Happiness in the workplace has become one of the most talked-about topics since millennials began infiltrating corporate working spaces. Basically, employee happiness is one of the most important facets of running a business. Moreover, it’s an essential piece of a company’s health and long-term success. Indeed, boosting employee morale must be a part of a business owner’s focus.
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Studies have shown that happy employees are productive employees. So it’s truly no wonder that so many modern companies are making efforts toward boosting employee morale. In fact, higher levels of contentment can increase productivity by as much as 20%.
With these statistics in mind, it’s probably time for your company to invest in its employees’ health and happiness in the office. To this end, let’s take a deep dive into a few ways you can begin increasing employee morale today.
Offer More Vacation Time and Sick Days
As an executive, you likely never consider what your employees do outside of the office. However, it’s common for employees to look forward to the weekends and time away from the office. This free time gives way to embracing other passions away from the nine-to-five grind. Moreover, it allows the mind and body to recover from the stress of the work week.
Every kind of job requires some form of physical or mental power. Therefore, after long hours of productivity, your employees deserve a break. In order to avoid the negative effects of burnout and disillusionment, consider rewarding your employees with vacation days.
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Starting with at least 14 paid vacation days is a great way to ensure your employees know they’re able to take time off when they need it. For even greater incentive, offer a generous amount of personal time off (PTO) as well.
Promote a Positive Work Environment
A happy company is a place where people enjoy going to work. A positive work environment is an essential piece of the puzzle.
Therefore, business owners should boost employee morale with the following:
- Recognize hard work: Each and every one of your employees works hard at their job. While it may seem difficult to recognize the accomplishments of each individual, there are plenty of ways you can let them know their hard work does not go unappreciated.
Whether it’s encouraging managers to reward their direct reports’ accomplishments or putting an Employee of the Month program in place, don’t be afraid to experiment with different recognition methods. - Develop genuine relationships: Fostering healthy work relationships is the first step toward creating true camaraderie in the workplace. This begins with getting to know your colleagues and employees. Happy hours, in-office networking events, and company outings are fun and inviting ways to encourage the development of those relationships.
Boost Employee Morale with Perks
An enjoyable workplace doesn’t just create itself. As an employer, it’s your responsibility to think about how to make your company stand out from the rest. Standard benefits like healthcare, sick pay, and paid time off are essential basics. However, there are many other perks that draw in more talent and interest.
For example, everyone likes company SWAG (“stuff we all get”). Alternatively, for special occasions and awards, call your management team together to brainstorm some corporate gift ideas, or make it easy on yourself by clicking the link in this sentence.
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Other examples include:
- A stocked fridge and snacks
- Consider signing up for a snack subscription service like Love with Food or SnackNation
- Unlimited PTO
- Endless freedom makes a productive mind!
- Student-loan debt reimbursement
- Corporate gifts
- Remote options
- Paid gym memberships
- Regular bonding events
- 401k match
- Learning stipend
Make Work-Life Balance a Top Priority to Boost Employee Morale
Do you have a sense that your employees have experienced ongoing difficulty with keeping up with their workload? Then it’s probably time for you to revisit their work-life balance capacity. Are their hours filled to the brim with assignments? Do they have any breathing room? If you’re unsure of the questions to these answers, the answer is probably no.
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According to David Ballard, assistant executive director at the American Psychological Association, “Top employers create an environment where employees feel connected to the organization and have a positive work experience that’s part of a rich, fulfilling life.” In short, without that balance, your company is, well, doomed.
Get Some Greenery
Believe it or not, plants are an important investment for any office space. Functioning as so much more than mere decorative items, plants help reduce stress levels and purify the air. Basically, plants create a more inviting environment.
Here are our favorite low-maintenance plants that are especially right for the workplace:
- Spider plant
- Dracaena
- Pothos
- Devil’s Ivy
- Dragon Tree
So, how do you plan on boosting employee morale in 2020? Try one or more of the suggestions here and enjoy the benefits of having a happier, healthier workforce.