It boils down to this – people who love their working environment, their team, their role and their customers are happy, stress free and their employee productivity levels remain extremely high. Nowhere on this list is any mention of salary. Of course people need to be rewarded, but in today’s current climate – having a job is a bonus for many people and so salary level isn’t necessarily the issue.

If you run a small business, when was the last time you took your team out for a drink or a meal… when was the last time you celebrated someone’s birthday or a customer win? It takes very little effort but it goes a long way.

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8 ways to create a fun work environmentand boost employee productivity at the same time

(taken from the article above).

1. Give up the notion that professionalism means being
serious all the time.
It’s possible to take yourself lightly and still be competent and productive. Start to promote the benefits of humor at work.

2. Organize a “Fun Committee” for dreaming up fun “stuff” to do during and after work.

3. Collect and share your favorite cartoons and jokes.
Create a Joke Board or a Humor Newsletter. Look for tools to disseminate fun and funny things daily.

4. Let customers know you are a fun company.
Do something just for fun (organize fun customer events, dress for fun, share funny things with customers) and give employees tools to create a fun relationship with customers (stickers, candy for children, dog biscuits for dogs, humorous buttons with the company logo). This makes work more fun for employees and it strengthens the relationship with customers.

5. Gather your co-workers for the “Joy of Work” hour.
Everyone must talk about something good at work. Take turns telling stories about the things that make work a joy. Each person should contribute ideas on how to make work more fun.

6. Respond to fun when it happens.
Funny things occur all the time, but if you are obsessed with left-brain analytical thought, you might find it hard to stop and respond. Natural spontaneous humor is a blessing. Stop and take a moment to give employees and customers an opportunity to see the fun in the event.

7. Commit to being fun and it will change your approach to work.
Start slowly with a few activities and communicate your desire to create a more relaxed workplace. Don’t expect things to turn around overnight.

8. Encourage employees to develop their own style of having fun.

A nurse anesthetist at a hospital in Michigan often sings to his patients to help them relax prior to surgery. Patients have appreciated this so much that they have told family and friends about the experience. It is not uncommon now for the hospital staff to get requests for “The Singing Anesthesiologist” when they are scheduling their surgery.