One aspect of business that’s generally overlooked is employee morale. A happy, motivated workforce is a productive one, so it’s important to find ways to keep your employees’ morale high.
Contrary to popular belief, simply providing a pay rise or bonus isn’t always the answer. While it can boost satisfaction for a temporary period of time, there are other, better ways to improve employee morale. Here are some unique ideas:
Renovate your Workspace
This may sound like a costly endeavor, but even small changes can make a big difference. If your office is feeling cramped or outdated, renovate it! Add some new furniture, paint the walls a different color, or install a fresh coat of carpet. If you have a home-based business, you could hire house painters to give your office a makeover.
When freshening your workplace, employees will appreciate the change and will also feel more productive in a nicer workspace. A dirty, cluttered and uninteresting workplace is a distraction and can interfere with our cognitive functions, causing overload and compromising workflow. By investing in a renovation and even hiring a removal company to relocate cluttered belongings, you can make your employees’ surroundings more pleasant.
Ask for Feedback from Your Workers
Employees want to feel like their voice is heard, so why not ask for their feedback? Regularly polling your team for their ideas and suggestions can help boost morale, and ultimately help improve your bottom line. Not only will this make your employees feel appreciated, but it also shows that you’re willing to change and adapt – two qualities that are highly sought after in the business world.
Feedback also provides valuable insights into your daily operations, along with current practices and strategies that may not be working as well as they could be. Based on this information, you can make the necessary adjustments to existing protocol and improve employee morale in the process.
Encourage Camaraderie and Teamwork
Not everyone likes working in a small office cubicle, it can get pretty lonely. In order to encourage teamwork and collaboration, host team-building exercises and company-wide outings. These activities help employees get to know each other on a personal level and foster a sense of camaraderie.
When employees feel like they’re part of a team and have friends at work, they’re more likely to be engaged and motivated. And when your staff is happy, they’ll be more productive, which is great for business.
Ensure Days Off are Really Days Off
Too often, employees are expected to check their work emails and answer phone calls on their days off. This can make them feel overworked and stressed out, which causes burnout and eventually even depression! If you want your employees to feel truly rejuvenated and refreshed after a day off, ensure that they’re actually free from work obligations .
Create a policy that states employees are not to be contacted by the boss or any other co-workers during their days off, unless it’s an emergency. And if there is an emergency, have a plan in place for who will cover for the employee. This way, your team can relax and enjoy their time off without worrying about work.
Let Your Employees Outsource Some of their Work
It’s standard practice to dump a whole lot of work on your employees, and expect them to complete it in a short period of time. But what happens when they can’t do it all? This is where outsourcing comes in.
Allowing your employees to outsource some of their work to freelancers shows that you trust them and value their time. It also lightens the load, which can be helpful during busy periods. Bosses, under intense pressure to perform can also benefit from hiring help. For example, it’s recommended that many small businesses hire a business advisor to help plan, strategize, and keep them on track.
Encourage Employees to Get Out the Office During Lunchbreaks
Research has shown that only one in five employees actually takes a full lunch break, and those who do often eat at their desks. Sitting inside within the same four walls day in and day out can get pretty monotonous, and as a result, hampers creative thinking. For businesses trying to gain an edge over their competitors, this is not ideal.
In order to encourage employees to get out of the office during their lunch breaks, offer incentives such as public facility discounts, restaurant and coffee vouchers and so on. People who enjoy their free time are usually more productive when they return to work, so it’s a win-win for everyone.
Recognize Personal Goals and Losses Outside of Work
Did you know that 78 percent of employees working 30-50 hours a week spend more time with their coworkers than they do with their family? Since workers spend so much time at the office, it’s important that you create a supportive and positive environment.
Show your employees that you care about them not just as workers, but as people. For example, if someone has just gone through a divorce, offer them flexible hours or work-from-home days. If it’s an employee’s birthday, buy them a cake or let them leave early. Small gestures like these can make a big difference in someone’s day, and ultimately improve their mood.
General Takeaways
There are many different ways to improve employee morale, and the ones listed above are just a few examples. By implementing some or all of these strategies, you’ll create a workplace that is positive, supportive and productive.
Not only is this good for the people who work to achieve your visions and goals, but it’s also one less thing to worry about during your company’s quieter seasons. With happy employees and everyone on the same page, your business is far more likely to find creative solutions that will catapult it to the next level.
You may be interested in: 7 Tips to Help You Maintain Office Morale While Social Distancing