Most people spend about a third of their lives working (some 90,360 hours over the course of a typical lifetime) and yet employees are chronically disengaged worldwide. A 2013 Gallup study  found that only 23% of New Zealand employees were engaged at work, 62% were not engaged, and an alarming 15% were ‘actively disengaged’. That means for every motivated worker actively engaged in producing value for their organisation, there were three other workers just watching the clock. This is bad for organisations, bad for employees, and bad for society as a whole, because all that dissatisfaction will tend to find expression somewhere, and you know it ain’t gonna be pretty. That’s why it’s vital we do everything possible to increase employee engagement, improve staff productivity in the workplace, and generally ramp up everyone’s enjoyment. So here are 7 proven ways to start achieving these noble goals without breaking the bank:   1. Employee survey software Why not start by asking your people what they really think about their work, their office space, their co-workers, and a whole host of other important work-related matters? Employee survey software enables employees to provide anonymous feedback directly to senior management about what they like and what really jerks their chain. Applications like SurveyMonkey ,  Officevibe , and Clarity Wave  send out mini surveys to all your employees. They only take a few minutes to complete and the resulting data tells senior management what’s really going on inside the organisation – and even suggests possible solutions. It’s an effective way to amp up employee engagement and productivity because it helps drive real change a lot faster than the traditional six-monthly reviews. And because it lets you see what’s going on in real time, you can nip problems in the bud and fine-tune the direction of whole teams of people, boosting their morale and retention.   2. Celebrate everything Acknowledge merit, recognise victories big and small, celebrate birthdays, weddings, babies, new qualifications, buying a house – whatever important stuff is going on in your employee’s lives make it your business to know about it and hang a lantern on it. Why? Because that’s what people who care about people do. If you want your employees to feel valued, if you want to create a real team spirit, this is a great way to do just that. All it takes is a small gift, a card, tickets to a show, or a special morning tea to make your employees feel like part of a larger family. And that’s a great way to build loyalty and staff productivity. Recognition doesn’t have to be connected with achievement – a few words of encouragement for a staff member who is trying hard but hasn’t quite succeeded may be all that’s required to get them over the hump. Many organisations claim that their people are their biggest asset but words are cheap: your staff are much more likely to believe you if you back your words with actions.   3. Workplace design Open-plan workspaces filled with workstations have become the default solution for most offices in the hopes that they will foster collaboration and flatten hierarchies. And while that has worked to some extent, the resulting noise and distraction is the enemy of focused attention. Not every business has the luxury of being able to redesign its floor plan or spend pots of cash on fancy interior design consultants, but there are some simple things you can do to cater for different work styles within the same space. Installing a few glass walls can help people maintain a sense of connection and activity while cutting down on noise. You can create ‘nooks’ with funky furniture for private conversations near common areas and kitchens – so people can bump into each other, start talking, and retire to a nook for more in-depth discussion. Private areas for phone calls, Skype meetings, and teleconferences don’t have to be separate rooms: a couple of high-backed chairs facing a window may be all that’s required. Take a poll of your people, observe what activities they’re doing day-to-day, and think creatively about how your office could be better organised to help them be more productive and happier.   4. Corporate massage Just giving your people a 15-minute expert massage at their desks can reduce their stress by a massive 85%, improve their quality of sleep, reduce headaches by 48%, lower blood pressure, reduce RSI, and increase mental clarity, according to incorporatemassage . The results are increased staff productivity, employee retention, and office morale, and reduced health problems. If you want to engage and delight your employees, and make them feel appreciated, this is a truly cost-effective way to do it.   5. Flexible working Enabling employees more flexibility about where and when they work has been proven to positively affect employee engagement, motivation, staff productivity and satisfaction, according to the WorldatWork Survey on Workplace Flexibility 2013 . Teleworking, flex time, part-time schedules, compressed workweeks, job sharing – there are many options and a flood of stats that say the more access people have to flexible work practices, the more engaged and productive they become. Of course, a corresponding shift in your company culture may be harder to implement, as managers with entrenched views may equate flexibility with a lack of commitment.   6. Fun outings You know what they say: all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. The same could be said of teams of people. Everybody needs a bit of fun and relaxation – and if you make it possible for your people to do something together outside of work, it’s almost guaranteed to build stronger ties between workmates, greater cohesion within teams, and a happier, more motivated workforce. A barbeque, a cycle trek to a winery, or getting some of that pent-up aggression out of their system at a paintball park could be all it takes.   7. A decent coffee machine Water cooler conversations are OK but everyone knows where the real action is: over by the awesome new workplace coffee machine. Don’t underestimate the goodwill  and staff productivity you can build up simply by saving them the cost of their daily coffee fix. Plus you’ll be saving a ton of downtime that they currently spend standing in line at the local café. You’ll reap the benefits of a more alert, more motivated, and more productive workforce.   If you’re still not convinced, check out our guide to supporting wellbeing in the workplace . Please feel free to share  this article with your managerial team. And check out more information about our range of coffee machines and supplies .
