3 Messages You Don’t Want Your Workplace to Send

Every day, your employees come to your workplace, put in their hours, then go home and repeat the next morning. Sure, this might seem like a typical routine, but in between the daily tasks and checks off their to-do lists, your workforce is receiving dozens of little messages from your workplace. But just what exactly are those messages saying?

When you start to think of your workplace as the physical representation of how your business feels about your employees, it becomes easy to see how the message you’re sending may not be the one you want. Let’s take a look at a few aspects of your workplace and the mixed messages they might be sending.

Outdated workplace technology

If the technology in your workplace has fallen out of date or suffers from efficiency issues, it could be telling your employees that you don’t value their time and aren’t invested in their growth. Since an outdated workplace is one of the top business mistakes driving away millennial candidates, failing to provide your employees with cutting-edge resources sends the message that your business isn’t innovative.

Workplace design that limits collaboration

If the design of your workplace doesn’t foster connection, your workforce is likely getting the message that collaboration isn’t a priority for your company. Without comfortable meeting spaces or technology that encourages effective communication, you’re sending the message that it’s one for all, not all for one. And studies have shown that a friendly work environment helps encourage creativity and productivity, which should be reflected in your office design.

Workplace design that doesn’t prioritize employee health

Whether it’s green initiatives, ergonomic office furniture, offering standing desk options or providing healthy snacks, your workplace can easily send the message that you value your employees’ health and well-being. A healthier work environment is one of those things that most employees want, but are afraid to ask for, so taking the initiative to implement healthy design features can show your workforce that you care.

Once you’ve taken a good, long look at what your workplace is saying to your workforce, you might discover that it’s time to make some changes. After all, a positive employee experience is crucial to both retention and productivity, so ensuring your workplace is sending the right message to your team can have significant benefits to your business as a whole. You just might have to start listening a little more carefully.

Editor’s Note: This post was previously published on Inc.com and has been republished here with permission.