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

[ElectroNymph]

Support for people with mental health issues so that they can work.

[ultraviolet6]

friendly atmosphere, good relationships between colleagues/staff encouragement & opportunities to take courses/do training as well as to rise through the ranks, good morale, flexible hours, good & fair bosses, good communication among staff & if people are enjoying what they're doing.

[JenoftheAbbeySchool]

Feeling valued.
Being treated like an adult.
Being able to work autonomously.
A place for a break on your own if you want it.
A staff fridge in an accessible place.

[buckley1983]

To ensure a happy working environment for all - each member of the team needs to be given the time & space to get their voice heard & feel confident in sharing their ideas & opinions, knowing they will be listened to. A short, motivational team meeting each morning to ensure the whole team are happy & up to date with the current aims & targets would be brilliant. Most workplace problems stem from folk not feeling listened to. Listening is easy, it's just taking the time to do it as it makes such a positive difference.

[GiraffesAndButterflies]

Enough staff recruited to actually cover the work. Not being expected to just take on more and more with no additional pay. Senior management actually listening when there's a problem and not just paying lip service and then walking away.

[GreenShadow]

As others have said, flexibility makes jobs which otherwise might not have been either possible or enjoyable more tolerable.
Proper tea making facilities ( not a machine).
Respect.
Not being criticised by others in the organisation who don't actually have any idea of what your job involves on a daily basis (yes, you can tell I'm bitter).
Support from line management when attacked from outside bodies.

[Wotsitsareafterme]

Not hating your colleagues. Not hot desking. Adequate equipment (my bb makes me v cross). A protected space - we are in tiny offices above shop practically sitting on each other but the alternative is a big call centre type space with other teams and we are v against this. It's peaceful in the tiny offices.

[lorka]

Flexible hours, feeling valued, able to take time off when required (within reason), ability to work from home and great work colleagues.

[HoldenCaulfield80]

Humour and respect, I think. And lots of tea.

[Teladi]

Feeling valued is the most important thing, and different workplaces do this in different ways! At my workplace, and for me, it is being allowed to get on with my job with very little management interference, working with friendly people who I like spending time with & chocolate in the kitchen! When I came back from maternity leave they were ready to work with me to find a working pattern that suited all of us.

[Maiyakat]

Computers that don't take 5 minutes to do anything. A manager with a positive attitude. Somewhere other than the office to have a lunch break. End of competitive martyrdom.

[RoosterCogburn]

I've thought of some more

Windows that open, heating that works - a pleasant ambient temperature.

A staffroom that is fit for purpose. Ours seats 7 at a push - there are usually about 20 of us in the building and due to the nature of the job 16 or 17 have dinner at the same time meaning lots of us can't get in the staffroom.

The correct equipment to do the job

[ninnytendo]

Being treated with respect, given trust and autonomy to complete a project or task, having friendly and respectful colleagues and managers and to be able to contribute to team decisions. Flexible working hours are also a great thing to have.

[amothersplaceisinthewrong]

Definitely avoiding Xero software. Sage is far better.

[griselda101]

trust! and flexibility.

e.g if you're part time, for example, not having to come in at regular hours but being trusted to do the hours when you want to, without being checked up on (my last company did and it was great, no-one slacked off ever). We were asked to keep a record but were trusted. We were allowed to work from home and the office when we liked.

[griselda101]

lack of hierarchy. e.g. the CEO makes his own cups of tea, and everyone feels like they are level pegging even if you're at the bottom rung. being treated like a human being and an adult.

flexibility around what you wear. no rules around e.g. uniform or colours or no forbidden clothing or hair styles

[cookalex]

working with nice people who pull together

[Stoodles]

Not being micro-managed - being expected to be responsible for doing your own job

[Annbunce]

Good communication and leadership

[lionheart]

I think the physical space matters a lot. Where are the communal spaces? how comfortable is your desk/ office space? Do you feel isolated etc.?

[Pimientos100]

Strong team ethos. This can be encouraged and fostered in many ways, social gatherings outside work, space to rnjoy breaks together.
Employees are a companies best tool, so treat them well and you will be rewarded in turn.

[missorinoco]

Appreciation for staff. It's the little things that make a difference. And being listened to. Good communication is so important. If something is explained, even if it is crap, if I have a viewpoint, which is acknowledged, and sometimes affects the outcome, I will be on board.

[milliemoon]

Respect and friendliness

[Smcgettigan79]

A fair wage for a job well done - seems reasonable to me but sometimes completely unachievable!