What is a workplace?
A workplace or place of employment is a location where people perform tasks, jobs and projects for their employer. Types of workplaces vary across industries and can be inside a building or outdoors. Workplaces can be mobile, and some people may work in different locations on various days. The growth of technology has led to a new type of workplace, a virtual one, allowing people to work remotely.
Examples of workplaces
Your workplace setting depends on the type of work required and yourindustry. Examplesof workplaces include:
Office
An office is a common workplace type where employees of a company work from a centralized location.Your company’s office can consist of an entire complex, an individual building, a floor in a shared building or a section of a co-working unit. Co-working sites are an option for smaller companies that need to focus on their business, employees and customers, not their workplace.
Home office
Businesses that do not need people to complete tasks in a centralized location can benefit from allowing their employees to work remotely. The required software, equipment and training are provided for employees, and they complete their work remotely. Some people designate a separate room in their home with a desk and computer to perform their work. Businesses may have flexible work schedules for their remote employees or set hours when everyone needs to be online.
Factory or distribution center
People work in factories or distribution centers in many industries, including food, apparel, electronics and automobiles. They may be located near the business’s corporate office or at separate locations. Factory workers work on the production line, making the final product. Distribution center employees receive and sort products to be sent to stores or customers.
Farm or outdoor location
Many industries require people to work outdoors, including farmers, environmental scientists, park rangers, construction workers, law enforcement officers and electricians. The work environment for each of these roles varies, and they are often required to work regardless of the weather conditions.
Store
Retail employees commonly work indoors in various types of stores, including clothing shops, restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets. Store employees often directly interact with customers. Stores range in size and location, depending on the industry and geographic needs.
Purpose of the workplace
Workplaces help businesses deliver their products or services to consumers in an efficient way. Corporate team members use their place of work to collaborate and develop new ideas, products and services to offer to their customers. Businesses use factories to create their product and distribution centers to coordinate the shipment of the product to stores or directly to the consumer. Stores exist to sell the product to consumers by giving a space for customers to physically see the product.
Related:Business Productivity with Happy Employees
How to establish a great workplace
Establishing an enjoyable place to work is important for employee retention and satisfaction, which allows your business to focus on growing and developing your product or service. Follow these six steps to build a great workplace:
- Develop workplace atmosphere plans with company leaders. The first step to establishing a great workplace is to ensure the leadership team agrees on what your workplace model will be. Communicate your ideas to the other leaders and listen to their feedback to brainstorm your company’s ideal workplace. All leaders should support the final plan and uphold their role in making the business an enjoyable place to work.
- Train leaders in building interpersonal relationships. It’s important for leaders to communicate with their team members and understand their professional and personal needs. Training them on interpersonal skills will allow them to understand how to build meaningful professional relationships with their team members.
- Interact with the people at your business. Talk with the personnel in various departments across the company to hear their perspective on the business, customers and their work-life balance . Asking employees for their opinion demonstrates that they are a valued member of the company.
- Incorporate the employees’ feedback into your workplace model. After meeting with various teams, review their feedback with the leadership team and incorporate their ideas into the workplace model. This shows employees that the leadership values their opinions and is listening to them, which can increase workplace morale.
- Communicate workplace and policy changes to the teams.Before implementing any workplace updates, take time to share the plans with the employees who will be affected so they understand what will be changing and how it’s intended to improve their work environment.
- Implement a workplace improvement plan. After sharing your updates with the team, you can act on the improvement plan. Ensure the plan is carried out in a timely and organized manner to minimize disruptions.
Related:How to Motivate Your Employees
Workplace FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions related to the workplace:
How can I create a productive workplace?
Businesses can create a productive workplace by ensuring team members have the necessary tools, such as equipment, computers and software, in close proximity to their work station. These tools should be regularly updated and replaced to continually abide by industry standards.
What are some methods to improve employee morale?
Leaders build workplace morale by recognizing employee achievements, explaining advancement paths and demonstrating gratitude for an employee’s efforts. Businesses can reward achievements and express gratitude in a variety of ways, including verbal praise, awards, financial incentives and paid time off.
How are workplaces changing for the future?
Technological advancements in virtual reality now allow consumers to go online to test a product, try on clothes and see how furniture will look in their home. Physical stores and showrooms are becoming less critical for companies to make sales. Some workplaces are moving online to adapt to the virtual consumer.
