A business is an organisation where all the stakeholders have a common goal; to reach production targets and keep customers happy and in order to make a profit, the employees have to perform to a high level. If there are underlying issues, it can seriously impact production and if you notice this month’s figures aren’t what they should be but you don’t know why, here are a few potential reasons for low output.
- Lack of discipline on the shop floor – Every business strives to create a warm and friendly working environment and the line between what is acceptable and what is not, is very thin. Some employees have a playful outlook on life and if given a free reign, could get up to things, which is bound to affect output.
- Lack of training – It could be something as simple as an employee hasn’t been shown the best way to do a particular task. You should contact a provider of small business HR services in the UK and ask them to put together a staff training proposal. This benefits both the company and the employee and most people are ambitious and wish to develop specific skillsets that are work related.
- Too much multi-tasking – If your employees have a heavy workload and have to multi-task, this can affect productivity. If you haven’t been paying attention to the shop floor, observe processes and this will give you an insight into processes and whether one employee has too much to do. Of course, there will be busy times when everyone has to do more than usual, but if your workforce is always under pressure, this is something that needs to be addressed.
- Poor management – It might be poor in terms of workforce allocation, which means you are not making the best use of your human resources and productivity usually suffers as a result. Part of a manager’s role is to motivate the team and if this is not happening, staff might feel a little lost and not have the usual desire and spring in their step. If you are currently looking for a manager to fill an empty slot, perhaps it is best to hire a good recruitment agency, who can find the right candidate to bring some equilibrium to the mix.
- Too much time in meetings – Some business owners go overboard with staff meetings and while it might be good for team morale, production is likely to suffer. Also think about the topics discussed and whether all staff need to be present. It might be an idea to release those who are not involved and let them get back to work.
It takes a lot of resources to look after a workforce and if you don’t have the time, there are small business HR support companies that can ensure that your employees are taken care of. There are so many aspects of HR; recruitment, payroll, staff training and, of course, workforce management. Talk to a leading HR agency and see what they can do for you and your business.