"I'd like to improve the QWC within my company, but I'm no match for the big groups who have far more resources". Spoiler Alert: there's more to QWC than unlimited vacations and luncheon vouchers. Even if this approach could be seen as very costly, it's first and foremost about taking care of employees' quality of life and working conditions. And there are plenty of ways to do this, within the reach of any size of company, and any budget!
To understand how to really improve QWL in a company, it's important to understand what it really consists of. Believing that the best thing to do is to set up a pool table and offer trips is not only likely to lose you money, but also to do nothing to advance your approach.
To really take into account all the aspects essential to a good QVCT, we need to consider 6 main themes.
Managerial practices: to carry out their work in the best possible conditions, employees need optimal managerial practices. These include benevolent and constructive feedback, clear instructions, as well as listening and freedom to perform tasks.
Working conditions: the environment in which employees work has a major impact on their work. We're talking, for example, about the right to disconnect, the fight against sedentary lifestyles, the prevention of psycho-social risks and the need for appropriate work equipment.
Social relations: to feel at ease in your working environment, social relations play a major role. This involves, first and foremost, links with colleagues and superiors in terms of teamwork, but also simply human relations: getting on well with colleagues, not feeling judged, etc.
Work organization: the way in which work is organized plays a decisive role in QWL. For example, flexible working hours and access to telecommuting can guarantee a significant pro/personal balance. Rituals and team support are also part of the equation.
Job content: today, the meaning of work is essential for many workers. Carrying out tasks without understanding their meaning and purpose can have an impact not only on motivation, but also on team morale. Work content must therefore be understood by employees, to enable them to flourish in their tasks.
Evolution and equality: feeling good about your company means knowing that you can evolve, but also that everyone has the same opportunities. Inclusion, diversity and equality are an integral part of a good QWL, as are skills development and internal evolution.
To find out even more about QWL, we explain it all in our white paper!
Taking into account the 6 dimensions of the approach, it's easy to see why bonus actions alone won't change everything. Especially if the substance of the issue is not addressed. We also understand that improving each dimension is not the most costly, when you know how to go about it.
How do you know where to start? By defining your own strategy. And to do that, you need to know your situation inside out. Maybe you're at the top of your game in terms of managerial practices, and training your managers isn't a priority. On the other hand, you may be unaware that you have a great deal of room for improvement in terms of work organization, which is why it's a good idea to carry out a diagnosis of your company with the people who are the first to be affected: your employees.
We have developed "Parlons peu, parlons pro", to enable employees to speak out about their working conditions, so that companies can identify areas for improvement.
How does it work?
To find out more about the project, click here.
The best way to improve your employees' QWL is to consult them. You can do this via the QWL barometers on our platform, but also by other means that you can integrate into your routine.
At Moha, we have a meeting every Wednesday to talk about our mood, our current priorities, and to tell each other how we're really doing. It's called Weekmood, and we tell you all about it in our article on this 100% listening meeting!
After the theory, it's time for practice! We've put together a non-exhaustive list of simple, inexpensive actions that you could implement to improve your approach. Obviously, these actions will depend on your teams' needs and your company's situation.
To improve certain practices or habits in your company, and ensure that everyone follows them, charters are a good thing to set up!
Depending on your needs, you can set up :
We advise you to consult your teams to define these charters together, so that they correspond to as many people as possible.
Corporate culture creates a pleasant environment for employees. It involves certain internal habits that make sense.
And when these habits are directly linked to one of the 6 dimensions of QWL, it's even better. To take care of your employees' health and strengthen social relations, you can organize active team breaks during the day. In fact, we tell you all about the benefits of active breaks in this article!
To improve work organization and social relations, make sure you maintain good internal communication. This involves, for example, a good tool like Slack or Discord, but also good communication practices.
At Moha, we organize a Monthly Team Point every month, aimed at reviewing the news and successes of each team, as well as their needs and future projects. The aim is to keep everyone in-house up to date with what's going on in the company.
If your field of expertise is full of complex terms, you can also set up a glossary to help everyone find their way around.
Moha offers you its expertise to optimize your approach and improve well-being in your company. Centralize all your actions in our 360° platform, and benefit from a privileged contact who will support you throughout your QVCT improvement process. Find out more about our services.
