Satisfied employees are more likely to give their all to their jobs and less likely to leave the company. Increasing employee satisfaction can thus be seen as being better for both workers and their employers. Despite that fact, many business owners and managers continue to ignore employee satisfaction, assuming it would cost too much to improve the workplace so their employees feel happy and fulfilled.
It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to create a warm, welcoming, and productive workplace. Check out the five tips below for some help with brainstorming effective yet affordable ways to increase employee satisfaction and decrease worker turnover.
Create a Pleasant Atmosphere
Modern workers spend a good deal of time at their jobs, so, understandably, they want to have a comfortable, pleasant work environment. Before remodeling the entire office or retail store, consider making a few inexpensive changes.
Try adding more comfortable furniture to the break room, offering free coffee or snacks, putting up some art to lend spaces frequented by workers on their brakes some ambiance, or even buying a scent diffuser to release pleasant, invigorating scents into the air.
Employers are often surprised by the difference scent diffusers to make when it comes to the atmosphere. Check out aromatechscent.com to find the right diffuser and start experimenting with essential oils and aromatherapy scents. There’s nothing like the subtle aroma of peppermint or lemon balm to infuse some energy into a workplace.
Break Up Routines
No matter how much they love their jobs, modern workers get tired of doing the same things day in and day out. This leads many workers to look elsewhere for new employment. Managers can avoid losing good workers to boredom by breaking up their routines.
There are a few ways to go about implementing this tip. First, managers can rotate employees’ job responsibilities to break up repetitive tasks. If that’s not possible, try to add some energy to otherwise boring routines by surprising employees with snacks, occasional parties, or office giveaways.
There’s no need to spend a fortune on rewards or surprises. A simple gift certificate raffle or an in-office pizza party can do wonders for employee satisfaction rates and worker productivity. The bottom line is that employees want to feel valued and need opportunities to socialize appropriately with coworkers to encourage better teamwork and a sense of belonging.
Promote Good Health
Poor physical, mental, and emotional health all take their toll on employees. These may sound like personal problems, but they can dramatically impact workers’ job satisfaction rates and their ability to perform their best on the job. While most modern employers can’t exactly afford to install gyms or hire personal trainers, there are some simple ways to create a workplace culture that prioritizes health.
One great way to encourage healthy lifestyle choices that promote good health is to install a kitchenette in the break room. Include a refrigerator and a microwave to make it easier for employees to bring their own food and, if the company’s budget allows it, stock a basket with healthy snacks like fruits and veggies. It’s also wise to encourage desk workers to take short breaks throughout the day to stretch their legs and get some exercise.
Encourage Socialization
Most employers put some uncomfortable furniture in a poorly lit break room and assume that’s all they have to do to allow workers to socialize during their time off. That’s a mistake. Building a welcoming workplace culture that values teamwork, collaboration, and belonging among employees is a great way to improve worker satisfaction.
Already have a stellar break room with healthy snacks, comfortable furniture, and the occasional company party but haven’t seen much change in employees’ socializing habits? Try taking things in a different direction by arranging a volunteer program. It will give workers the chance to get to know each other outside of work while simultaneously helping the community and presenting the company in the best possible light.
Community service doesn’t just boost the company’s reputation. It also makes employees feel better about themselves and make new friends. Plus, they’ll feel better about their jobs knowing that the company’s higher-ups care enough about the community to sacrifice a day of work here and there to employer-paid volunteer programs.
Listen to Employees
This article has saved the best tip for last. By far the best thing employers can do to boost employee satisfaction and morale is to listen to their team members. If someone has a complaint about the workplace culture or an incident that has occurred, take it seriously.
A company’s employees often have the most insight into what could be done to improve their job satisfaction. Consider having all employees fill out periodic surveys, and don’t stop after implementing a few of their suggestions. Instead, continue to check in to see if they are having the desired effect and, if they’re not, find out what’s wrong.
Workers want to feel valued, challenged and listened to. Most small to mid-sized businesses can’t afford to offer hefty holiday bonuses or incredible on-site resources, but they don’t have to. Making small changes to the workspace like those described above combined with altering the workplace culture to place more of an emphasis on employees’ physical, emotional, and social health can make a huge difference, and it costs very little.
The Bottom Line
Boosting employee satisfaction won’t just keep valued workers around for longer. It will also improve productivity in the workplace, improve workers’ lives, and even make the company look better. Today’s consumers want to buy products from happy, satisfied workers at socially conscious companies, which is great because it rewards good practices.
Employers who feel overwhelmed by the idea of overhauling their workplace cultures or just their break rooms can start small, seek plenty of input from those employees who will be affected, and go from there. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and job satisfaction rates aren’t going to change overnight, but making positive changes now will have a dramatic impact on company culture and worker satisfaction for years to come.