Ah, coffee. Elixir of life, stimulator of great thoughts, comforter of the weary, and … protector from the pains of this world? Yes, you read that right. Beyond tasting good, smelling great, and making you feel like a million bucks, drinking coffee confers a host of benefits you’re probably completely unaware of. Want to know more? Alrighty – strap in for our list of the top 14 benefits of coffee.   1. Drinking coffee makes you smarter The caffeine in coffee helps you think better and focus more by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters in your brain that help your neurons get all fired up. You know the expression ‘firing on all cylinders’? That’s what we’re talking about.   2.  Drinking c offee makes you feel happier Studies show a 20% lower risk of depression in regular coffee drinkers and a 53% lower risk of committing suicide. It’s sunshine in a cup.   3. Drinking coffee sharpens you up No surprises here. Lots of studies confirm that coffee increases your energy level and improves vigilance, reaction times, alertness, and a bunch of other desirables.   4. Drinking coffee makes you more gorgeous Caffeine reduces swelling so it combats puffy eyes and gives you smoother skin. You can even apply coffee bean oils directly to your skin to make it extra silky – and if you want to surround yourself with that moreish coffee aroma. Mmmmm-mmmmmm!   5. Drinking coffee makes you sportier Coffee stimulates the release of adrenaline into your bloodstream, which readies your body to either stand and fight that rapidly approaching sabre-toothed tiger or run like the wind. It can actually improve your physical performance by up to 12%.   6. Drinking coffee makes you more relaxed Sounds counterintuitive, right? It’s true that coffee gives you energy and wakes you up, but it also has stress-relieving effects according to some studies – even if you simply smell the beans. And who doesn’t love the smell of coffee?   7. Coffee contains massive amount of antioxidants Antioxidants are our friends. They protect our bodies against damage caused by free radicals. Drinking coffee may contribute up to 79% of our daily antioxidant needs – more than we get from fruits and vegetables.   8. Coffee is full of nutrients We kid you not: coffee contains vital stuff your body really needs like riboflavin, pantothenic acid, manganese, potassium, magnesium, and niacin. So drink up – it’s good for you.   9. Drinking coffee helps you burn fat Caffeine can boost your metabolism by up to 10% so your body burns fat faster. It makes your fat cells break down body fat and release it into your bloodstream so your body can use it as fuel. Thanks coffee – you rock!   10. Drinking coffee makes your workout a breeze An experimental study has found that drinking coffee before exercising helps people go harder at the gym – completing 38% more reps on average.   11. Drinking coffee can improve your memory Some studies suggest that so long as you remember to regularly drink coffee, you’ll keep remembering a bunch of other stuff too.   12. Drinking coffee helps control pain Headache? Have a strong cup of coffee with your ibuprofen. Studies show that taking caffeine with painkillers makes them substantially more effective.   13. Drinking coffee gives you better erections Listen up, men! Coffee has properties similar to Viagra, according to a recent study, increasing the blood flow to your penis and helping to ‘stiffen your resolve’, so to speak.   14. Drinking coffee can cure constipation A good strong coffee can stimulate the muscles in your digestive system to contract, helping nature to take its course. Oh the relief!   So there you have it:  drinking coffee makes you smarter, better, stronger, faster  and you owe it to yourself to have a delicious espresso right now. The only question remains – what’s the best way to make it? For some helpful answers to that very question, find out more about our coffee machines , and even get a free quote.
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