The year is fresh and that means many businesses will be running a variety of audits to help ring in the latter half of this decade.
For some, that might mean a full cybersecurity strength assessment with robust penetration testing, revealing examples of bad feedback to address.
For others, it may mean trying to figure out why previous marketing campaigns haven’t led to the conversions they had hoped for. This means that some audits will be niche, and some will be universal.
Of those that can apply to any business, staff feedback and performance audits will be essential.
Part of that comes from surveying your staff based on their satisfaction in their workplace and taking note of any suggested improvements they wish to share.
Now, it’s fair to say that some staff feedback, especially that which might be negative, isn’t always of redeeming value.
If you’ve removed unlimited free coffee from the staff kitchen, then perhaps staff aren’t happy about that.
However, it’s a separate issue to a staff member that feels harassed or as if managers don’t listen to feedback.
In this post, then, we’ll discuss the latter type, of feedback you should never delay acting on, especially if it’s raised by more than two or three people (depending on the size of your team).
Please consider the following:
1. Uncomfortable Working Conditions
Unfortunately, many staff members put up with poor lighting, noisy environments, or broken equipment for months before saying anything.
When multiple people mention these issues, they’re usually pointing to a real problem.
If you’re looking for things to make your office better, sometimes the fix is simple. For example, moving a team away from a drafty door or replacing chairs that make backs ache and replacing them with real ergonomic replacements that show an investment in your team.
Other times the solution takes more work. This might include improving ventilation and cooling in your warehouse with the best HVLS fans for sale, or soundproofing your offices so they don’t hear the manufacturing line quite as loudly during the day.
2. Unclear Communication Pathways
When staff say they don’t know who to talk to about problems, or their emails vanish into a black hole, it might seem a risk that work slows down, but that’s not the real issue here.
It could potentially lead to a safety report going unnoticed, and who knows who that could harm, and how significantly?
Clear reporting lines matter more than we know, because people need to know exactly who handles what, especially for urgent issues or when their direct manager isn’t around.
When several team members say communication is confusing, it usually means the system needs an immediate review.
3. Concern Over Safety & Hygiene Risks
This might sound a little hostile, but most business owners would agree that if you can’t guarantee safety as standard, your business doesn’t deserve to operate.
It’s really that simple. However, staff often notice things managers miss, like blocked fire exits, worn carpets that people trip on, or cleaning supplies running low.
This can run the gamut from somewhat inconvenient to potentially risking harm.
If you’re wondering how to improve health and safety in the workplace, start by addressing these small but crucial issues.
Even small risks add up and can combine to create a real problem, such as bathrooms that don’t get cleaned properly, kitchen areas that attract pests, or doors that don’t lock properly depending on need.
If one safety issue is raised in this feedback survey, then be sure to attend to it no matter how spurious.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily prioritize the feedback you need to focus on, and benefit as a result.
