Increasing employee activity is a simple, one fix fits all, problem. Many, often tiny, issues affect productivity and it requires analysis and creative problem solving to make an effective change work.
Logistics is important. Does the employee have the materials at hand to perform the tasks that are needed? Employees who are looking for parts, pens or staples, or downstairs at the copy machine are not productive. To ensure that employees can be productive, the employer must make everything they need easily available.
Training is another productivity tool. Do employees really know how to perform their duties? In some businesses, on the job training means that the employees learn by being on the job long enough to absorb what they need. These are less productive employees. To increase employee productivity, employers must ensure that employees are well trained and that they continue to be trained as the business changes.
Planning work flow is another area where employers can see productivity improvements. If tasks should be performed in a specific order, both the work area and the logistic flow must match that order. When building a computer, the employee needs the motherboard before the CPU housing. Match the flow to the need.
Productivity revolves around the employee doing their job. Before scheduling a meeting, employers should determine if there will be a value added to employee productivity. Employees in meetings and conferences are not working. To increase employee productivity, increase the time that they can spend at their work station.
Employers also need to examine their polices and procedures. A policy that requires telephone repairmen to set out cones every time that they park their truck means that they are placing cones in parking lots, driveways and other areas where the cones are not necessary. Every business may have similar policies and procedures that result in employees performing unnecessary tasks that reduce their productivity.
An area that is often overlooked when employers look to increase employee productivity is employee breaks. It is well established that people work better if they are able to take a short break at regular intervals. A coffee break, or a lunch break, can provide the employee with a needed respite and the energy to resume their duties when the break is over.
In order for an employer to increase employee productivity, every aspect of the employee's day must be examined. Logistics, work flow, scheduling and policy changes can all affect employee productivity. If an employer can make it easier for the employee to perform their duties, the result will be a more productive employee.