The past few years have been tough for many workplaces: The COVID-19 pandemic, the Great Resignation, the ongoing push-and-pull between remote and in-office work, and necessary layoffs. These issues and others have led to employee burnout, presenteeism, low morale, and poor productivity across the board in all companies and industries. All this to say, you’re not alone if you’re seeking strategies to improve workplace culture this year.

Yet, as you know, a positive workplace culture isn’t having ping-pong tables or pizza parties. There are no quick fixes. Implement the strategies below, however, and you’ll be well on your way to making employees feel valued, motivated, and supported to reach peak productivity.

Here are the best strategies to improve workplace culture:

Strategy #1: Promote Open Communication – And Act on It

To improve your company’s workplace culture, your employees are the first area you should focus on. They understand better than anyone why morale is low, what’s working, and what they need to feel supported.

Promote open and transparent communication (or, at the very least, anonymous communication) to better understand where your culture gaps are and where to start. Open communication can come in many forms – regular feedback sessions in one-on-one or small teams, town hall meetings, or anonymous suggestion boxes. You may also consider investing in a feedback and engagement tool to request, collect, and analyze feedback, especially for larger teams.

One important step here is to make employees feel heard. However, you cannot just listen to their concerns and suggestions. You must also act on them to ensure employees feel valued and respected.

Strategy #2: Retain HR Consulting Services

As you can see, there are several things you can do to improve workplace culture this year. However, with limited HR resources, it can be difficult to understand which strategies to prioritize and which will have the biggest impact.

To implement these strategies, use HR consulting services. An experienced, objective HR consultant can consider your company’s unique workplace challenges and opportunities to ensure you make the biggest impact.

HR consultants conduct workplace assessments, provide tailored recommendations and offer an unbiased viewpoint and fresh perspective to help you tackle your toughest workplace culture issues.

Strategy #3: Recognize Achievements

Recognizing employee achievements can go a long way to improving morale and your workplace culture. Your employees are working hard and should be appreciated for that hard work.

Create an employee recognition program that lets managers recognize their team members and let employees shout out their colleagues. Consider creating an MVP of the Week celebration with a small prize. Create a channel in your communication app where all can celebrate achievements. Take the time to acknowledge big and small wins in meetings.

Strategy #4: Flexible Work Arrangements

There is no doubt that a mandatory return to the office can hurt morale. Providing flexible working arrangements – where employees can choose when and where they work – can be one of the best things you can do to create a workplace culture your employees love. Trust and autonomy go a long way with employees.

Flexible work arrangements can improve productivity and increase employee retention by helping workers find work/life balance.

If a hybrid or in-office working arrangement is required, consider polling your employees to better understand what they need to return to the office. They may happily return to the office in return for a raise, free lunches, a gas stipend, or working hours that help them avoid rush hour and work better with school and daycare pickups and dropoffs.

Strategy #5: Create an Employee Growth and Development Program

This is the year where you should invest in your employees. Many workers leave companies due to a lack of growth and development opportunities. Don’t let your A-players leave. Instead, support their professional growth by providing training programs and workshops. Create a learning and development fund so employees can take courses and classes to improve their skills.

A growth and development program will help you support your employees and make them feel you’re investing in their success. They’ll be more likely to stay engaged and motivated when you do.

Strategy #6: Support Employee Mental Health

It has been a tough few years not only for companies but for their employees as well. Invest in your employees’ mental health by offering services and support, making them well-known and easy to access. A mentally healthy workforce is a more productive workforce. It’s an important investment in your employees and your business.

Strategy #7: Encourage Team-Building Activities

Do not discourage employees from fraternizing at work. Do what you can to encourage camaraderie and team building. It is in your company’s best interest to strengthen the bonds between managers and employees, employees in different departments, and between leadership and the workforce.

Often, when times are tough, these secure and trusting relationships will maintain the positive workplace culture you’ve worked so hard to build.