No matter how hard Human Resources Professionals try, not all work environments are welcoming, friendly or conducive to work. Some work environments end up being hostile, which can increase staff turnover and have a negative impact on the company’s bottom line. That’s why it’s in every HR manager’s best interest to take a proactive approach to addressing any toxicity in their office environment.

Here are a few steps you can take to help employees manage their emotions and neutralize a toxic work environment.

Encourage a healthy work-life balance

In many work environments, employees who are overworked or do not have sufficient time for their life outside of the office are more likely to lock horns with their coworkers. Encouraging a healthy work-life balance can ease this tension and help everyone get along with each other during the time they do spend in the office. One way to do this is by advocating for schedule flexibility where possible. If people have the opportunity to start work a bit earlier and have most of the afternoon to themselves, they won’t feel so overwhelmed.

Recognize employees for their hard work

Employees who feel underappreciated or under-recognized for their hard work are also more likely to contribute to workplace toxicity. As such, consider implementing a system through which employees and their managers can submit any work they think is worth company-wide praise. Another great tactic is to ensure that all work is being tracked and logged in a clear project management system. That way, when someone goes above and beyond the call of duty with long hours and difficult projects, the rest of the organization will be aware.

Provide a platform for employees to voice their concerns

Workplace toxicity is only amplified when employees do not have a clear way to voice their grievances, or if the only way to do so entails the rest of the company finding out. If you do not have one in place already, implement an open door HR policy whereby anyone can come forward and express their concerns anonymously and without fear or reprisal. When employees feel that they’re actually being listened to by management, they’ll be less inclined to take their frustration out on their coworkers.

Offer ways for staff to relieve stress

Many people struggle to deal with stress, which only builds up and makes a bad situation worse. Consider investing in ways for employees to relieve stress in the office, such as table tennis, a football table, or even video games. It can also be helpful to encourage employees to take walks outside whenever they need to clear their head, and to possibly even schedule stress management seminars to complement existing team building workshops.

Another step employers can take to improve the workplace is to offer employees a benefits program that includes financial guidance. In many cases, the well-being of employees in the workforce is driven by the state of their financial health. By extending a hand and offering helpful financial services in the way of a bank regulated loan that doesn’t affect their credit score, you can do your part to protect your most valuable assets. TrueConnect is a voluntary employee benefits plan that offers an easy, quick, and effective way to help employees with their personal finances at no cost to the company. This is not meant to replace your existing benefits, but as an added value,  voluntary employee benefits service.  Get in touch to learn more about TrueConnect’s simple and effective solution that can help reduce the amount of stress many employees experience. Contact us today for a confidential, complimentary consultation regarding our voluntary employee benefits program.