Employee satisfaction has only recently become a pain point for businesses; spurred in part by a generational change in attitudes towards work, and working life. This change is certainly a positive one, as there are many benefits associated with employee satisfaction, such as:
- Better employee retention rates, which is particularly important during the great resignation.
- Improved productivity and efficiency across all areas of your business. This also increases your earning potential considerably.
- Improved brand image, as customers know they’re supporting a brand that cares for and supports its employees.
If the importance of high-employee satisfaction rates was not already clear, a recent study has found that “organizations with high employee happiness outperform low employee satisfaction companies by 202%.” As such, it’s clear staff satisfaction should be a priority for all businesses moving forward.
With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to keep your employees happy.
- Make their workday as ‘easy’ as possible. Burnout is one of the key causes of poor employee satisfaction rates, meaning you must do whatever it takes to reduce this. The easiest solution to this problem is to find ways to make your employee’s day’s as easy and straightforward as possible so that they do not feel overwhelmed or overburdened. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to do this, such as through the introduction of new software systems that speed up or automate time-consuming tasks. For example, Procore consulting services protect your employees from burnout due to the fact they can be used to manage a range of tasks, from financials to estimating and project management.
- Improve your employee training programs. Employee training is not only essential when it comes to managing workplace health and safety, but it can also be instrumental in keeping them happy at work. This is because ongoing training helps them to develop new skills that support their long-term career goals. Enhanced training also benefits your business as your team is able to carry out tasks to a much higher standard, meaning it can be a great way to keep your business on the right track.
- Provide plenty of employee perks. Another way in which you can keep your staff happy is by ensuring that there are plenty of perks associated with working for your company. Thankfully, there are many different perks you can offer, such as discounted gym membership, free meals on-site or annual bonuses. Many employees also appreciate small gestures, such as being given a day off on their birthday.
- Ask your employees what you can do better. If you aren’t sure about the changes you should be making to improve employee satisfaction rates, then you might want to bring your employees in on the conversation. As such, you should focus on creating a workplace environment where employees feel as though they can speak up and approach you should they have a complaint. This is a great way to strengthen your overall relationship, as you’re not shutting down any communication channels. Alternatively, you should give your employees the chance to provide you with anonymous feedback.
- Create a positive working environment. According to a recent study, “70% of people have worked in a toxic workplace” at some point in their lives. As a result, you should be able to notice the key signs of this toxicity within the workplace so that you can remove them from your business. For example, while it’s perfectly fine to challenge your employees and push them towards their full potential, deadlines and deals should not be valued over their wellness. You should also encourage collaboration between employees as opposed to competition, as the latter could cause their relationships to sour. When these relationships deteriorate, workplace productivity and efficiency can also grind to a halt.
Be willing to admit when you’ve made a mistake. Another way in which you can work to improve employee satisfaction rates is by being willing to admit when you’ve made a mistake and holding yourself accountable. For example, if an employee approaches you saying that you’ve overworked them in recent months, don’t brush off their complaints saying that they should expect to be busy, or that it was a rare occasion that will not happen again. Instead, hold yourself accountable and apologize. Then, work together to make changes that ensure the mistake will not be repeated. For example, you may aim to work on your delegation skills or consider expanding your team when necessary. You should also make it clear that employees are always able to reach out to you should they require any support.