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Eight Mistakes to Avoid 
When Creating a Successful 
Working Environment
Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk 
Eight Mistakes to Avoid When Creating 
a Successful Working Environment 
Ensuring that your workplace is a happy one is key to 
maintaining an efficient working environment. There is a 
range of ways to make sure that you and your employees 
are happy in their place of work, whether you work in a 
small office building or a large, multi-site environment. 
Conversely, there are several factors which can contribute 
to a hostile work atmosphere, and it goes without saying 
that these should be avoided at all costs. 
This guide will detail some of the most common and 
harmful errors that managers and CEOs can commit when 
running a work environment, with the aim of helping you 
avoid them yourself and allowing you and your employees 
to enjoy the workplace as they should. Implementing 
these rules and removing any detrimental elements may 
not be an immediate fix; it may take a certain amount of 
time to come up with different processes, but once they 
are integrated within your business then you will start to 
see positive results. 
Written by Andrew Jones 
For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk 
1 
Eight Things to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment
Eight Things to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk 
1. Cliques 
2. Lack of Reward 
TOP TIPS While it is natural for friendships among some people to be 
closer than among others, particularly amongst those who work 
in close proximity to one another, cliques can be detrimental to 
the morale of those who aren’t involved in them. If employees 
are feeling excluded from social activities or groups, this can 
have a negative effect on their work and their self-esteem. Try 
and ensure regular social events for the entire workforce to help 
encourage staff to integrate with people they may not usually 
talk to. 
If there is a friendly, positive atmosphere in and around your 
work environment then employees’ attitudes to work can be 
hugely increased – they will enjoy coming into work, rather than 
dreading it because they do not feel included by their peers. 
Rewarding outstanding work from employees is important 
if they are to feel valued and recognised as a part of your 
company. If they see that less hard-working employees are 
being rewarded with promotions or bonuses, for example, whilst 
they are not receiving any recognition for their work, this can 
make them feel undervalued and have a detrimental effect on 
their motivation, too. 
By making your employees aware that hard work will be 
rewarded, whatever the incentive may be, you can encourage 
them to push themselves and these incentives will work wonders 
for their morale. 
2 
TOP TIPS 
Encourage social activities involving the entire 
workplace 
Arrange seating so staff can integrate with 
people from other departments 
Include communal areas in the workplace 
(pool table, breakout rooms, etc.) 
Don’t situate an entire friendship group 
together, spread them out across the office 
Don’t show favouritism to one group of people 
over another, the last thing employees want to 
see is their boss favouring certain people 
Don’t allow certain groups to have monopoly 
over break rooms, games tables, etc. 
Make employees aware of incentives 
available to them 
Set realistic targets to achieve said incentives 
Ensure equal incentives for all departments, 
make sure staff know they’re all valued 
equally 
Don’t ignore even the smallest achievements 
– any form of progress is good 
Don’t renege on incentives after targets 
have been reached 
Don’t reward 
employees with 
incentives that 
don’t match 
the scale 
of their 
achievement 
Written by Andrew Jones 
For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk
3. Untidy, Unattractive 
Environment 
You know how it feels to come home to a cluttered, messy house, 
and walking into an office that is also untidy can have the same 
depressing effect on employees, too. Look around your workplace 
– are there any empty boxes or stacks of unorganised paperwork 
near desks or on tables? All of these things make your office seem 
smaller, cramped and uncared for. The effect it has on mentality 
may not be immediately noticeable, but constantly coming into 
work to be greeted with an untidy environment can wear you 
down and have a subconscious effect on your mood and attitude. 
As well as the general tidiness and cleanliness of your workplace, 
the way it looks can also affect the way your employees work. 
By having an attractive, well designed workplace you can create 
a welcoming, refreshing environment that not only is a pleasure 
to work in, but can also help boost creativity, productivity and 
provide a friendly, upbeat atmosphere. 
4. Lack of Communication 
This goes for everyone at all levels of employment in your 
workplace, from the part-time staff to the CEO of the company. 
Communication is key to the smooth and efficient running of 
any work environment – a lack of communication can slow 
down processes and create unnecessary work for people. It 
is beneficial for employees to feel like they can talk to their 
colleagues and superiors about anything – it helps them feel 
valued as a member of the team, whether it’s about a personal 
issue or a work-related discussion. 
