In the past, often my friends and colleagues used to discuss their visions of an ideal workplace. They described it as a space providing support and embracing diversion, breaking away from corporate norms, and fostering a culture of care while motivating each other to achieve personal and collective goals. A place where the ideas of workplace bestie and masti are more than just a trend and where competing is not about winning but learning and interacting.

So as an HR, these ideals have always been something I actively try to nurture in an environment that fosters care and strives to cultivate compassion and empathy. An environment that recognizes and rewards the hard work and contributions of employees while also acknowledging the challenges and struggles that each faces. By showing care and support towards one another, we can foster a positive and uplifting workplace that benefits everyone. here’s how:

Onboarding with Care

The journey begins with onboarding; commencing with a warm and celebrative welcome ceremony that boosts the morale while promoting workplace inclusivity and helping new employees feel at ease as they kick off this exciting new chapter. Push them to explore the company culture, participate, and connect with them via team-building activities! The more involved they become, the faster they settle down. Secondly, a thorough introduction to the company’s values, goals, and expectations proves beneficial and helps them forge a connection with the company, its mission, and the broader workplace culture.

We always encourage the enthusiasm and creativity of fresh talent in our company culture and cheer them on to experiment openly and introduce unique ideas. Breaking the walls of shyness, employees participate and savor team-building activities with amusement as a member of our family. For example: Recently during the Diwali celebration we made sure that all our new members participated in the activities and bonded with other team members.

Training is a powerful tool!

“Great people are crafted. Great people have to be trained to be great,” said Steve Sisler, author of “There’s More to Management Than a Big Desk.”

A supportive work environment invests in the ongoing growth and development of its old and new employees which involves not only offering training programs but also creating a culture that encourages continuous learning, skill-building, and career advancement. Every new hire goes through a training session to have a better understanding of the work.

Secondly, we understand that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process, especially for new employees. We provide them with the time to settle in and make errors, recognizing that these mistakes contribute significantly to their learning experience.

Distill in them that you care!

We leverage open communication in the workplace to build trust amongst the employees and provide them assurance for quick solutions to queries. We ensure that they recognize their value and importance and in this, the concept of employee feedback becomes crucial as actively involving them in organizational decisions makes them feel a part of the process.

And to take this process further we have also introduced many employee-friendly policies that support their work life balance for example we decided to introduce menstrual and paternity leave after understanding the key concerns of our team. These moves also encourage a supportive work environment where everyone feels valued.

Graceful Offboarding

Saying goodbye as they embark on their new adventure not only demonstrates our appreciation for the departing employee but also conveys well-wishes for their future endeavors. We bid goodbye to our colleagues with wishes of prosperity in our hearts as we celebrate their farewell and send them off with tokens of remembrance. This act of bidding farewell not only reflects care for the individual but also communicates to other employees that their contributions are valued. This meaningful gesture fosters a positive atmosphere too. Secondly, one-on-one session with the employee also helps to gain insights into their experience and reasons for departure.

I believe that cultivating a supportive work environment from onboarding to farewell is not just a feel-good initiative but a strategic investment. Prioritizing employee well-being and creating a positive workplace culture tend to attract and retain top talent, boost morale, and ultimately help achieve long-term success. So it won’t be wrong to say that “Fostering a supportive environment is not just an option but a necessity”.

Written By: Akanksha Tripathi, General Manager – Human Resources, Xapads Media