How are your employees doing? Do they feel satisfied in their work? Appreciated for their efforts and contributions? Part of running a successful company involves addressing issues at every level, and contented staff is one of the integral elements which keep a workplace on its feet. It seems that every business deals with this in the course of progress . Deloitte’s 2015 Global Human Capital Trends survey showed that keeping employees happy and engaged is the number one challenge for businesses around the world.
Low employee morale brings with it a host of problems including high staff turnover, tremendous loss in productivity, and a general decline in the quality of work produced. How can you avoid these problems for your company?
It’s time to get proactive. Take a look at these 5 tried-and-true ways to boost employee morale in your business.
1. Consider the feng shui.
Environment has a lot to do with how we as humans feel in a given situation. Take a moment and consider your office or workspace. Is it crowded? Lit by glaring fluorescent bulbs? Harsh and inhospitable atmospheres can drastically lower the morale of everyone who enters your workplace, including customers and staff. While you don’t have to delve into true feng shui and arrange your furniture “just so,” it’s worth making necessary adjustments to lift everyone’s mood. Try incorporating more natural light, creating more space for each employee, and adding colour and texture to the office to lend it a more comfortable and welcoming familiarity.
2. Non-monetary perks.
A pay rise is one guaranteed way to make virtually every employee happier in their post. Yet, for the vast majority of small business owners, such a thing is not possible financially. And in fact, not all employees would prefer to be motivated by money. Job satisfaction is often a much higher “perk.” You might be surprised to discover that non-monetary benefits can have as good or more of a positive impact on employee morale. Experiment to find out what works best in your business, or ask employees directly to get to the heart of the matter.
3. Take on the grunt work yourself.
Is there a certain task that everyone in your office loathes? Perhaps it’s tedious data entry, replacing the printer ink, or something else that no one seems to enjoy. As a boss or manager, it’s a great morale booster when you jump right in the trenches with your team. But go beyond that. Take on the odious chore that everyone despises, and you’ll gain the gratitude and respect of your staff. Do this, and watch morale rocket.
4. Flexibility. Flexibility. Flexibility.
One thing that is a sure way to provide a positive experience for employees is to offer them more flexibility in their workday. Whether this means allowing them to come in and leave within a range of hours or gives them more options to work from home or even bring their dog to work, employees will appreciate the chance to bend the workday to what suits them. The result? Increased productivity from a happy employee.
5. Keep your staff healthy.
Healthy staff are energised and ready to work. Perhaps most directly, employees who have a higher morale tend to take less sick days than those of a lower morale. More and more companies these days are providing ways for their employees to stay healthy, even on the job. Incorporating a gym into the office space or offering a local gym membership as a perk can be a great way to keep your team at its finest.
Not convinced that these strategies are necessary? Statistics demonstrate that organisations whose employee engagement stacks in at higher-than-average levels enjoy 27% higher profits, 50% higher sales, 50% higher customer loyalty levels, and 38% above-average productivity. Another way to work towards employee engagement? Build a great team.
We can help you get started. Contact the pros at On Line Recruitment and Labour Hire today to find out about our short and long term recruitment and temporary labour hire options for your business.
