The Secret to Keeping Employees Happy (Infographic)A look at what keeps employees around for the long haul.

Companies take all sorts of different approaches to keeping their employees happy, whether it's providing stock options, keeping great food in the kitchen, or planning annual retreats. But is there really a best way to ensure that workers aren't just productive, but that they stick around for the long haul?

Audio technology company Plantronics (they make the headsets used by air traffic controllers and people working at the New York Stock Exchange) polled 270 businesses owners in their "Workplace Flexibility Survey" and found that the most effective way to retain top talent is to create a flexible company policy that encourages people to work where and when they want.

Related:Tools to Keep Remote Employees Motivated and Productive

Sixty-four percent of the small business owners polled said that providing remote work options helped them keep "key employees," and staffers who have the choice of where and how to work reported being 12 percent more satisfied with their jobs and 40 percent more likely to innovate than workers who did not have that option. The survey also found that employees benefit when companies create collaborative workspaces in the office and offer employees ways to stay connected outside of it through mobile devices and the use of the cloud.

For more information, check out the infographic below. We want to hear from you: let us know in the comments what kind of environment helps you get the most work done.

Related:Startup HR: How to Compete With Big Firms for Talent