What do you think makes a happy working environment? Share your views with Xero and you could win a £100 Apple voucher. NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

Xero, an app for small businesses that makes managing finances easy, wants to know what you think makes a happy working environment.

If you run a business – or if you've ever thought about doing so – what would you do to make it happy? What does your employer do that makes you happy in the workplace? And if you're not working at the moment, what do you think would make you happy at work now?

Maybe it's flexible working hours, the best technology, great relationships with your work mates or the freedom to get creative.

Here is what they say: "At Xero, we believe a happy business is a beautiful thing. So we've launched the Business of Happiness project to help define what makes a business happy, championing those who are doing it well and supporting those who need a helping hand."

Please share your thoughts on this thread. Every MNer who posts a comment will be entered into a prize draw, where one MNer will win a £100 Apple voucher, which can be used at an Apple Retail Store or in the Apple Online Store.

Find out more about Xero's Business of Happiness campaign here.

Standard Insight T&Cs apply. Note, anon comments may be used by Xero on their website and on social media.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

A great working environment can be achieved with a friendly team of people, child friendly and flexible hours and being appreciated for what a you do as well as set breaks. When appreciated it can encourage you to be more productive

Working with a team who all get along well, respect and support each other

Getting something back for working overtime - whether it be time off in lieu or money. Sometimes it can't be helped working additional hours unfortunately but it's nice to get something back for your hard work.

Good team spirit! Managers should be trained in how to encourage cooperation amongst staff. Working with people who are back biting and bitchy is horrible and leads to very poor moral. This comes from a mutual respect between managers and staff but also between staff themselves. It is essential that a work place is one where we feel relaxed.and happy to be, this leads to big higher productivity.

Easy - do something you love and you'll never "work" another day

Having trust in your team. So giving them autonomy to get on with their tasks and allowing them to manage their time themselves. I.e. to be able to work flexibly, take coffee breaks and lunchtime time when suits, knowing and trusting that they will get the job done.

Be compassionate to the needs of your personal/home life. Work is work but we all have other lives, more important roles away from the office. Allowing time off, flexibility when needed to sort out pressing personal matters.

Managers really shape a team. Good managers can really bring out the best in people and create successful teams.

Communication I think is very important. My employer holds all staff meetings once a month. We all get told the same info. We all have input.

I feel valued in my job. Over the last few days I've had "thank yous" for getting something done (unheard of in my last place).

And yes - sometimes it's the small things - nice tea/coffee, good pens.

Diversity, equality and fairness for all, A very good management team that promote a good workplace and team building.

when you don't feel the boss is out to get you

Ive not read the thread simply because I want to give my views without being influenced by the things that previous posters might have said. So I apologise if I repeat anything.

1. Good team spirit. I believe that a big part of job satisfaction is the people I work with. I personally enjoy jobs more if Im working with people who become my friends through social events out of work.

2. Training. The best jobs I have had is where there has been time and effort put into training me for the role. Ive been in jobs where the training has been rushed and not done properly which has left me not being able to complete the work properly.

3. Rewards and praise. Yes we get paid to work and that is our reward for doing our job properly. But it is nice when management take the time to say thanks. It makes you feel appreciated.

4. Flexibility. Im not necessarily talking about flexi-time. But its always good to know that if my family need me for something (doctors, school meetings etc) I can take the time I need to deal with it. Obviously I will make up the time if I can, if not I will either use a holiday or take it as unpaid leave. Whichever is easiest at the time.

5. Management that realise the workers are people too and our whole lives aren't made for doing what they want us to do 100% of the time. Though I do appreciate that while we are at work we should work to the best of our capabilities, but believe that these capabilities can change due to current happenings in everyday life. For example, I believe that I am a good hard worker, but sometimes if Im worried about something at home my capabilities may go down slightly.

Now Im going to read the thread and no doubt think of more.

Being treated like an adult, mutual respect from managers & colleagues and lots of cake ;)

a supportive boss, great colleagues, mutual respect and understanding.

Feeling part of a team. So much flows from this - including a sense of being valued and inclusion, both of which are sometimes lacking for working parents. We get so much of our sense of personal identity from what we do; feeling secure and part of a well led team enables us to be ourselves at our very best.

I agree with the first reply that feeling valued is important but also mutual respect and recognition/thanks over the job you do is good too.

Fair and reasonable behaviour from everyone, employers and employees! Open honest communications.

For me it's a great team. No bullies, slackers, the one who thinks they're better at their job than everyone else . . . and management who trust their staff to do a job and not expect them to fill out paperwork to justify everything they do and when.

I always used to hold fun staff meetings to show positivity by trying out levitation or making a tap washer attached to a piece of string move the way you want it to just by using your positive thoughts. It really does work but not on negative people. I also used to buy sweets, chocolates & gift vouchers as incentives for people exceeding their targets. I used to blow up balloons with a piece of paper inside with a prize on it & when each person made a sale they got to burst a balloon

Effective management - treating everyone as an individual and understanding differences in strengths and weaknesses, yet encouraging the team to bond and respect each other.

Caring about the job, supporting colleagues and being professional while remembering to have fun as well! You spend 8000 days of your life at work so it needs to be productive and feel worthwhile.

Having good supervisors who don't micro manage unnecessarily, colleagues who help you out and are friendly and being paid a decent wage

A business / manager who understands the needs of a family / work life balance.

A good relationship with your colleagues

Working with people you like helps!

I think it's important that everyone feels valued and that there is mutual respect. The boss should be fair and listen to staff concerns.

Good communication is the most important thing I think, between management and employees and among colleagues.

My boss lets me take my dc with me to meetings if I need to, for which he has my undying affection!