Introduction
Hong Kong is known for its highly competitive and intense working environment, which employees often suffer as a result of this. A data survey by GlobalData found that the average working hours per week in Hong Kong was 44 hours in 2021. Even though there has been an 8.3% decrease between 2010 and 2021, Hong Kong still ranked 149th out of 187 locations in terms of the shortest working weeks.
Hong Kong’s work culture will not transform overnight, but employers can implement and experiment with a mix of strategies to improve employee satisfaction and achieve work-life balance over time.
What you will learn from this article:
3. Personal development workshops
1. Reduce overtime hours
Tight deadlines have been one of the major sources of stress for many employees. Companies should seek ways to relieve their stress by scheduling projects and working further in advance, or freeing up time by reducing meetings.
Encourage employees to record and plan the tasks they have to complete every week with the use of software like Asana and Hubspot to reduce confusion and become more organized with work plan.
Make a rule that states all employees must leave the office by a certain time to make sure employees have time to unwind from their day and get sufficient rest.
2. Ongoing education
Online platforms like Coursera or Udemy offer ongoing education through different online courses. Giving your staff access to these resources will help them grow into more well-rounded individuals and develop a sense of achievement.
Online training is one of the solutions to offering employees an individualized database of educational resources they can always access. Upskilled’s online training courses provide the perfect source of knowledge for employees to look back on whenever tackling a complex problem or navigating tricky situations. With immediate access to these resources, employees can quickly review any information they may need and confidently move forward with their tasks!
3. Personal development workshops
When employees feel like they are learning and growing, their engagement is likely to increase. On the other hand, when workers perceive that there’s no opportunity for them to gain new knowledge or progress in their roles, then disengagement may result. Fortunately, your business can cultivate employee growth and development by providing various workshops for career advancement.
Host bi-weekly or monthly workshops that focus not only on employees’ skill set for the job, but also teach employees how to manage their finances, or how to deal with mental health issues. It will boost office morale. help them take care of themselves and demonstrate to your team that you care about them.
4. Team Building activities
Employee satisfaction directly influences engagement and productivity, making it essential for any organization to prioritize. Numerous research studies show that employees who feel appreciated and valued demonstrate greater commitment, and higher motivation levels, and are likely to be more innovative. Engaging in morale-building activities can bring colleagues together, breaking down communication barriers and creating a more open and enjoyable work atmosphere.
A fun working environment and close relationships with colleagues play a large role in job satisfaction, so regular team-building activities such as weekend hikes, culinary courses, brewing workshops, team dinners, and volunteering activities will go a long way in helping your employees build firm friendships.
5. Offer free gym membership
Offering free gym membership will encourage your employees to get moving after sitting all day at the office, and help those who don’t want to spend money on a gym membership. It also creates an opportunity for employees to bond and develop a common interest that would benefit team culture in the long run.
6. Invest in workplace ergonomics
When employees invest most of their time at work, it is important to make their workspace safe and comfortable to avoid musculoskeletal injuries. In Hong Kong, a recent survey reported that 96% of office workers relentlessly worked for at least six hours a day on their computers throughout 2018 and 2019. Over the past decade, 78% of office workers reported discomfort in their musculoskeletal system. During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, a startling 80% of users who worked with computers self-reported feeling musculoskeletal discomfort. This can be attributed to an increase in computer use due to remote work and other social distancing practices.
As an employer, you can invest in laptop stands for optimal viewing levels, mousepads with wrist wrest, ergonomics office chairs, or even working desks if you have more budget.
7. Group health insurance
Offering health insurance to employees is a practical way to relieve their financial burden when they are sick. Besides, with Hong Kong’s stressful working culture, mental health illnesses have become more prevalent. Despite one out of seven Hong Kong adults suffering from mental health issues like stress, anxiety, and depression, the topic is not discussed as openly in many companies due to a culture of silence that shrouds the issue.
7. Group health insurance
Offering health insurance to employees is a practical way to relieve their financial burden when they are sick. Besides, with Hong Kong’s stressful working culture, mental health illnesses have become more prevalent. Despite one out of seven Hong Kong adults suffering from mental health issues like stress, anxiety, and depression, the topic is not discussed as openly in many companies due to a culture of silence that shrouds the issue.
Therefore, companies should proactively address the issues with health insurance that offers psychiatric treatment cover could serve as an intervention measure to help employees take a proactive approach to seek professional help. StartupCare Limited’s employee health benefits solution is an example that provides such coverage through its comprehensive approach to supporting employee wellbeing.
Conclusion
To maintain a successful business, apart from paying attention to your employees, you should review your payroll structure and processing. By adopting an external service provider, you can have peace of mind and focus your energy on other important tasks. Founded in 2013, The FastLane Group is an accountancy and advisory firm with a presence in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. We combine innovation and technology to provide professional services with a particular focus on entrepreneurs, start-ups, fast-growing technology companies, angel investors, and venture capitalists, providing best-in-class services for businesses looking to operate in Hong Kong, China, and the ASEAN region.
Offering a diverse range of professional services, including accountancy, auditing, company formation, and payroll management and HR advisory assistance, the FastLane Group is able to provide a holistic and comprehensive suite of services to our clients. Contact FastLane Group to learn more about our solutions to grow your business.
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