Work perks improve employee productivity
A US study by ReportLinker shows that 90% of employees believe that their productivity is linked to their environment.
The report revealed that 87% of employees who are more involved in decision-making are also more likely to say they are committed to their employers.
It also demonstrated that younger generations were more likely to switch jobs than older workers, and less likely to be committed to their employer.
Organisations are therefore testing several new strategies to make employees happier and encourage them to stay longer. They are providing more opportunities for professional growth, offering a wider range of perks and making a stronger commitment to improving work-life balance.
Of the US participants in the survey, 76% said they work more than 36 hours a week. Men were more likely to put in more hours on the job than women, with 55% saying they worked more than 40 hours a week. By contrast, women are more likely to work 36-40 hours per week in order to balance their work and family life.
However, there are signs that younger workers might be less likely to see the value in working longer hours. They value workplace perks such as telecommuting and flexible working hours.
The study found that some perks can also improve productivity. More than 90% of workers in buildings that did not have cubicles or offices with doors said they believe their environment boosts their productivity.
Perks such as gym memberships and sleep pods are also known to improve productivity.
“The companies that are winning the productivity battle are the ones that provide productivity hours, naps, a chance for exercise, a calm, tranquil, orderly environment in which to do their work. If you’re in a stressful environment where you’re asked to produce and produce, you’re unlikely to have any deep insights,” wrote Daniel Levitin in his book, The Organized Mind.
“Studies have found that productivity goes up when the number of hours per week of work goes down, strongly suggesting that adequate leisure and refuelling time pays off for employers and for workers.”
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