3 
TOP TIPS 
Use design that creates a warm, friendly 
environment 
Avoid stacking cardboard boxes, or any 
unused equipment around the office 
Regular desk-cleaning should be carried out 
by employees 
Don’t clutter desks with too much equipment 
Don’t place desks or workstations too close 
together 
Don’t leave rubbish collection/disposal to one 
person – create a rota 
TOP TIPS 
Encourage communication through all levels 
of the workplace 
Undertake surveys and polls to gauge 
employee morale and attitude 
Be pro-active about employees’ concerns – 
don’t just listen and take no action 
Don’t assume all employees are happy all 
the time 
Don’t ignore signs of potential rifts or 
problems developing 
Don’t treat concerns, however small, as if 
they are trivial 
By not listening to any concerns raised by colleagues or 
employees, negative tensions and attitudes can build up 
as staff may feel like their opinions do not matter in the 
workplace. This can raise disquiet amongst colleagues who 
feel like they are being ignored, and having several unhappy 
members of a team can lead to a drastic effect on work rate, 
quality of work and atmosphere. 
The break-out areas at Trafficmaster are spacious, uncluttered and 
attractive. Fully stocked machines ensure that all staff are able to 
choose from a range of snacks and hot & cold drinks and food. 
For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk 
Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk 
Written by Andrew Jones
Eight Things to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk 
5. Too Much Pressure 
It goes without saying that every business wants to be the best 
they can be, but there are ways to achieve this and instil this ethos 
in your staff without putting them under undue pressure. Wanting 
staff to meet certain standards is natural, but if they are living in 
fear of what will happen if they don’t meet those standards then 
their work environment will not be a very comfortable one. 
It is important to ensure that employees have the right balance 
between a good work ethic and being comfortable in their job. 
Set targets for staff, motivate them, but don’t do so by giving 
them ultimatums or warnings over what will happen if they don’t 
reach your targets. If your employees are worrying about work 
even when they’re not at work, then there is a definite problem 
and it shows that the work environment is creating undue stress 
for your employees. 
6. Lack of 
Personal touch 
No matter where you work or what your role is within your 
company, feeling valued as a person as well as an employee is 
vital for creating a friendly, communal atmosphere. If you treat 
your staff as nothing but workers, there to do their jobs and 
get results for the company and nothing else, it is very unlikely 
that they will be full of enthusiasm for their work. If you treat 
your employees like people, they will feel more inclined to push 
themselves and exceed expectations. 
Treating employees like you would expect to be treated yourself 
can yield such an improvement in all aspects of your workplace, 
from the attitudes and confidence of your staff to the general 
atmosphere during a working day. 
4 
TOP TIPS 
Set realistic targets 
Encourage staff if you see them struggling 
Ensure employees are aware of the importance 
of a manageable workload 
Don’t set ultimatums 
Don’t set targets that require excessive work 
(skipping breaks, etc.) 
Don’t constantly check if employees are on 
track for targets – they will feel pressured 
TOP TIPS 
Talk to your employees about subjects 
other than work 
Ensure a sense of equality – employees 
should feel like they can chat to those in 
higher roles than them 
Walk round the office or work environment 
regularly and speak to your employees 
Don’t limit communications with staff to 
emails or phone calls where possible 
Don’t keep yourself in your own office – 
this can be off-putting to employees who 
want to speak to you 
Don’t create an overbearing sense of 
hierarchy within the workplace – 
although there is a structure, it 
can become excessive 
Written by Andrew Jones 
For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk
Eight Things to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment 
Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk 
5 
7. Not Leading 
by Example 
Whether you are the owner, a manager or a 
team leader in a company, it is important that 
you set the right example to those in your 
workplace, whether they have similar or different 
roles to yourself. If you expect them to work 
hard and reach targets or deadlines then it is 
important you show that you are working hard 
as well. If they feel like their boss isn’t pulling 
his or her weight then they may feel a sense of 
inequality – if their manager or team leader isn’t 
working hard, why should they? 
Not only does a solid, company-wide work 
ethic boost productivity and yield results, it 
also makes for a happy workplace. If everyone 
shares the same positive attitude it will become 
noticeable in your environment – there will 
be a buzz about the place and a sense of 
achievement will be apparent with the results 
that follow. 
