10 Signs of a Positive Work Environment

Workplace wellness allows you to flourish. Here's how to spot it in advance.

By Linnda Durré, Monster contributor

Being part of a company that believes in workplace wellness can mean the difference between a job you love and one you, well, don't love. A positive work environment is the key to success. As a business consultant, corporate trainer, and psychotherapist for many years, I have been asked by many people, “How can I cope with negativity at work? Are there good companies to work for? How can I spot one and get hired?”

Healthy workplaces tend to exhibit a common set of traits that foster excellence, productivity and camaraderie. Here are 10 characteristics of workplace wellness and a positive work environment.

1. Positive Values

A positive mission statement outlines the goals and demonstrative behavior that exemplify the highest commitment to quality and service to each other, the company, customers and shareholders. The company sets out to achieve its goals in ethical, honest ways with an elevated sense of purpose to improving the planet and humanity.

2. Relaxed and Productive Atmosphere

People enjoy coming to work and feel appreciated, acknowledged and rewarded. Signs of fear, domination, bullying, sexual harassment, and intimidation are absent. Creativity, productivity, and thinking outside the box flourish.

3. Commitment to Excellence

Employees give 200%. They strive to be the best and to deliver top-quality products and services. They take responsibility for their actions and decisions.

4. Open and Honest Communication

Everyone communicates in a cards-on-the-table manner, solving difficulties in a positive way. They don’t play nasty revenge games when given difficult feedback. Instead, they view feedback as an opportunity for growth.

5. Cooperation, Support, and Empowerment

Can-do, go-the-extra-mile, and win-win attitudes are evident signs of a positive work environment. Employees have a sense of camaraderie, cooperation, and empowerment. Healthy competition exists without vengeful, spiteful backstabbing.

6. Sense of Humor

Employees keep things in perspective, have fun, and laugh. Laughter generates endorphins, our natural antidepressants.

7. Compassion, Respect, and Understanding

Kindness and understanding prevail when employees face challenges such as accidents, illnesses, personal tragedies, and natural disasters. People will usually go the extra mile for others when they’re treated well and with understanding, compassion, and respect.

8. Flexibility

The company and its employees embrace change, accommodate new trends and technology, and incorporate new skills. They know if they don’t, the business will end up a dinosaur. As the saying goes, “Change is the only constant.”

9. Positive Reinforcement

People need acknowledgement, appreciation, and gratitude to be motivated. Genuine compliments, rewards, bonuses, raises, promotions, and certificates of achievement are oil in the machinery. The company thanks employees regularly in these ways.

10. Emphasis on Health, Family, and Environment

The company offers comprehensive health insurance, with weight-loss, smoking-cessation, and substance-abuse programs. The corporate cafeteria features a healthy menu, and the company gym is stocked with exercise equipment.

The company offers reimbursement for childcare and/or on-site childcare. The office itself features natural and recessed lighting with incandescent bulbs rather than halogen or fluorescent. The organization is environmentally aware by encouraging solar power and recycling.

Find a Positive Work Environment

Great, so when it comes to workplace wellness, you know what to look for when choosing an employer, but where can you find them? Start by creating a Monster profile for free today. You can make your resume visible to recruiters, get customized job alerts, and support throughout your career. Make sure your own shining characteristics are front and center for all to see.

[Linnda Durré, PhD, a psychotherapist, corporate consultant, national speaker, and columnist, is the author of Surviving the Toxic Workplace: Protect Yourself Against the Coworkers, Bosses and Work Environments That Poison Your Day. She has been interviewed on “Oprah,” “60 Minutes,” “The O’Reilly Factor,” “Good Morning America,” and “The Today Show,” among others. She has been featured or cited in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and CNN Online, and has written for Forbes Online, American City Business Journals, and Orlando Business Journal.]