According to the 2023 Toxic Workplace Report by Oak Engage, 75% of 2,000 employees surveyed across various industries in the UK experienced a toxic workplace culture. The findings were shocking:

• 87% of respondents agreed that it negatively affected their mental health. 67% of employees believed that it adversely affected employee retention.
• 43% of employees believed that it negatively influenced employee attendance.
• 73% of employees said that a toxic workplace culture contributed to their burnout.

We know that Indian businesses also need to do a lot to create a positive workplace culture to reduce their employee turnover rate, improve attendance and productivity levels of their employees and boost organisational success in general.

In this blog post, we will discuss some practical and actionable tips on how we can create a positive business environment in our organisations, use effective employee engagement strategies, and improve organisational behaviour.

Fostering a Positive Workplace Culture

To set up a positive workplace culture, we should first know what it means. It means that the workplace is based on trust and respect between all the stakeholders and open communication is maintained.

Experts all over the world agree that a positive workplace culture improves:

• organisational behaviour,
• overall business environment,
• employee engagement, and
• productivity levels.

Here are some activities that you can do at your workplace to stimulate positivity in the business environment:

• You can organise team-building activities to build trust and mutual respect among employees. During these activities, you can encourage team members to share their experiences and appreciate diverse perspectives. You can find a lot of ideas online for such activities.
• To encourage open communication, you should implement regular check-ins and feedback sessions. An open-door policy is a great way to promote transparency and dialogue as it makes employees feel heard and valued.
• Every organisation must develop a recognition programme that celebrates employee contributions. Regularly acknowledging and rewarding achievements reinforces a culture of appreciation and motivation – and motivates people to do better.

Adopting these employee engagement strategies can transform your business environment and make it more positive and conducive to growth.

Implementing Effective Employee Engagement Strategies

Recent statistics from Gallup indicate that effective employee engagement strategies can boost business productivity by up to 21% and reduce employee turnover by as much as 31%! 

If done correctly, it goes a long way in fostering a positive workplace culture. Engaged employees are more committed and motivated after all. 

Involving employees in decision-making processes through regular brainstorming sessions and feedback forums helps employees feel valued and integral to the company’s success. Similarly, training, development, and career advancement programmes are great for attracting and retaining talent.

You may also encourage strategies like job rotation, mentorship schemes, and online learning platforms for young talent.

We are seeing that flexible working hours, such as remote and hybrid work options, have been trending since the pandemic days – and it seems that most employees still prefer that for greater work-life balance. Besides, policies like unlimited vacation days and wellness programmes also support employees in maintaining a healthy balance between personal and professional life.

Here are some employee engagement strategies by Indian businesses you may want to research:

• TCS (Tata Consultancy Services): TCS has a great Talent Development initiative that focuses on continuous learning and skill upgrades. It also uses platforms like Knome to recognise and reward its employees’ contributions. The TCS Gems Awards are given for outstanding performances.

Besides, the TCS also promotes a culture of innovation through initiatives like TCS Pace Port – a co-innovation network, and the TCS Innovation Forum – a platform for employees to share ideas.

• HUL (Hindustan Unilever Limited): HUL is trying to create an inclusive workplace through initiatives like Shakti which aims to empower women in rural India and also has initiatives for LGBTQ+ inclusion. From time to time, HUL also organises programs like the HUL Health Checkup, fitness initiatives, and mental health support.

HUL connects employees with their purpose through initiatives like the Sustainable Living Plan and the HUL Foundation, which works on social development projects.

• Infosys: Infosys invests heavily in employee training and development. Their Lex program offers a wide range of learning resources, and the Infosys Leadership Institute focuses on leadership development.

The company uses platforms like InfyTQ and Wingspan to facilitate employee engagement, learning, and collaboration and has various recognition programs like the Infosys Excellence Awards and the Infosys Value Champion Awards to appreciate employee contributions.

• Wipro: The company is known for offering the best flexible work arrangements like work-from-home and flexi-time options to promote work-life balance. It also has a comprehensive wellness program called “Wellness@Wipro” that includes health check-ups, fitness initiatives, and stress management programs.

Wipro also supports various employee resource groups like the Women of Wipro (WoW) and the LGBTQ+ group Prism to foster inclusivity and belonging.

Conclusion

As we discussed above, developing a positive business environment is essential for enhancing organisational behaviour and achieving long-term success. For business students, it is crucial to understand these principles and apply them in their future roles.

You can start by promoting a positive workplace culture through ethical behaviour and supportive teamwork. You can also foster open communication and recognise employee contributions to boost their morale and engagement.

Implementing employee engagement strategies such as involving employees in decision-making, offering continuous learning opportunities, and providing flexible working arrangements can not only increase productivity but also reduce employee turnover significantly.

We also advise you to learn how to address conflicts constructively and lead by example to shape positive organisational behaviour. In the end, we strongly advise you to assess and adapt your strategies, gather feedback, and act on it to maintain a thriving business environment.