By Erwin Busselot, Director Business Innovation & Solutions, Ricoh Graphic Communications, Ricoh Europe
Is improving the workforce morale on your agenda for 2025?
Happy employees can play a central role in how a printing company performs. As a business asset they can have a far reaching positive impact. When they’re happy, their cheerfulness resonates operation wide, helping lift productivity, foster teamwork, and boost optimism.
Employee happiness can be the key to business success for the following three reasons:
1. Happy team, happy workplace
When employees are happy, it encourages a vibrant and positive environment. It is not just about creating a “fun” workplace but a place where people feel motivated, valued, and committed to their roles. If their happiness is prioritised, they are more likely to invest in themselves and in the company’s long term success. This sense of engagement can drive innovation, enhance skill transfer, and prepare employees for future leadership roles. This positivity can be highly infectious across teams.
2. Positive collaboration
When employees enjoy their work and feel respected, it leads to better collaboration – key to a productive workplace. It facilitates the flow of ideas and helps projects move forward more smoothly. Employees who feel happy and appreciated are more likely to support one another, contribute ideas, and work together to tackle challenges. When people work together effectively, everyone wins: the team, the business, and ultimately, the clients.
3. Talent retention and looking after new hires
Retaining happy employees reduces the need for frequent hiring and helps maintain stability within teams. Losing skilled employees can be costly. According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) in Great Britain, the median cost of hiring senior managers is around 3,600 euro. High turnover not only increases recruitment costs but also affects team morale and productivity. Long term employees also understand the company’s values and vision, which boosts overall efficiency and continuity. Those that are engaged are valuable assets, especially when it comes to succession planning and building skills. In an industry facing a skills shortage, an engaged workforce can bridge gaps, mentor new hires, and safeguard critical skills.
Among the ways printing businesses can look after their employees’ happiness isby investing in automation. Latest technology advances focusing on solutions that increasingly take over repetitive tasks, free up employees to focus on complex, strategic, work that directly contributes to the bottom line. Automation enhances their roles and allows them to work on more fulfilling tasks to drive greater business value. This shift can help lift employee happiness, as they feel their skills are put to better use.
Companies that prioritise their employees’ mental and physical health see improvements in productivity, creativity, and overall workplace morale. Supported and valued employees are less likely to experience burnout and more likely to stay engaged and productive. Employee happiness is a core business strategy that can directly impact profitability, employee retention, and a print company’s reputation, and drive success. How will you create a happier workplace in 2025?
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