At the heart of every successful company is a team of passionate people who are dedicated to a common goal. This passion and excitement is often referred to as employee morale, and when it’s high, it’s easy for employers and employees to feel like they're on top of the world and can accomplish anything they set their minds on. However, when employee morale is low, both the employee and the employer suffer. Employee morale is often talked about in terms of increasing employee happiness and while happiness is part of the equation, it’s not the only factor. Establishing a positive workplace environment, creating safety programs, and building a healthy company culture are crucial elements that all contribute to high employee morale. Unfortunately, however, employee morale is often overlooked, which can lead to drastic consequences such as decreased productivity and efficiency, injuries, and lost work time. In this article we’re going to break down the top six ways to boost employee morale in 2021 and explain the benefits that each of these provide.
What Is Employee Morale?
According to Forbes, employee morale is “…the attitude, satisfaction, and overall outlook of employees during their association with an organization or a business” ( forbes.com
). Simply put, employee morale can be thought of as the mood in the workplace. For HR managers, hiring managers, and general managers, the responsibility to keep employee morale high largely relies on them so it’s crucial that systems are put into place that can help foster a positive working environment. High employee morale also benefits the employer. According to Connect Team, “positive employee morale leads to an increase in productivity and efficiency in the workplace”. And when we think about it, this makes total sense. When employees aren’t feeling inspired or excited about their job, employee morale decreases, which can lead to a slew of problems for both employees and employers. On the other hand, when employees are fully engaged and morale is high, their commitment to their job and company or organization is heightened. It’s a win, win for both employers and employees.
Causes of Low Employee Morale
According to recent research from Good.Co
, 70% of employees are disengaged at work. Yikes! So, what’s going wrong? There are a wide array of issues that could contribute to low employee morale including job security issues, lack of recognition, lack of clarity, lack of communication, micromanagement and more. Because there are so many different factors that can lead to low employee morale, it can feel daunting to address. However, it’s important to prioritize employee morale because once low morale amongst employees sets in, it can be difficult to fully recover. Not only are employees affected by low morale, but so are employers. In fact, studies have shown that low employee engagement directly leads to increased spending. According to TrainingMag, “it costs businesses $4,129 on average to hire new talent
, and around $986 to onboard the new hire
"! The good news is is that there are plenty of ways employers can boost employee morale that will lead to a happier workforce and happier employers.
Top 6 Ways to Boost Employee Morale
According to SMARP.com, companies with high employee engagement are 21% more profitable. Below are six tactics that employers can focus on to increase employee morale and in turn, boost company performance.
1.
Communication: Talk it Out
Communication and connection are absolutely crucial to a successful workplace environment and high employee morale. The more employees feel listened to, understood and appreciated, the better they’ll feel. A great way to implement more direct communication between employers and employees is to share positive company news or announcements, ask employees how they’re feeling and enjoying their job, and encourage them to communicate any of their issues - or non-issues - with managers.
2.
Be Transparent
It’s important for managers and business owners to be transparent with their employees. When employees feel included and are kept up-to-date on any changes, challenges, or positive announcements from owners, they’re much more likely to stay engaged and excited about their work. Transparency creates a team environment that’s crucial for a successful company.
3.
Recognize Employees
Studies show that high performing teams are far more supportive and complimentary than low performing ones. When employers and/or managers recognize the strengths and contributions of their employees, employees automatically become more productive, engaged and positive. By implementing a rewards program or celebrating the successes of employees, employers can increase employee morale and in turn, increase productivity.
4.
Focus on Health and Wellness
The mental and physical health of employees is something that should always be prioritized. Implementing a safety program and having regular check-ins is a great way to ensure the mental and physical wellbeing of workers. In industries that are especially susceptible to onsite accidents or injuries, implementing a program such as The Physical Capacity Profile Test is a great way to create a baseline way to test employee strength and health post-employment. When employees are taken care of and are working in a safe and positive environment, employers can expect to see a much higher rate of success, productivity and profit.
5.
Get Feedback from Employees
Do you regularly check in with your employees and ask them how they’re doing? If not, this is another great tactic to implement that directly leads to increased employee morale. Not only does this open a direct line of communication between employers and employees, but it also encourages employees to voice their concerns or any new ideas they may have. When employees are included in important discussions and are truly listened to, workplace morale increases.
6.
Focus on growth
Ideally, employees will want to grow within the company they are a part of, especially if they’re excited about their work and are included in company decisions. Providing employees with a career path and trajectory can increase their enthusiasm for their jobs and in turn, bolster creativity and performance. Informing employees that there is a way for them to grow within their company creates a much more positive and innovative working environment.
There are countless tactics employers or hiring managers can implement to create a positive working environment. And, because each workplace is so different, it’s important to try an array of tactics to see what works best for your particular company. The six tactics mentioned above are a great way to get started and ensure a positive working environment. Employees are a company’s most valuable asset and when employees are happy, employers are happy, customers are happy, and business booms. To learn more about how to bolster workplace morale and implement a safe and healthy working environment, be sure to visit PCPworks.com.