TOP TIPS 
Show yourself to be working hard without 
boasting 
Keep employees up to date with progress and 
future meetings you are attending 
Inform employees of your own targets – this 
will allow them to see the progress you make 
Don’t keep employees in the dark about 
company progress 
Don’t show double standards with regards to 
reaching targets 
Don’t brush your own weaknesses under the 
carpet - show yourself to be working hard 
to improve on anything that needs to be 
improved on 
Written by Andrew Jones 
For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk
Eight Things to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment 
Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk 
6 
8. Refreshments & 
Leisure Time 
In order to be as comfortable as possible at work, 
employees must have the necessary facilities for 
refreshments available to them – drinking water, 
coffee machines and snack machines are all 
important to ensure that there is food and drink 
available easily, should they need it. As well as 
helping employees feel more comfortable, being 
refreshed and relaxed can help boost productivity 
as well. If staff are dehydrated or uncomfortably 
hungry, their concentration could suffer and their 
work output could decrease. 
TOP TIPS 
Utilise breakout areas that contain a 
mixture of refreshments, entertainment 
and comfort 
Ensure there are a variety of refreshments 
(hot drinks, cold drinks, snacks, etc.) 
Allow each employee regular, uninterrupted 
breaks each day to relax 
Don’t underestimate importance of 
breakout rooms and leisure time 
Don’t cut corners on providing adequate 
facilities in break rooms and leisure areas 
Don’t place unreasonable restrictions on 
break/lunch lengths 
The installation at Wayside BMW-Mini contains a variety 
of hot drinks, cold drinks, hot & cold food and snacks. 
Break areas where people can relax at lunch times or break 
times are very important – these breaks can allow staff to 
disconnect from their work for a short time, giving their 
minds a rest and allowing them to return to their work 
refreshed and revitalised. 
If you want to get the best out of your business, then your 
working environment has to be one that is beneficial to all 
those who use it. The errors and misgivings that are listed 
above are common throughout all types of workplaces, and 
the effect that these mistakes can have on employee morale 
and performance should not be underestimated. Talk to 
your staff – finding out what they like about their workplace 
and things that they feel can be improved on will help you 
make any necessary changes to bring your work environment 
up to standard. A happy workplace is a productive one, 
and by creating a workplace that staff enjoy being in, both 
employees and the business itself can reap the rewards. 
Written by Andrew Jones 
For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk
Eight Things to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment 
Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk 
7 
CONTACT 
Want to find out more? 
Established in 1992, Express Vending are 
specialists in the supply, installation and 
maintenance of state-of-the-art vending 
solutions for organisations of all sizes and 
functions. We can tailor our service to 
suit your requirements: whether you need 
a snack machine or a vending machine 
that dispenses hot drinks, our range of 
machines plus our expert team means we 
have everything you need. We have worked 
with a range of companies from Amazon 
to The Open University, and our personal, 
professional and committed service means 
that 98% of our customers choose to 
extend their contracts with us. 
If you would like to know how to improve 
your workplace or for more information 
about Express Vending as a company, get 
in touch today via phone, email or the 
contact form on our website and we’ll be 
happy to help. 
Telephone: 0800 533 5841 
info@expressvending.co.uk 
www.expressvending.co.uk 
Written by Andrew Jones 
For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk

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8 Mistakes To Avoid For A Successful Working Environment

  • 1. Eight Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment
  • 2. Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk Eight Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment Ensuring that your workplace is a happy one is key to maintaining an efficient working environment. There is a range of ways to make sure that you and your employees are happy in their place of work, whether you work in a small office building or a large, multi-site environment. Conversely, there are several factors which can contribute to a hostile work atmosphere, and it goes without saying that these should be avoided at all costs. This guide will detail some of the most common and harmful errors that managers and CEOs can commit when running a work environment, with the aim of helping you avoid them yourself and allowing you and your employees to enjoy the workplace as they should. Implementing these rules and removing any detrimental elements may not be an immediate fix; it may take a certain amount of time to come up with different processes, but once they are integrated within your business then you will start to see positive results. Written by Andrew Jones For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk 1 Eight Things to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment
