What Employees Remember About Workplaces? (And What Leaders Often Miss) 

As an employer, making your workspace memorable may not be the most important thing on your plate. 

In fact, it might not be something you’ve ever really thought about before. 

That’s understandable, given how many other responsibilities you have on your plate. 

You might think you don’t have time to focus on frivolous things like workplace perks and environment.

However, if you give time to create a memorable workplace environment, it is one of the smartest things you can do for business growth. 

Keeping employees happy is a great way to reduce your worker turnover rate and save money on hiring and training costs. 

This article outlines a few things employees tend to remember most about workplaces (and leaders often overlook).

Why It’s Important To Create A Memorable Workplace Environment?

Creating a memorable workplace environment is important because it facilitates employee engagement and encourages better productivity. 

Happy employees tend to work harder for their employers. Some research also suggests that happy workers complete their tasks more efficiently without compromising the quality of their output.

Companies that treat employees right tend to have lower turnover costs because they’re not constantly bleeding workers to competitors. 

Most people like to stay with employers that value them, so it’s wise to send regular messages of appreciation to your team members. 

You can do that by treating them with respect and by offering them small perks and advantages.

What Are Some Common Factors That Make A Memorable Workplace Environment?

Now that you know how crucial it is to keep your workers happy, you may be wondering how to do that. 

Is it sufficient to just acknowledge them regularly, or do you need to make big investments in memorable workplace environment upgrades? 

Do your employees expect you to bend over backwards to make your office environment more fun, exciting, and impressive than all of your competitors’?

Surprisingly, that’s usually not the case. The simplest memorable workplace environment features and benefits frequently turn out to be the most memorable for the average employee. 

If given a choice between a basic office with a welcoming atmosphere and an advanced office with an unfriendly atmosphere, most workers would probably prefer the former. 

Here are some of the top things many employees remember fondly about their favorite workplaces.

1. Simple Conveniences

Simple, everyday conveniences can go a long way toward keeping your workers satisfied and engaged. 

It’s not always about adding expensive features like an on-site gym or rock-climbing wall. 

I know that these types of perks are certainly unique and cool. But they aren’t always realistic or as effective as you might think.

Many employees appreciate and remember the simple, everyday conveniences their employers offer. 

For example, an office water cooler with cold, filtered water can be an inexpensive, yet meaningful way to show workers that you care about their health. 

Other simple conveniences that can make your workspace more memorable include “casual Fridays,” online learning platforms, and mental health days.

2. Personal And Team-Based Recognition

Have you ever worked hard to complete a project for an employer, but ended up feeling like they didn’t appreciate your efforts at all? 

Recognition is one of the basic employee needs, and yet some employers fail to offer it. 

If you want to boost employee morale and make your workplace more memorable, take time to develop a robust recognition program. 

Your program should recognize individual and team-based achievements to be most effective.

There are many different ways to recognize teams and individuals. You could send them hand-written thank-you notes, feature them in company meetings, or recognize top-performing employees and teams at an annual corporate event. 

In addition to recognition, non-verbal prizes can also be very memorable and effective. 

These might include cash bonuses, paid employee vacations, or priority parking.

3. Special Celebrations

I can assure you that I am such an employer who notices the important moments of each employee’s life. 

And guess what? I also make an effort to remember them. 

This didn’t happen on day one. But it can make a huge difference in how valued that employee feels. 

Also, I ensured that my employees work for a company that feels like family. 

Then, the memory of that relationship tends to stick with you long after you leave.

You must create and maintain a list of employee birthdays. Also, try to do the same for their career milestones.

I do those for other important events as well. It may take some time, but it’s an effort worth making. 

Celebrating special occasions will help each employee feel important and seen. 

This might look like a monthly birthday party for every employee whose birthday falls in that month. 

Or it could look like a paid lunch for an employee who’s celebrating another decade of work with the company.

4. Company Morale And Environment

The average person spends approximately 13 years of their life at work. That’s a lot of time logged at the office! 

As an employer, you play a key role in making sure your team members remember that time fondly. 

You set the tone for the company morale and environment by how you interact with and treat your employees.

In addition, you can boost morale by learning about and interacting with your employees regularly. 

You know what I started to do? Firstly, I started to show an interest in their lives and in their happiness. 

Secondly, I made sure the managers schedule regular employee reviews. 

Additionally, I offered raises and promotion opportunities for high performers. 

Okay, this is something that I did, and it worked for my company’s productivity altogether. 

I offered flexible working arrangements for those with long commutes or busy schedules. This saved their time and got work done faster! 

Oh, I have another very cool idea! You could also anonymously survey your employees!

This is a very helpful way to get their suggestions. So, you will know better how to improve the office environment. 

Also, you will be able to boost their morale.  

How To Create A Memorable Workplace Environment Explained

As an employer, it’s well worth your time to create a memorable working environment. 

Building a positive workspace can lead to a lower turnover rate, higher productivity, and improved employee morale. 

Use these tips to make sure your workspace is memorable for all the right reasons.