Business owners can ensure they’re creating a happy and motivated workplace by following a new list of ten simple tips to ensure productivity.

From offering meaningful perks to encouraging work-life balance, experts at LondonOffices.com have compiled a list of the ten things every business owner and manager should be doing to ensure their teams are happy and fulfilled at work.

Many of these tips cost nothing yet will noticeably improve the productivity of a workforce. Consistently offering constructive praise and building mutual trust, for example, will increase employee-manager relations, in turn creating an atmosphere where employees are happy, hard-working and able to voice any concerns.

Getting out of the office from time to time is another imperative tip, as socialising outside of work will help to create a sense of togetherness and camaraderie which will have a positive impact inside the workplace.

“The average Brit will spend around 81,000 hours, or the equivalent of a full nine years of their lives at work, so it’s important that they’re commuting to a workplace that encourages happiness and positivity,” Chris Meredith, CEO of LondonOffices.com says.

“For some people, work is just a means to an end, yet for career-driven folk it’s much more than that. Whatever the case, nobody wants to be working in a place that propagates negativity. By following these rules, you can ensure that your employees or co-workers feel happy and motivated, which will in turn encourage them to do their best work – it really is a win-win situation!”

In no particular order, here are ten ways to create a happy and motivated workplace.

Hire happy people

The number one rule in nurturing a happy workplace is to hire happy people. Whilst they don’t have to be a bubbly extrovert full of life and zest, they have to be happy in your workplace, and that comes naturally when people have a genuine passion for what they’re doing day in, day out.

Pay attention to how the person makes you feel in the interview. Do they laugh and smile? Do they seem capable of creating and nurturing professional relationships? While their professional track record is important, a person that brings doom and gloom to the workplace will kill productivity and motivation.

Consistently deliver praise and recognition

Feeling underappreciated is one of the main reasons people quit their jobs, so make sure your staff know when they’ve done good. Whether this is in the form of a regular feedback meeting or impromptu praise, people are happier knowing they’ve done something worthwhile.

Offer meaningful perks

If you automatically assume that offering a member of your staff a pay rise is the only way to make them happy, think again.  Employees value many perks over pay rises, and this is especially true of millennial workers. Food and gift cards, childcare programmes, unlimited holidays, and health and wellness programmes are ideal and what keep companies like Google, Facebook and Apple at the top.

Get out of the work routine occasionally

Having friends at work makes going into the office more fun. It helps to create a sense of togetherness and camaraderie. Whether you’re inviting your team out for an evening down the pub, for a meal, at the cinemas or bowling, hosting fun events will give staff the chance to connect with their co-workers on a more personal level.

Give back with your employees

Do something to give back to your community or charity. Having a company-wide initiative that makes a difference will make people feel connected to the greater good. Take a vote and find out what your employees care about, and get their opinions on how you can work together to give back to those areas.

Build mutual trust

Your team wants to be trusted. They want to be given responsibility because it shows that you’re confident in their abilities. Trust means micromanaging less, but also creating accountability to ensure things are getting done.

Encourage some selfish thinking

Part of the secret to being happy at work is to encourage people to have personal career goals. When people feel like they are working towards something, the day-to-day politics and stresses of the workplace don’t matter as much.

Encourage work-life balance

When aiming to create a positive work environment, it is essential to show your employees that you aren’t just supportive of them inside the office, but that you care about their well-being outside of the office as well. The ability to show that you’re flexible in times of utmost necessity will prove to your employees that you see them as people, and not just as another number on your payroll.

Be a team player

Leading by example makes for a great boss. Be there for your employees when they need you most, which could mean having to jump in and get your hands dirty alongside them.

Promote a social workplace

Offices shouldn’t feel stuffy and overly serious. The manager should be responsible for promoting a social workplace where workers are free to talk, share their opinions and communicate freely. Try to hold weekly meetings where you can all discuss achievements and good things happening across the team.