  • 3. Eight Things to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk 1. Cliques 2. Lack of Reward TOP TIPS While it is natural for friendships among some people to be closer than among others, particularly amongst those who work in close proximity to one another, cliques can be detrimental to the morale of those who aren’t involved in them. If employees are feeling excluded from social activities or groups, this can have a negative effect on their work and their self-esteem. Try and ensure regular social events for the entire workforce to help encourage staff to integrate with people they may not usually talk to. If there is a friendly, positive atmosphere in and around your work environment then employees’ attitudes to work can be hugely increased – they will enjoy coming into work, rather than dreading it because they do not feel included by their peers. Rewarding outstanding work from employees is important if they are to feel valued and recognised as a part of your company. If they see that less hard-working employees are being rewarded with promotions or bonuses, for example, whilst they are not receiving any recognition for their work, this can make them feel undervalued and have a detrimental effect on their motivation, too. By making your employees aware that hard work will be rewarded, whatever the incentive may be, you can encourage them to push themselves and these incentives will work wonders for their morale. 2 TOP TIPS Encourage social activities involving the entire workplace Arrange seating so staff can integrate with people from other departments Include communal areas in the workplace (pool table, breakout rooms, etc.) Don’t situate an entire friendship group together, spread them out across the office Don’t show favouritism to one group of people over another, the last thing employees want to see is their boss favouring certain people Don’t allow certain groups to have monopoly over break rooms, games tables, etc. Make employees aware of incentives available to them Set realistic targets to achieve said incentives Ensure equal incentives for all departments, make sure staff know they’re all valued equally Don’t ignore even the smallest achievements – any form of progress is good Don’t renege on incentives after targets have been reached Don’t reward employees with incentives that don’t match the scale of their achievement Written by Andrew Jones For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk
  • 4. 3. Untidy, Unattractive Environment You know how it feels to come home to a cluttered, messy house, and walking into an office that is also untidy can have the same depressing effect on employees, too. Look around your workplace – are there any empty boxes or stacks of unorganised paperwork near desks or on tables? All of these things make your office seem smaller, cramped and uncared for. The effect it has on mentality may not be immediately noticeable, but constantly coming into work to be greeted with an untidy environment can wear you down and have a subconscious effect on your mood and attitude. As well as the general tidiness and cleanliness of your workplace, the way it looks can also affect the way your employees work. By having an attractive, well designed workplace you can create a welcoming, refreshing environment that not only is a pleasure to work in, but can also help boost creativity, productivity and provide a friendly, upbeat atmosphere. 4. Lack of Communication This goes for everyone at all levels of employment in your workplace, from the part-time staff to the CEO of the company. Communication is key to the smooth and efficient running of any work environment – a lack of communication can slow down processes and create unnecessary work for people. It is beneficial for employees to feel like they can talk to their colleagues and superiors about anything – it helps them feel valued as a member of the team, whether it’s about a personal issue or a work-related discussion. 3 TOP TIPS Use design that creates a warm, friendly environment Avoid stacking cardboard boxes, or any unused equipment around the office Regular desk-cleaning should be carried out by employees Don’t clutter desks with too much equipment Don’t place desks or workstations too close together Don’t leave rubbish collection/disposal to one person – create a rota TOP TIPS Encourage communication through all levels of the workplace Undertake surveys and polls to gauge employee morale and attitude Be pro-active about employees’ concerns – don’t just listen and take no action Don’t assume all employees are happy all the time Don’t ignore signs of potential rifts or problems developing Don’t treat concerns, however small, as if they are trivial By not listening to any concerns raised by colleagues or employees, negative tensions and attitudes can build up as staff may feel like their opinions do not matter in the workplace. This can raise disquiet amongst colleagues who feel like they are being ignored, and having several unhappy members of a team can lead to a drastic effect on work rate, quality of work and atmosphere. The break-out areas at Trafficmaster are spacious, uncluttered and attractive. Fully stocked machines ensure that all staff are able to choose from a range of snacks and hot & cold drinks and food. For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk Written by Andrew Jones
  • 5. Eight Things to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk 5. Too Much Pressure It goes without saying that every business wants to be the best they can be, but there are ways to achieve this and instil this ethos in your staff without putting them under undue pressure. Wanting staff to meet certain standards is natural, but if they are living in fear of what will happen if they don’t meet those standards then their work environment will not be a very comfortable one. It is important to ensure that employees have the right balance between a good work ethic and being comfortable in their job. Set targets for staff, motivate them, but don’t do so by giving them ultimatums or warnings over what will happen if they don’t reach your targets. If your employees are worrying about work even when they’re not at work, then there is a definite problem and it shows that the work environment is creating undue stress for your employees. 