Ample studies show that happy employees are more productive, more innovative, and less inclined to seek employment elsewhere. It is worth it, both for ethical and financial reasons, to invest in your employee’s happiness. Here are three ways to improve morale at your company.

Expand Benefits

Certain benefits have come to be expected from employers. These include health insurance, investment matching, and paid time off. If you don’t already offer those benefits, consider doing so. Competitive benefits are critical components of recruiting the best talent. If you do offer the basics, think about how you can expand benefits to become even more competitive. For example, what about offering free gym use, daily lunches, discounts on travel, wellness reimbursement, student loan payment, flexible hours, or free life coaching? Many of the world’s top companies such as Salesforce, Google, and Intel offer these perks and more. 

Host an Event

Sometimes all your employees need to feel valued and appreciated is a special event held in their honor from time to time. The more thought and time you put into your event, the more impactful it will be. You have many options for this. You could cater a special meal during work hours and hold an award ceremony. You could book a fun activity at another venue. Or maybe you prefer to show your gratitude with a day of pampering. Whatever you decide, plan ahead. You should work out technical details long before your event begins.

Promote Proper Work-Life Balance

Proper work-life balance is vital for well-being. However, many employees feel pressured to extend their workday well into their personal and family time. This is especially true if they see you working beyond normal work hours. Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to set the standard and the example of a proper work-life balance. For example, you might want to set up a rule that says there should be no work emails sent out between the hours of, say, 6:00 pm and 6:00 am. Your compliance and gentle reminders where necessary should be enough to lead your workplace culture toward greater balance. This, in turn, will boost morale and decrease employee burnout. 

We are entering a new age that understands the human aspect of a business. Your employees may work for you, but they are first and foremost human beings. They will be far more efficient, creative, innovative, and even healthier if they feel appreciated, heard, and happy at work. You can easily improve morale at your company by expanding employee benefits, hosting appreciation events, and promoting proper work-life balance.

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Providing a safe dining experience for your customers will maintain your good reputation and allow you to remain open. The best way to keep your restaurant safe is by knowing what violations can land you in trouble. You can take special care to avoid these mistakes. 

Improper Food Storage 

When storing food, there are certain rules that must be followed to prevent cross-contamination, food spoiling, or other dangers to your patrons. You should know the common food storing mistakes. Food needs to be stored in proper places. For example, raw meat should never be stored above fresh vegetables. 

Meat should always be placed on the bottom. Food always needs to be covered while being stored. To keep food fresh, you need to make sure you are rotating your food. Older food needs to be used first. You also need to use proper containers when storing things. It’s recommended that you use glass containers as they are BPA-free and safe to use in both the dishwasher and microwave. 

Failing to Sanitize the Kitchen 

Another way you can remove any health risks from your kitchen is by keeping it clean. Some elements need to be cleaned more frequently than others. Your countertops should be wiped and sanitized several times a day since they are used frequently. Your floors should be cleaned at the end of the day to remove any food spills as well as messes made from constant foot traffic.

The appliances in your kitchen have their own schedule for when they should be cleaned, but often it is 1-2 times a week. Keeping your kitchen sanitized removes bacteria and prevents pests from making a home there. Pests can mean serious health consequences for employees and diners. Employ extra measures to prevent pests. 

Improperly Storing and Using Chemicals

While you want to keep your kitchen clean and sanitized, you need to be careful with the chemicals you use to do so. Any chemicals used in your kitchen should be clearly labeled so your employees know what they are. They also need to be stored properly. Chemicals should be far away from all food and away from any heat sources. Your kitchen should have safety posters on display that detail how chemicals should be stored. 

It’s easy to be more lenient with certain rules in your kitchen, but this leniency can land you and your restaurant in trouble. It’s best to be aware of all the rules and follow them carefully. Otherwise, your restaurant won’t last much longer.

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