Engaging Workplaces, Effective Relationships

Engaging Workplaces, Effective Relationships, published July 4 2014 shows employers how, by building effective relationships among staff, their workforce experienced positive impacts on all aspects of their life – including within their relationships at home.

The report, produced by OnePlusOne and Working Families reveals that there is a positive connection between an employee’s engagement at work – i.e. a level of interest and performance at – and the quality of their relationships. It also shows that home-life can be a significant driver of motivation at work and that work-life can have a huge impact on personal relationships.

The report includes toolkits and actions that businesses of all sizes can use to create more effective relationships in the workplace, which in turn can enhance employee performance and help strengthen relationships in their personal life. The Mindful Working Tool developed as part of the project included: encouraging employees to leave work on time, have conversations with colleagues about life outside work and switching off their work mobile and not checking emails whilst away from the office.

The tools developed as part of the project have been piloted by Metro Bank, National Grid, The London School of Economics and Political Science and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust with positive results over the past year.

Penny Mansfield, director of relationship charity OnePlusOne said: “Our research has established a strong link between happy homes and productive workplaces. “Armed with this finding five innovative employers put that research into practice and shown that  employers can recognise the value of relational capability in the workplace as an approach to organising work and managing people and the contribution of strong of family and personal relationships to their bottom line.”

Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families said: “Working Families are very pleased to have worked with OnePlusOne and the authors on this report. “The toolkits are an important resource for employers seeking to increase their employee wellbeing and engagement, which will benefit their business in a number of ways. “At the same time, many of us work from home or away from a usual office setting so it’s very important to remember the importance of relationship skills and how vital they are to a positive experience when dealing with colleagues, customers and of course at home.”