Underestimating the importance of energy levels
Although good eating habits start in the home, employees’ nutritional intake at work can affect performance and this should be reflected in snacks served at meetings and in the office kitchen. Sweet pastries rich in carbohydrates may provide a short-term boost but savoury tacos or yoghurts and fruit with their protein value are preferable alternatives for maintaining consistent energy levels. Junk food is best avoided altogether.
Attention should also be paid to liquid intake since it is important to stay properly hydrated. Fit the office with a filtered water dispenser and ensure the kitchen has a supply of carbonated water and unsweetened teas – in other words, drinks which will not influence blood sugar levels.
Insufficient home office planning
Working from home is on the increase: not only does it save companies money in terms of space and maintenance but also allows employees a greater degree of flexibility. Nonetheless, some managers are concerned that employees working from home may be distracted by non-work related matters. For a home office strategy to succeed, therefore, it is advisable for manager and employee to clarify certain issues in advance. These include the following:
- the suitability of the job in question for working from home
- the possible presence of other people at home during working hours
- the employee’s level of self-motivation and ability to ignore potential distractions
- technological infrastructure – both at the company and the employee’s home – and the employee’s familiarity with these tools
- fitting the concept of telecommuting into the general working atmosphere at the company
- whether evaluation should be the same for telecommuters and on-site employees
To sum up
Better internal communication, revised office layout, availability of healthier snacks and careful planning of home office are all changes which can be achieved without too much upheaval. Paying attention to these issues will create a happier working atmosphere, which in turn will lead to better performance and productivity.
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