Employee satisfaction is an essential factor in keeping a tight ship that runs effectively. If your staff is unhappy, you are more likely to have a high rate of turnover, low productivity, and more costs on your end. A ruthless strategy is no longer par for the course these days. The best move strategically is to foster an environment people want to work in, especially now that job loyalty is an outdated concept and that employee retention has become harder than hiring.
So, how do you keep your employees happy and engaged? Here are a few things you can do:
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Recognize progress and work achievements.
Letting someone know that they are appreciated and that their efforts are being recognized can go a long way. From verbally encouraging your staff to providing avenues for them to receive accolades, there are many ways to mark their accomplishments and help them stay motivated in their career trajectory. If you have a big pool of workers or you are celebrating a major milestone, why not take the time to recognize some exceptional employees by creating a commemorative coin or handing out plaques that they can keep as a valuable remembrance?
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Create a platform and environment for feedback.
Another issue that goes against employee satisfaction is that of feeling heard. There’s nothing quite as poisonous for a workforce as built-up resentment and unheard complaints. Allow employees to open up about their concerns, and you’ll find that, once you filter through some of the unwarranted complaints, there is a lot that can help you steer the ship better.
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Keep the workspace conducive for productivity.
The direct environment does a lot to affect people’s mood and productivity, so make sure that you’ve put enough resources into creating a space worth logging many hours in. Everything from the interior design to the noise and temperature can affect how well your employees do and how good they feel about what surrounds them. Provide enough natural light, add in some plants and artwork, make enough space, and your employees will be able to tolerate the stresses of work better.
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Provide an excellent work-life balance.
It is one of the things that gets discussed and disputed as many employers and employees don’t necessarily have the same notions of work and life. Keep in mind that different situations come into play, and not everyone in lower management will likely have the same time and resources as those in higher seats. If you can find a happy medium, it can do wonders for engagement.
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Settle disputes and discourage ‘politics’.
Too often, people have the sense that office politics is unavoidable. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. At the very least, proper management should be able to keep all parties relatively objective to the best extent. Make sure you settle any problems between coworkers fairly and that you don’t perpetuate any unhealthy clique culture.
These are just some of the ways you can improve employee satisfaction, but they are proven to be very useful if implemented well and consistently.