MAINTAINING A PRODUCTIVE WORKPLACE

1. Chapter 18 MAINTAINING A PRODUCTIVE WORKPLACE

2. A Productive Workplace • Productivity is the ratio of an organization’s inputs or its resources, to its outputs or the goods and services it produces. • It is essential to maintain high productivity in the workplace. • There are many ways to improve efficiency in productivity.

3. A Productive Workplace ** ** • Steps to increasemoraleto boost productivity: • Understand the morale of the work environment. • Let everyone know “what’s in it for them?” • Get everyone in the organization involved in goal setting, individually and collectively. • Let employees know that the company is dedicated to helping them succeed, and to be promoted. • Encourage communication between employees, among departments, and within teams. • Don’t relax on individual and group accountability.

4. A Productive Workplace • Other factors that improve morale: • The manner in which employees and managers are appraised. • Creative appraisal systems stimulate productivity by encouragement, two-way communication, and motivation. • An appraisal system should be S.M.A.R.T.S. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results Oriented, Time Bound, Stretchable) • “Stretch” the employee, giving him or her new goals, new horizons to grow into a new comfort zone. • *Morale is not static but its malleable.

5. A Productive Workplace • Productivity and task maturity • One way to encourage productivity is to match an individual to the job that needs to be done. • Someone with task maturity has the skill set for the job at hand. • Task maturity does not refer to an employee’s age or seniority on the job.

6. A Productive Workplace • Avoiding self-sabotage • Self-sabotage means damaging one’s own credibility or competence. • There are many reasons people sabotage their efforts. • *Dan Neuharth found that procrastination is the main reason. • Procrastination is also a major source of stress. • Hidden benefits of procrastination also exist. • *Its NOT because of lack of feedback

7. A Productive Workplace • Steps to stop procrastinating: • Get going on the task. • Make a plan. • Reduce the task to smaller components. • Think positive. • Reward yourself along the way. • Give yourself credit.

8. Time Management • Time management means making effective use of available time, and requires planning. • People often overload time or underutilize time. • Procrastination is one cause of underutilization.

9. Time Management • Time analysis tools help analyze use of time and become more efficient in time management. • Noticing a pattern where people waste time can help manage time and set priorities. • * Creating a to-do list and set priorities.

10. Behaviors that Reduce Workplace Productivity • Troubling personal situations arise for everyone. • Individuals who don’t handle these situations well can affect the overall well-being and productivity of their workplace. • Employees, managers, and entrepreneurs are all responsible for handling situations in their personal lives effectively.

11. Behaviors that Reduce Workplace Productivity • Substance abuse (Alcohol and other drugs) • One of the most common and expensive employee problems that companies face. • Abuse of alcohol and other drugs together cost the American economy an estimated $276 billion per year in lost workdays and lowered productivity. • Physical and behavioral signs of alcohol abuse in the workplace.

12. Behaviors that Reduce Workplace Productivity • Employee drug abuse and dependency • What qualifies as drug abuse depends on the user’s dependence on the drug and how the substance affects behavior. • Abuse is going on when drug use is frequent, compulsive, and intense. • Abuse includes withdrawal symptoms or increased tolerance.

13. Behaviors that Reduce Workplace Productivity • Employee drug abuse and dependency (cont.): • Dependence can be physiological or psychological. • Psychoactive drugs are categorized based on their effect on the body and the central nervous system – depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, designer drugs.

14. Behaviors that Reduce Workplace Productivity • Effects of substance abuse in the workplace: • A very expensive employee problem. • Costs are mainly associated with lost productivity and health-care expenses. • A substance-abusing employee may also go into withdrawal at work, which can cause distress for everyone in the workplace.

15. Behaviors that Reduce Workplace Productivity • Marital, family, and other personal problems • Lead to excessive absenteeism, unusual behavior, decline in the quality of work performance, trouble concentrating, and decline or change in appearance at workplace. • Divorce is one of the most common problems. • *Family violence is another problem.

16. Behaviors that Reduce Workplace Productivity • Financial problems • Employees under severe financial pressure may experience difficulties such as low productivity and stress. • Financial problems also make employees susceptible to stealing from the company (time or resources). • Employee’s may also get involved in substance abuse or domestic violence.

17. Behaviors that Reduce Workplace Productivity • Compulsive gambling • *The inability to control one’s betting habits. • Some employees may get caught in compulsive gamblingleading to depression and relationship problems in their personal lives or at work. • It costs the economy in terms of lost productivity, criminal acts, lost jobs, bankruptcy, bailout costs, and even suicide.

18. Responses to Substance Abuse and Other NonproductiveBehaviors • A supervisor’s main responsibility is to make the employee understand that his/her job performance is not acceptable. • Supervisors should not try to counsel/advise employees themselves, but should refer them to: • *The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) • Community counseling center • Substance abuse professionals

19. Responses to Substance Abuse and Other NonproductiveBehaviors • EAPs can help with the following: • Abuse of alcohol and other drugs. • Mental health issues. • Financial problems. • Legal trouble. • Poor physical health. • Stress, depression, anxiety, and other emotional issues. • Family and marriage conflict. • Other personal problems or concerns.

20. Responses to Substance Abuse and Other NonproductiveBehaviors • Workplace substance abuse policies • Companies must determine their stand on substance abuse with input from various staff. • Once the policy is developed, it must be clearly communicated to the entire staff. • Train supervisors to recognize symptoms of abuse and understand how it impairs performance. • Drug awareness education for employees. • Counseling and referral component of policies.

21. Responses to Substance Abuse and Other NonproductiveBehaviors • Employee drug testing • The Drug-Free Work Place Act of 1988 states that certain types of businesses must take action to make the workplace drug free. • These actions often include drug testing, which can prevent as well as detect substance abuse in the workplace. • While doing drug testing, companies must avoid lowering employee morale.

22. Responses to Substance Abuse and Other NonproductiveBehaviors • What else can be done for employees? • Understand factors that create/maintain a productive workplace. • Learn methods of improving appraisal systems and morale. • Learn strategies to improve use of time. • Recognize substance abuse and other behaviors. • Know what employers/employees can do to help.

23. Strategies for Success • Warning signs of substance abuse: • Difficulty in recalling and following instructions. • Frequent tardiness or absence from work. • Frequent disappearances from the job location. • Taking too many cigarette or restroom breaks. • Taking extended lunch and work breaks. • Difficulty getting along with co-workers.

24. Strategies for Success • Warning signs of substance abuse (cont.): • Difficulty getting along with co-workers. • Increased mistakes on the job. • Repeated accidents off the job that affect job performance. • Dramatic changes in personality or work performance during the day, especially after taking a break.