6. Lack of Personal touch No matter where you work or what your role is within your company, feeling valued as a person as well as an employee is vital for creating a friendly, communal atmosphere. If you treat your staff as nothing but workers, there to do their jobs and get results for the company and nothing else, it is very unlikely that they will be full of enthusiasm for their work. If you treat your employees like people, they will feel more inclined to push themselves and exceed expectations. Treating employees like you would expect to be treated yourself can yield such an improvement in all aspects of your workplace, from the attitudes and confidence of your staff to the general atmosphere during a working day. 4 TOP TIPS Set realistic targets Encourage staff if you see them struggling Ensure employees are aware of the importance of a manageable workload Don’t set ultimatums Don’t set targets that require excessive work (skipping breaks, etc.) Don’t constantly check if employees are on track for targets – they will feel pressured TOP TIPS Talk to your employees about subjects other than work Ensure a sense of equality – employees should feel like they can chat to those in higher roles than them Walk round the office or work environment regularly and speak to your employees Don’t limit communications with staff to emails or phone calls where possible Don’t keep yourself in your own office – this can be off-putting to employees who want to speak to you Don’t create an overbearing sense of hierarchy within the workplace – although there is a structure, it can become excessive Written by Andrew Jones For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk
  • 6. Eight Things to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk 5 7. Not Leading by Example Whether you are the owner, a manager or a team leader in a company, it is important that you set the right example to those in your workplace, whether they have similar or different roles to yourself. If you expect them to work hard and reach targets or deadlines then it is important you show that you are working hard as well. If they feel like their boss isn’t pulling his or her weight then they may feel a sense of inequality – if their manager or team leader isn’t working hard, why should they? Not only does a solid, company-wide work ethic boost productivity and yield results, it also makes for a happy workplace. If everyone shares the same positive attitude it will become noticeable in your environment – there will be a buzz about the place and a sense of achievement will be apparent with the results that follow. TOP TIPS Show yourself to be working hard without boasting Keep employees up to date with progress and future meetings you are attending Inform employees of your own targets – this will allow them to see the progress you make Don’t keep employees in the dark about company progress Don’t show double standards with regards to reaching targets Don’t brush your own weaknesses under the carpet - show yourself to be working hard to improve on anything that needs to be improved on Written by Andrew Jones For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk
  • 7. Eight Things to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk 6 8. Refreshments & Leisure Time In order to be as comfortable as possible at work, employees must have the necessary facilities for refreshments available to them – drinking water, coffee machines and snack machines are all important to ensure that there is food and drink available easily, should they need it. As well as helping employees feel more comfortable, being refreshed and relaxed can help boost productivity as well. If staff are dehydrated or uncomfortably hungry, their concentration could suffer and their work output could decrease. TOP TIPS Utilise breakout areas that contain a mixture of refreshments, entertainment and comfort Ensure there are a variety of refreshments (hot drinks, cold drinks, snacks, etc.) Allow each employee regular, uninterrupted breaks each day to relax Don’t underestimate importance of breakout rooms and leisure time Don’t cut corners on providing adequate facilities in break rooms and leisure areas Don’t place unreasonable restrictions on break/lunch lengths The installation at Wayside BMW-Mini contains a variety of hot drinks, cold drinks, hot & cold food and snacks. Break areas where people can relax at lunch times or break times are very important – these breaks can allow staff to disconnect from their work for a short time, giving their minds a rest and allowing them to return to their work refreshed and revitalised. If you want to get the best out of your business, then your working environment has to be one that is beneficial to all those who use it. The errors and misgivings that are listed above are common throughout all types of workplaces, and the effect that these mistakes can have on employee morale and performance should not be underestimated. Talk to your staff – finding out what they like about their workplace and things that they feel can be improved on will help you make any necessary changes to bring your work environment up to standard. A happy workplace is a productive one, and by creating a workplace that staff enjoy being in, both employees and the business itself can reap the rewards. Written by Andrew Jones For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk
  • 8. Eight Things to Avoid When Creating a Successful Working Environment Visit our website at: www.expressvending.co.uk 7 CONTACT Want to find out more? Established in 1992, Express Vending are specialists in the supply, installation and maintenance of state-of-the-art vending solutions for organisations of all sizes and functions. We can tailor our service to suit your requirements: whether you need a snack machine or a vending machine that dispenses hot drinks, our range of machines plus our expert team means we have everything you need. We have worked with a range of companies from Amazon to The Open University, and our personal, professional and committed service means that 98% of our customers choose to extend their contracts with us. If you would like to know how to improve your workplace or for more information about Express Vending as a company, get in touch today via phone, email or the contact form on our website and we’ll be happy to help. Telephone: 0800 533 5841 info@expressvending.co.uk www.expressvending.co.uk Written by Andrew Jones For more information call: 0800 533 5841 or email: info@expressvending.co.uk