When it comes to running a business, there are countless elements to consider. From securing your office premises to implementing business plans and marketing strategies, there are a lot of obstacles to overcome throughout the challenging climb to the top.
But one of the most pivotal points in making your business a success is employee satisfaction.
In this article, we explore the importance of keeping your staff members happy and the different ways in which you can do so.
Why Is Employee Satisfaction Important?
With the current job market booming, retaining your existing workers is now more paramount than ever. Job vacancies hit a staggering 1.1 million between July and September in 2021 – the highest level on record since 2001.This means employers need to do everything possible to ensure their staff members feel fulfilled in their current job roles and prevent them from looking elsewhere. Not only this, but when employees feel valued you’re far more likely to get the best results out of them, which in turn adds to the overall success of your business.
What Can Be Done to Improve Employee Satisfaction?
There is a vast number of ways that you can nurture your employees, helping them to feel appreciated as integrated members of the team. Here is a list of useful tips to maintaining happy workers:
1. Feeling valued – One of the top reasons for employee satisfaction is being made to feel valued within an organisation. Recent studies reveal that 57% of employees feel happy in their role because they feel appreciated in the workplace.
2. Flexible working – Since the pandemic has introduced remote working to hundreds of businesses across the UK, many employees have become accustomed to the new work-life balance that working from home can bring to their lives. In a recent survey by instantprint, 45% of us want access to flexible working hours.
3. Work perks – Whether it’s pizza and prosecco one Friday lunchtime, or permitting staff members to clock off an hour early once a month, small gestures can make a big impact on the mood around the office, leaving staff members feeling grateful to be part of your company. Alongside this, setting aside a budget for staff socials is an important way to get the team bonding in a relaxed environment. Putting your team in charge of how that social event looks will also help foster an environment of togetherness.
4. Training and development – If there’s one way to keep staff members happy, it’s through progression plans that lead to promotions. It’s up to you, as an employer, to arrange for a time to be put aside to guide staff members, clearly mapping out exactly what they must do to reach the next step on their career ladder. Putting together training plans and regular catch-up meetings is a good way to keep on top of individual progress.
5. Focus on wellbeing – Employees can only perform at their best if they’re feeling their best. Focusing on wellbeing is a way to show your workers that you have their best interest at heart. Whether it’s a massage voucher, discounted health appointments, or sending out winter care packages, your staff members are sure to feel grateful for a little TLC as a reward for all of their hard efforts throughout the year.
