As a business owner, keeping your employees happy is a must. If your employees aren’t happy, your business will suffer.
If the great resignation has taught us anything, it’s this: workers quit when they’re not treated well. If you want better retention rates, increased productivity, and an overall better workplace culture and environment, you need to keep your employees happy.
But in the age of remote work, knowing how to keep employees happy is difficult. You may not see them often enough to understand their unique needs.
So here are the ten best ways to keep your employees happy in 2022:
Your employees have a life outside of work. It’s important that you give them enough time to enjoy family, friends, and hobbies.
That means providing ample time off and limiting overtime work. Otherwise, employees may grow stressed, burned out, and even resentful. A good work-life balance will make them happier and more productive as a result.
These days, many value a flexible work schedule. People want to work at a time that best suits them. As an employer, you can accommodate work preferences with remote, hybrid, or even four-day work schedules.
When employees get to choose their own schedule, they feel more empowered, which leads to a better work ethic and productivity.
There are many ways to compensate your employees for a job well done other than competitive pay. For example, you could offer maternity and paternity leave, charity donation matching, birthday celebrations, help with child support, or even free group transportation to company events. The possibilities are endless.
Ask employees what non-monetary benefits they value most and go from there.
Anytime you get feedback from an employee, you should listen. This shows that you value their opinion, and they will feel heard as a result.
Employees want to be involved in company decisions, especially the ones that impact them directly. When you take employee suggestions seriously, you’ll encourage greater innovation and higher employee satisfaction and retention.
Employees need goals to be happy. They need to feel like they are working toward something. And this is one area where companies can help.
You can offer your employees advancement opportunities through promotions, training, and tuition reimbursements. Encourage personal growth and they will thank you for it.
Nobody wants to work somewhere they dread. That’s why you need to actively cultivate a positive work environment where everyone feels valued and heard.
Be transparent about expectations. Address negative feelings. If you do this, you can prevent a lot of ill will. Even smiling more contributes to a positive work environment.
Recognize when employees perform well and express thanks. This will make them feel appreciated and feel more pride in their work.
You can also create company awards to reward outstanding work. That way, others can recognize top performers for their achievements and you can instill healthy work competition.
To stay productive, workers need breaks. So encourage them to occasionally go for a walk, get a drink, have a snack, or even just socialize. You can also offer ample time off for them to spend time away from work with their family or to go on vacation.
Overworking employees will only lead to burnout. So make sure you’re encouraging plenty of breaks.
It’s easy to overlook mental health and wellness as an employer. After all, symptoms of mental illness aren’t always visible and neither are physical illnesses if your employees work from home.
To encourage your employees to be healthy, you can offer wellness incentives, free access to therapy, gym memberships, or even meditation apps.
If you ever notice someone struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out and check in on them. It’s always better to be safe than too late.
Finally, consider changing your office space. Invest in ergonomic desks and chairs. Add a break room, get some green plants, and create an open floor plan. All of this can help boost employees’ moods and make them happier.
Ultimately, happier employees lead to better business. Try out some of the tips above and see what works for you and your company. You may not be able to make everyone happy all the time, but you can make a big difference!
