NFIB

Removing Employee Distractions
02/ 10/ 2004

by Vicki Gerson

Business owners want hard-working employees. While your employees may be hard workers most of the time, sometimes distractions get in their way of being productive. Whether the distraction is work-related, such as excess noise in the office, or stems from the worker's personal life, one thing is certain: employees who are distracted cannot do their job well.

The following tips could help you get distractions under control:

Be more flexible. Companies can be more flexible with employees by allowing them some additional time off for family issues. Allow time outside of work for employees to deal with their family issues, that way the time spent in the office will be productive. This flexibility can range from time off to see a social service person, a physician or a school counselor to taking a day off to move a parent to an assisted living facility.

Provide an employee assistance program. Companies should consider offering an employee assistance program or a similar service. An employee assistance program can help employees identify and resolve personal problems that relate to their health, financial situation, family or any area that contributes to decreased productivity. Currently, hundreds of organizations ranging from blue chip multi-national organizations to smaller companies with one location benefit from these services.

Install acoustic products that absorb office noise. Sound masking is a wise investment. In 2001, 15 percent of all offices in America already used sound masking. That number is increasing as employers look for new ways to make office space quieter, allowing employees to concentrate on their work. What sound masking actually can achieve is scrambling conversations so they're indecipherable. It's not that the employee doesn't hear noise, but he or she doesn't know what anyone is saying.

Institute a work-safety program. Because employees are concerned about workplace safety, there are numerous steps an employer can take. Hold safety meetings annually to clearly review fire safety procedures, even if you're not in a high rise building. Create an updated disaster plan and evacuation plan using multiple approaches. Also decide what security changes are needed at your company, and then institute them. When employees believe they are safe in their work environment, they won't worry about personal safety.

Control the rumor mill. In today's economy, employees worry that they may lose their job. Try to be honest about the company's financial situation and the possibility of potential layoffs. When employees know what is happening, they won't go to work every day wondering if it's their last day on the job.

By helping to prevent and ease distractions in the workplace, you will make your small business a more productive and happier place.

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