That goes without saying, reliability and hard work is key, and something that your employees should be prepared to do when working for your business. However, it’s important to remember that these are real people and not robots. Sometimes life happens, things can go wrong in your employees lives and at times, a little flexibility is all that’s needed. If they need to take a morning off to take care of their sick child, instead of punishing them or utilising a warning system, just ensure the time is made up at a later point. If their car won’t start or public transport is running badly and they’re late- be understanding, it’s something that’s out of their control. As long as it’s not happening all the time and you’re sure that it’s genuine then don’t make your employees suffer for it, all it will do is make them resent you and your company. Lots of businesses are realising the benefits of letting employees work from home, at least for some of the time. Implementing this yourself means that you have the ability to be more flexible. If a worker needs to make up extra time or can’t get into work for whatever reason they’re still able to complete their tasks from home.