I’ve been in the work force for almost 20 years now, and have seen some good groups to work for, and some not-so-good groups to work for. Over this time, I’ve come to realize that many empoyers just don’t know how to treat their employees well. They assume that just because they are providing a paycheck, that their employees should be happy and do everything they are asked. The truth is, today’s workforce is more willing to jump from job to job than ever before. Companies need to realize that a paycheck is not always sufficient to keep a motivated or loyal workforce. I’m going to assume that everyone can agree that there are numerous benefits to having a happy workplace. It doesn’t take a Harvard study to recognize that productivity levels increase with the level of satisfaction in the workplace.
So, I have provided 10 tips to creating a happy workplace.
1. Show appreciation for your employees.
This is a key ingredient to creating a happy workplace. Employees need to feel like they have value within the organization. Create programs that recognize the employees for their contributions to the company. But try not to over do it. Its one thing to have an “employee of the quarter”, its another thing to have “cleanest cubicle” and “best haircut” awards. Another thing you can do is to provide free lunches, happy hours, or donuts/bagels to celebrate good work. Everyone likes free food, and nothing says that you appreciate your employees more than filling their bellies. This also provides an avenue for socializing between co-workers, which in turn fosters a feeling of esprit de corps between your employees. Yes, this is your company, but without the hard work that your people put into it, you would not be successful.
2. Provide career advancement opportunities.
Nothing is worse than working in a position that seems like a dead-end. Make sure that if you hire an employee there is a clear avenue for their advancement. You don’t have to go too formal and have job descriptions and such, but atleast make it so that your employees feel like their career is moving forward. Allow for cross-training, where employees can learn different positions within your organization. Its quite possible that there is a budding dynamo in your organization, but you never would have known about it because they were stuck in a job that wasn’t utilizing their skills appropriately.
3. Don’t hog the perks.
Make sure that if you recieve any “freebies” or party invitiations, that you share them with your employees. Use your company’s “purchasing power” to offer discounts and buying opportunities for your employees. Wether this is free sporting/concert tickets or discounts on computer equipment, make sure that you offer these to your employees. I understand it is your company and you should benefit from it, but nothing will cause resentment better than taking all the benefits of ownership without sharing it with the rest of the people in your company.
4. Provide educational opportunities.
This goes hand in hand with number 2. You need to provide an opportunity to educate your employees. Try doing a “brown bag session”, in which a someone from your company teaches an informal class on their specialty during a lunch break. Not only do your empoyees feel like they are learning and growing, but the company will benefit from the increased group knowledge. Also keep an eye out for free or low-cost seminars that your empoyees can attend. Many trade organizations provide educational opportunities, why not encourage your employees attend? This allows for the employee to network with other professionals and inevitably they will bring back some new knowledge to your organization.
5. Communicate with your staff.
Everyone always says that communication is important, but you would be suprised how many companies fail to communicate what is happening within their organization. Some employers follow the old “need to know” policy, where only a select few need to know whats really happening, and the employees should only be included if they “need to know”. I believe this is a major mistake. Its better for the staff to hear the news from the owners/managers than to have them come to conclusions based on rumors and speculation. Try meeting with the staff on a quarterly or monthly basis, just to keep them updated and motivated by the plans you have. If your organization is too large to allow for a company wide meeting, you can try producing a monthly email newsletter.
6. Lead by example.
If you make up a “company policy”, you need to be willing to accept that you cannot be “above the law” just because you are the owner or manager. If you expect your employees to follow your policies, such as being on time for meetings, you need to provide the example and make sure that you are on time for every meeting you attend. You will have a terrible time trying to enforce a policy if employees see that YOU won’t even follow your own policy.
7. Have an “open-door” policy.
This might sound “cliche” but every employer should have a policy where empoyees can openly come to their managment for advice or to communicate a problem/idea. Some of the best ideas/solutions come from the people “in the trenches” and providing an opportunity for your employees to communicate those ideas/solutions to management will create a sense of ownership and pride with your employees. One caveat to this is that if you do have an “open door” policy, you need to be willing to hear some crack-pot ideas, and possibly some issues that are uncomfortable. Nobody said management was easy.
8. Don’t bring negativity to the workplace.
I’ve been in companies where the owners/management will openly complain about a client or worker. This will surely drag down morale. Negativity is contagious, and while it might feel good to vent your frustrations to everyone, it has a tremendous effect on the morale of your employees. If you have a problem with an underperforming worker, or a mistake has been made, address it in private.
9. Socialize.
Throw a party every once in awhile. Its important to provide an avenue for socializing within your organization. The best companies I’ve worked for have had a definate “family” feeling to them, where people were free to get to know each other outside of their regular work environment. People tend to be more communicative when they have a personal relationship with their fellow employees. This doesn’t have to be a huge affair, perhaps everyone meets after work for bowling, or you throw a pot-luck picnic at a local park.
10. Remember that there is life outside of the workplace.
Sometimes employers forget that there is life outside of the workplace. Just because you spend every waking moment thinking about your business, doesn’t mean your employees need to. You must recognize that most employees have family and outside activities that help balance their lives. Do not expect your employees to constantly work on the weekends or work excessive hours. If you do need your employees to put in some extra time, make sure they are compensated either finacially or with flex-time.
While this is by no means a comprehensive plan, it is a good start for any employer that wants to keep their employees happy, motivated and loyal. The key to all of these tips is to create a sense of pride and ownership within your organization. You want to have your employees feel as though they are an essential part of the the company. Employees that feel this, will work harder and more productively, and in the end your company will reap the rewards.
