It’s felt by many that a small business generally has a more laid-back feel; that more people are comfortable in this type of environment. Because of this, there are many corporations that are starting to move toward having a small business feel. There are many ways to do this and you can easily bring the small business feel to your large corporation.
 
Casual Days
 
Have a casual Friday, or even a whole casual week every once in a while. This simple act can do a lot for employee morale, as well as helping everyone feel a little more comfortable. Many people get frustrated having to dress in business dress every day. Having a casual day can significantly increase the happiness that one feels in the office. Make sure that you do set guidelines for your casual day, so that it doesn’t get out of hand.
 
Celebrate Birthdays
 
Many big businesses today have done away with birthday celebrations all together. There are a variety of reasons for this, ranging from the cost to the thought that it is not professional to possible food allergies. If there is a possibility of food allergies, you can at least celebrate with birthday decorations. This will help the employees of your company to feel more welcome at their job, and more at ease through the year. 
 
Pay for Lunch
 
You don’t need to buy your employees their lunch every day, but many smaller companies provide lunch to their employees at times, just because they want to. There doesn’t need to necessarily be a reason to bring in lunch. Everyone loves free food, and when you provide this to your employees, they will appreciate the company more. Even something as simple as bringing in donuts, or ordering pizza is usually greatly appreciated.
 
Allow Personalization
 
Most people spend a large portion of their lives at work. Because of this, it can become disheartening to work in a completely business and sterile environment. Allow some personalization at your employee’s cubicle or desk. It may not be appropriate to allow them to put all sorts of decorations everywhere, but even allowing family pictures is a huge step in the right direction.
 
All Work and no Play?
 
Of course you want things to get done. Unfortunately, if your employees feel like they will get in trouble if they do anything other than work, they will quickly get disheartened. Allowing for some conversation between employees, or team building activities will allow your employees to stay fresh. This will keep them on the job better than if you try to force work at all times.
 
Many people feel that small businesses are much more personal. They like feeling that they are understood, and seen as people, not just employees. Adding in these simple things to your corporate business can help improve company morale, and bring your business closer to the feel of a small business. What steps will you take to make people happier at work?