5 Morale Boosters To Keep Employees Happy

Posted by Karen Erdelac on Jun 25, 2018

5 Morale Boosters To Keep Employees Happy

“Employees are a company's greatest asset - they're your competitive advantage. You want to attract and retain the best; provide them with encouragement, stimulus, and make them feel that they are an integral part of the company's mission.” - Anne M. Mulcahy

Many companies make the mistake of believing that employees don’t need motivation throughout each day.  Some take it as far as stating that motivation is a one-time thing that becomes habit for good employees.  The reality is that employees need to be motivated, praised and encouraged several times per day in order to get the most out of them.  The difficulty is that each individual has a unique set of motivating factors.  It is your job as a leader to identify those factors and use them to your advantage.  That being said, there are some key ways you can boost morale throughout your company that will improve employee morale, retention and productivity.

Compressed Work Weeks

“These policies usually involve working longer for a given period of time and then having an extended period off, for example working four 10-hour days and having a three-day weekend.” – The Benefits Guide

While many flexible work models won’t work for small businesses due to limited staffing, compressed work weeks are one that can be adopted by companies of any size.  Having time for family and relaxation is one of the most important areas to address when attempting to motivate your staff.  Not only is this time needed to refresh and recharge, there are often things that can only be done during weekday business hours.  When employees need to rush around during their few spare minutes during the week to accomplish tasks like paying bills or attending appointments, it causes stress.  Stress is the ultimate enemy to employee wellness and job satisfaction.  Offering compressed work weeks not only will give your team time to decompress from the work week, it gives them a full day of their choosing to address important matters that cannot be handled on a weekend.

Growth Opportunities

“Challenges and new opportunities capture the imagination and excite people. They can either find those on the job with you, or they’ll eventually look elsewhere.” - Lighthouse

The opportunity to advance in a company is a major motivating factor for employees looking to build a career and not just maintain a job.  These are the people that you want working for you as they are motivated on their own to build a better life for themselves.  Providing them a roadmap to advance will motivate them further, improve employee loyalty, encourage brand evangelism and keep them from seeking out opportunities with your competitors.

Unique Healthcare Benefits

“Reebok encourages employees to reach their personal fitness goals by providing an on-site gym with Crossfit classes.” - Glassdoor

Every small business owner recognizes the importance of offering health, dental and vision insurance, but those that take it a step further and show they truly care about the health of their team will be rewarded in several ways.  Something as simple as offering free or discounted gym memberships or providing healthy food options in your break room can give a significant morale boost to your staff.  Not only that, healthy employees tend to be happier, more productive and miss fewer work days.  All of which contribute greatly to the success of your business.

Employee Rewards Programs

“Employees respond to appreciation at work, especially when it’s expressed through recognition of their efforts because it confirms their work is valued.” – Corporate Rewards 

Setting up an employee rewards program that incentivizes those that have completed specific tasks or have gone above and beyond what is required of them can provide ongoing motivation with minimal effort from your management team.  These programs can be based on a point system.  As an employee accumulates points, they can be cashed in for material goods or even paid time off.

Assign A Mentor

“Mentoring isn’t just about what you can give to a protégé. It’s about how you can help them accomplish what they want to accomplish. And once you know what the goal is, the path to getting there is just as important.” — Chris Ciulla

Often times small business managers are afraid to take employees under their wing due to the fear they will someday take their position.  As the owner of a small business, you need to ensure this does not happen as it will stunt the growth of your team and by extension your business.  Assigning experienced employees as mentors to your newer staff members will help develop stronger bonds and a more well-rounded team.  It also makes your newer employees feel like they are a part of something great and that there is an opportunity to grow within your company.

Your employees are the face of your company and their attitudes and commitment show through to your customers on a daily basis.  Putting an emphasis on employee morale will help your business  grow and encourage a truly great company culture.

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Topics: Small Business