Employee morale is one of the things that most business owners often overlook in running their company, when in fact, it is one of the most important drivers to company success. When morale is low, employees don’t feel satisfied and confident in their jobs—they don’t feel secure in their careers. And when they start to feel this way, the entire company may suffer grave consequences, such as low productivity, and eventually, increased turnover.
If office laughter has already become such a vague memory within your company, perhaps it’s time to change things up a bit. Here are the top five ways that you can do to bring back employee morale in the workplace and give it a boost.
Provide a Sense of Purpose
Every one of your employees is part of something bigger, and it’s important that you tell them about it. One can easily get lost in the hustle of their day-to-day lives, but when they know that they are working for a higher purpose, they’re likely to do their best to contribute to your company’s growth.
From their initial interview, potential employees should be educated about your organization’s vision, and it is important that they share this vision too. Doing so is one way of motivating and inspiring your team to be united in achieving the company’s goals.
Recognize Their Accomplishments
When good work is done, never fail to acknowledge it. It matters to your employees when their efforts are being recognized; it just fuels their drive to work harder and go above and beyond for the company. There are many ways to show recognition to your members, but what’s important is to be timely in your offer, personalize it if you can, and do so genuinely and sincerely.
Show You Care
Your employees are not just the company’s resources—they are humans who have lives of their own. And one way of boosting their morale is to show that you care about their lives even outside the office. Recognize employees’ birthdays, and send gifts on newlyweds and moms who just gave birth. Being involved in your workers’ lives this way shows them that they are valued not just as employees but also as a family.
Another practical way of showing care to your employees is to make health and wellness benefits available to them. Aside from health insurance, providing them with other health-related perks motivates them to do more for your company and your cause. Whether this may be in a form of an on-site clinic that’s equipped with the basic health tools, such as a blood pressure monitor or a Nellcor DS 100a pulse oximeter, or free membership to a nearby fitness center, your employees are sure to appreciate and return the gesture in their own way.
Encourage Them to Fulfill Their Passion
Passion projects provide a refreshing break from the regular hustle and bustle of work, giving your employees enough space to ignite and hone their creativity. For a given time, encourage your members to work on something that excites them, may it be their personal blog or their own online store. You may even be surprised to find out what new things they will discover and bring back to the table.
Have Fun
Most successful companies put fun as a regular part of their work schedule, and that is an excellent way to keep employee morale high. Spare some time to break away from the busy schedule and do fun team-building activities outdoors. Take your team out to a free movie or set up bowling matches—whatever floats your boat works if it builds camaraderie and friendship within the company.
When you care for your employees, they are more likely to do the same for your company. Put some thought and effort in appreciating and recognizing your workforce, and your organization should reap the benefits in the long run.
