Research has shown that Britain’s public are widely unhappy at work. Data provided by the London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) revealed that 47% of the British workforce would like to change jobs and more than 20% plan to be in a new role in the next 12 months.

Millennials are the most likely to swap roles, with 66% of 18-34 year olds admitting that they are unsatisfied with their working life. However, despite the grievances, many aren’t prepared to change their careers due to fears regarding financial instability.

So, how can you make your workplace a happier place to reside? An employee who is happy is 12% more productive, so it’s important that they are smiling.  Whether you’re an employee or a manager, follow these top tips to make your working life more fulfilling.

Create a regular touch point with your staff/manager

Regularly consulting each other in the workplace can have great benefits for both employees and managers. Communication is key to keeping projects moving and avoiding any misunderstanding regarding instructions.

Gain new skills via training

If you’re an employee, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask your employer for additional training that you think would benefit your workplace. With the emergence of digital learning, new skills are far more accessible than in years gone by and worst-case scenario is they rebuff your approach. Not only can it lead to you picking up new skills and feeling more valuable, it is also beneficial for the business.

Andries De Grip’s and Jan Sauermann’s report in 2011 revealed that training led to a nine per cent increase in levels of productivity. Management can also benefit from training course. There are always new methods being introduced that can help you engage with your staff.

Encourage a co-worker culture

Open-plan offices have become a huge part of the culture in tech start-ups and with millennials. This enables easier communication, which can help with happiness levels. Of course, this can then lead to higher levels of productivity. Harvard researchers Phil Stone and Tal Ben-Shahar found that students who had social support at school and at home were happier and better at dealing with stress. Carrying this kind of support into the workplace sets strong foundations for an increase in overall happiness.

A great way to increase morale is by organising staff nights out, team meetings and office sweepstakes and, as a manager, budgeting for this type of activity is advised. Doing this will see you repaid in increased productivity. As an employee, do anything you can to get involved. Even if your workplace doesn’t provide much for your team, you can set up your own internal sweepstakes or fantasy sport leagues to help boost happiness and keep things on track.

Productive employees are often the happiest, so make happiness your priority  and it will be a sure-fire way of improving your working environment.