Happy employees are more likely to stay motivated and less likely to leave your company. Therefore, it is critical for managers to keep employee engagement in mind when making decisions. If you currently manage a group of unhappy employees, there are several ways to improve morale and ensure you don't lose good people. Follow these management tips to reduce turnover and keep employees engaged.
You don't have to spend a lot of money to keep happy employees on your staff, but you should take time for fun activities once or twice per month. Some companies form intramural sports teams, while others have informal sports days for employees. Not all employees like sports, however, so make sure you have an alternate activity available. Taking a group walk or holding your next meeting in a local park are also inexpensive ways to keep people happy.
Recognizing employees keeps them motivated and makes good workers less likely to quit. Fortunately, you don't need to buy expensive trophies or put on a fancy awards banquet. For some employees, receiving a certificate of achievement or inexpensive prize is very motivating. Try to hand these awards out during a meeting or luncheon so other workers are there to recognize their peers for a job well done.
If you have the budget to do so, offering financial incentives is a great way to reduce waste and make sure happy employees don't leave your company. Give workers small cash bonuses every time they identify mistakes that might cost your company money. For example, an accountant who notices a $1,000 mistake on a financial report certainly deserves a $20 or $25 bonus. If you don't have the cash available to give this type of bonus, see if you can get discounted gift cards from restaurants or other local businesses.
Happy employees don't stay happy if they think you are paying them less than they are worth. If you want to retain your best people, make sure your company's salaries are in line with industry expectations. Have your human resources department conduct a salary survey, or use online salary analysis tools to see if your pay ranges are too low. If they are, try to increase employee salaries as much as you can without exceeding your company's compensation budget.
It's difficult to be happy if you are constantly in pain. If you want happy employees in your department, find ways to make their work areas more comfortable. Invest in adjustable chairs and desks so employees of all heights and body types can get comfortable. Allow employees to use treadmill desks or exercise balls to eliminate back pain and reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries.
It's not always easy to staff your department with happy employees, but there are a lot of things you can do to improve morale and keep people engaged. If you have unmotivated employees who are thinking about leaving your company, try one or two of these management tips to turn things around.
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