With May 1st around the corner, we're reminded of the significance of International Workers Day and the continued relevance of the labor movement in today's workplace. As the work culture evolves and employees prioritize their work-life balance, organizations face the challenge of maintaining productivity and job satisfaction.
In recent years, a growing trend of employees seeking for reduced working hours has emerged, fueled by various factors, including remote work, mental health, and changing priorities of the younger workforce. While this trend has benefited employees, it also presents challenges for organizations. How can they engage and motivate their workforce while offering a better work-life balance?
In this blog post, we'll explore the history and relevance of International Workers Day, what the labor movement demonstrates for today's workplace, and provide strategies for organizations to keep their workforce engaged and their workplace culture positive for all.
May 1st: What the labor movement is demonstrating for today
May 1st has a long history of being associated with the struggle for workers' rights and better workplace conditions. It serves as a reminder that workers' voices and demands should be heard and addressed. By coming together and organizing demonstrations, workers would push for positive change and improve workplace culture for all.
In many countries, including Switzerland, May Day is celebrated with labor demonstrations and marches, where workers take to the streets to advocate for better working conditions, higher wages, and improved benefits. The tradition of celebrating May 1st as a workers' holiday dates back to the late 19th century, when workers went out on the streets on May 1st 1886, demanding for the adoption of the eight-hour workday. A radical idea at the time.
As the labor movement grew stronger in Switzerland, the focus of May 1st demonstrations began to shift towards broader social issues: In the 1920s and 1930s, workers demonstrated for universal suffrage, the abolition of child labor and the right to vote for women. During the post-war period, the emphasis was on securing workers' rights and achieving social justice. Workers demanded better access to education and healthcare, better safety regulations in the workplace as well as improved working conditions and protections against discrimination.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of workplace culture in promoting employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity. Employers are increasingly realizing that they need to create a positive and inclusive workplace culture that values diversity and supports employee well-being to attract and retain the best talent.
May Day is a reminder that workers have the power to shape workplace culture and demand better conditions for themselves and their colleagues. It is a call to action for employers to prioritize the well-being and satisfaction of their employees and to recognize that a positive workplace culture is essential for the success of any organization.
So, what can your organization do to ensure a positive workplace culture for all?
1. Show appreciation.
Showing appreciation is not just limited to monetary aspects. Of course, it is important to ensure employees receive a fair compensation and performance share, but that is only one part of the whole.
An appreciative work environment also means that managers are recognizing a job well done and thank their employees for their dedication and commitment.
Data from Great Place To Work® shows that organizations that foster a culture of appreciation have significantly fewer difficulties retaining employees who identify with their organization. This is not just about employees receiving some validation for their work, but also that their work has a real impact on the organization and is being appreciated by colleagues and management.
Another important factor for an appreciative work environment is an open error culture. Not only is it crucial to acknowledge mistakes as an inevitable part of everyday business, but also to encourage employees to be creative and try out new ideas without fear of negative consequences. Only in this way can innovation and progress flourish and advance the organization as a whole.
2. Provide flexibility.
Since the COVID-19, home office has established itself as a popular way to work amongst white collar workers, and many employees want to maintain this flexibility. But flexibility doesn't just mean not having to commute to the office every morning. Flexible working hours and annual working time models can also help create a more flexible work environment.
At this point it’s important to note that flexibility is not exclusively to be understood as “work-from-anywhere”-models – which are often limited to office jobs.
Flexibility can also mean offering employees flexibility in regard to how they do their day-to-day job or the possibility to take time off when they need it. In fact, employees who feel they can take time off when they need it have a more positive overall view of their employer.
Although there are also limitations to flexibility and completely flexible working hours are not possible in every industry or role, the positive effects of providing flexible working conditions are undeniable – if used sensibly and in a balanced way.
3. Actively promote work-life balance.
Work-life balance is an important factor in employee well-being.
It's not just about when you work, but also about when you don't work. Unfortunately, the work-life balance has worsened for many office workers due to the increased workload and a missing geographic boundary that existed with commute.
Suddenly, meetings are taking place over lunch and the first meeting is scheduled as early as eight in the morning because commute is eliminated. This leads not only to a feeling of exhaustion, but also to a loss of motivation. When you no longer have the opportunity to have plannable off-hours to go for a walk during your lunch break or take the kids to school in the morning, something important in your life is missing.
We are convinced, a healthy work-life balance is a matter of workplace culture. Organizations that encourage their employees to find a work-life balance will benefit in the long run. After all, employees who feel valued and have the opportunity to completely switch off, are more than happy to put in a little extra effort when needed.
4. Create a sense of purpose.
A sense of purpose in the workplace plays a critical role in fostering a good workplace culture and engaged employees.
This is not about every job ensuring world peace - meaningfulness can take many forms. It can be seen in the support of colleagues, in the sense of contributing to the community, even in small ways, or seeing how your day-to-day work has a real impact on achieving the vision and mission of your organization.
When employees can say that their work is more than just a job, it has an enormously positive impact on their motivation. Not only do they enjoy staying with the organization, but they also bring initiative and innovation to contribute to the organization’s success.
In summary, factors such as work-life balance and an appreciative manager are important for increasing employee satisfaction and commitment.
However, they do not replace the basic conditions for a healthy workplace that were fought for as early as 1886. Rather, they can help employees feel connected to their employer and motivated to do their best. Through their creativity and ideas, they can help create a better workplace culture for all.
These demonstrations on Labor Day, serve as a reminder that workplace culture is not just about profits and productivity, but also about the well-being and dignity of workers.
By addressing the needs of your employees and fostering a positive workplace culture, companies not only contribute to the satisfaction of their employees, but also to the success of the company.
