When your employees don't show up for work at the office, it results in lost money and production, which can both take a toll on your company's bottom line. Luckily there are some things you can do around the office to minimize how often your employees miss work—try one or more of these three effective options:

Focus on Work Stations

One of the most important aspects of keeping employees happy within the office is the furniture. Because most people tend to sit down while working in an office setting, it's essential that their work stations promote comfort, convenience, and productivity.

In addition to making sure that your commercial office furniture, like that sold at D and R Office Works, Inc., is ergonomically set up at each work station (which minimizes muscle and eye strain on employees), you'll also want to:

• Provide plenty of shelf space for easy organization of files and other paperwork.
• Ensure that necessary office accessories such as staples and tape are available on each desk.
• Make sure each desk has a locking drawer to provide security and privacy to each employee.
• Ensure that the office chairs have wheels on them and place plastic mats under each one so that employees can easily access office supplies and paperwork without having to get up.

Encourage your employees to personalize their work stations by providing space to put pictures and other knick-knacks. This will make them feel more at home throughout the day, making them less inclined to be unhappy or miss the comforts of home while they work.

Keep a Clean Office

When germs and allergens such as mold and mildew build up within an office setting, they pose a serious health risk to every employee working there. As a result, these hazards could mean an influx of sick days for employees throughout the year. Here's how to keep your office disinfected and allergens minimized:

• Invest in a professional cleaning service and schedule the service for two to five days a week.
• Keep disinfectant napkins in common areas like the break room and in waiting rooms.
• Provide each employee with hand sanitizer to use at their work stations.
• Make sure plenty of trash cans are available around the office so things don't end up on counters or on the floor.
• Post signs in the bathrooms to remind employees about proper hand washing etiquette.
• Adopt a no-food policy at work stations to ensure that stains and pests don't accumulate where they shouldn't.

Keeping your office clean will greatly decrease the chances that your employees will call in sick often, and may even help to increase morale and enthusiasm within the workplace.

Show Some Appreciation

Employees who feel appreciated are more satisfied with their jobs and tend to build more commitment toward the work that they do, which benefits everyone involved. You don't have to send anyone on expensive vacations or spend thousands of dollars to put together exciting events in order to make sure your employees know that they're valued. Here are some effective ideas to implement:

• Offer rewards programs based on employee performance. This can mean anything from free movie tickets for a month of no missed work, to a paid day off for excellent sales performance.
• Give away certificate or awards to top performers as they succeed in their roles at work.
• Simply take time out to speak with each employee personally to thank them for a job well done.
• Buy employees lunch from a local sandwich or pizza shop once a month.

It's also a good idea to schedule regular one-on-one meetings with employees to go over their performance records, and to clear up any concerns or problems either party might be having. Keeping communication open will go a long way in showing respect and appreciation for employees.

In addition to using these tips and tricks, get some feedback from your staff to find out what they'd like to see more of around the office. You'll find that when your employees are happy and healthy, they not only show up for work more often but they do a better job while they're there.