Sustaining your workforce

Many benefits arise from making your organisation more sustainable. There are lower running costs from having less waste, using less energy and using less water.

There are reputational benefits and differentiating from your competitors can be used successfully in marketing campaigns.

There are numerous risks which are minimised by future proofing your organisation against rising insurance premiums and energy prices.

However, the beneficial impact on staff is often overlooked when it comes to sustainability.

What is the most important aspect of your business? As we hear time and again at business awards ceremonies: “I couldn’t have done it without my (insert praise filled attributive adjective) staff”.

What better way to further implement sustainability than to get the staff involved?

Unfortunately, many small businesses take the incorrect approach when attempting to encourage staff in this area.

Focusing solely on saving money or making more money is generally not the best approach to take with staff.

Focus instead on improving efficiency, reducing waste and encouraging your staff to strive for best practice in whatever role they’re in.

By giving your staff these opportunities you are empowering them and telling them that you value their input. Nothing, apart from a massive pay-rise, will make your staff happier and happier staff equals productive and loyal staff.

There are many creative ways in which you can involve and encourage staff. You can set goals or create a friendly competition so that your staff will enjoy achieving and feel part of the team.

Another aspect of keeping staff happy while improving your triple bottom line is through greening your workspace.

You will probably find that a lot of staff suggestions will relate to making the workplace more comfortable.

This can involve adding plants, opening windows if appropriate, relying on air-conditioning less or adjusting the air-conditioning, providing better lighting/shading or more natural light and less glare.

All these improvements will make staff happier and will often save you money on energy, resulting in a happier more productive workplace for everyone.