From working in an environment that is supportive and encouraging, to having good benefits and reward programs in place, there are many ways to make your employees feel happy and appreciated. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most effective ways to boost employee morale and keep your team happy and productive.
How to boost employee morale
Boosting employee morale can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right tools and resources, you can easily raise the spirit of your employees and keep them happy. Listed below are some of the tried-and-tested ways to improve employee morale and boost employee happiness in your workplace.
1. Create a positive working environment
The problem of toxic workplace cultures is a serious issue that can have detrimental effects on an organization’s productivity. US businesses lost $223 billion over a five-year period due to employee turnover caused by negative work environments, according to an SHRM report.
A company’s culture emerges naturally over time but sometimes it takes some effort to ensure that it is positive. In order to build the perfect work culture, first, define your company’s values. These should be at the foundation of everything that happens within it and guide its evolution over time as well.
You can create an engaging work environment that aims to boost employee morale by:
- Defining organizational and departmental goals.
- Promoting diversity and inclusivity arduously.
- Allowing room for humor while ensuring respect.
- Recognizing employees who go the extra mile.
- Seeking and acting on employee feedback.
- Creating and practicing your core values.
In order to create a positive work environment, you must make sure everyone involved does not only align themselves accordingly but spend quality hours crafting key components of culture.
Additionally, you can also establish types of core beliefs that you want to be reflected in all areas like dress code, etc. This is when the real work starts. Once you have set up the foundation of your workplace culture, dig deeper to make work more engaging.
2. Show your appreciation
The figure is alarming and it’s not hard to see why. According to a report, more than half of employees (66%) are likely to leave their jobs simply because they do not feel appreciated by their employer. Additionally, an overwhelming number of millennials–eight out of ten individuals–tend to seek new employment if they feel unappreciated.
So, take the time to thank employees for their hard work and dedication. Show appreciation for a job well done with sincere compliments and rewards. Recognizing and rewarding employees for achieving outstanding results is a great way to show them that you value their work. This will increase the motivation of their peers as well so that everyone works towards achieving great things together!
There are many ways to recognize and reward employees in the workplace from verbal praise to bonuses and more formal awards. Some companies choose to reward employees with bonuses or raises. While others may give employees paid time off, an opportunity to take on additional responsibility, or gift cards to their favorite stores.
Whatever the method, employee recognition is a way to show appreciation for a job well done and helps boost employee morale.
3. Provide opportunities for growth
Help employees reach their full potential by providing opportunities for career advancement and personal development. If you want to keep your employees happy and engaged, then make sure they feel like there is room for their growth both inside the company as well outside it (in other words: opportunities abound!).
This was shown in a recent study by Quantum Workplace which found that one of the top reasons why people love working in an organization is the opportunity for professional development. Lack of growth opportunities also came second on the list when asked for reasons for leaving a job behind.
One way to offer employees growth opportunities is by providing them with internal training and development programs. You can also help an employee grow by giving them the opportunity to lead projects or assignments.
Or, create an internal mentorship program, where more experienced employees help guide and support the development of less experienced employees.
4. Offer flexible scheduling
The pandemic has given employees a taste of flexible work schedules and now they have started craving this work model. Offer your employees the opportunity to customize their work schedules around their lifestyles. Doing so will boost employee morale and increase productivity. Ultimately, giving employees a say in when they work can do wonders for your business.
Perhaps trial different schedules for different teams using a work schedule maker and create schedules that work best for everyone involved. A flexible schedule maker can provide your employees with the ability to manage their time more effectively.
When employees have the ability to manage their own time, they are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs and less likely to experience burnout.
5. Foster a sense of belonging
In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, belonging comes third only superseded by physical and safety needs. So, make sure that all your employees feel like they are part of your organization by fostering a sense of belonging. It can improve employee retention as employees who feel a sense of belonging stay longer than those that don’t feel like a part of the company.
When you make your employees feel like they belong, they’ll be more engaged and productive. It’s important to find ways like investing in interest groups to instill a sense of belonging in your workers. By creating a sense of community and camaraderie, you can create an environment where employees feel like they are part of something larger.
One way to instill a sense of belonging in the workplace is to create opportunities for employees to socialize with one another. This can be done by hosting regular office events, such as monthly happy hours or team-building activities. Another way to encourage a sense of belonging is to foster an open and inclusive culture where everyone feels comfortable communicating and sharing ideas.
6. Ensure a healthy work-life balance
The importance of a healthy work-life balance in employees is often overlooked. Employers need to understand that their employees are also human beings with families and personal lives outside of work. When employees are overworked, it can lead to burnout, frustration, and even resentment. All of which can impact an employee’s job performance.
It’s important for employers to encourage their employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance. By doing so, employers can help prevent burnout and promote a positive work environment.
Here are a few ideas you can use to foster a healthier work-life balance for your employees:
- Encourage employees to take their vacation days.
- Help employees manage their time with flexible scheduling.
- Make sure employees are taking breaks throughout the day.
- Encourage employees to take part in team-building activities.
Work-life balance is important for everyone, and employers play a big role in fostering that balance. You can create a culture of wellness by promoting healthy lifestyle choices and offering wellness programs. By taking these steps, you can create an environment that supports employee well-being and helps people maintain a healthy work-life balance.
7. Maintain a flat hierarchy
There are many benefits to having a flat hierarchy in your organization. This type of structure can help to promote creativity and innovation, as well as improve communication and collaboration. Additionally, it can lead to greater employee satisfaction and engagement, as well as more efficient and effective decision-making.
Encourage communication between employees and managers. It can help build a stronger rapport between them. When employees feel comfortable communicating with their managers, it can lead to a more positive work environment overall. Plus, open communication can help identify any potential problems early on, before they have a chance to escalate.
Conclusion
It’s no secret that happy employees lead to a more successful organization. The importance of improving employee morale in the workplace cannot be underestimated. A happy workforce is a productive one, and there are many simple ways to boost employee morale among your team.
From flexible work schedules to offering perks and company culture initiatives, making an effort to improve employee morale will pay off in the long run. Investing in your employees shows that you value their happiness and wellbeing, and can create a positive knock-on effect in terms of motivation and productivity.
About the author
Saurabh Wani is a digital marketer at ZoomShift, an employee scheduling tool. He has worked as an HR Recruiter for over 3 years before moving to marketing, where he defined the recruitment life-cycle that helped employees find the right job. He loves traveling and can be seen binge-watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S when he is not working.
