Employee morale and company success often go hand in hand. When business owners and managers treat their team members with respect and consideration, they’re often rewarded with greater productivity and loyalty.
Workers are much less likely to leave a company if they feel like they belong there and are well-rewarded for their efforts.
Keeping employees happy can be tricky at times, especially if you work in a demanding industry.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can go above and beyond to show staff how much you care about their contentment and well-being. Here are four company policies that can build employee morale and help your company thrive.
1. Generous Sick Leave
The federal government requires companies to provide unpaid sick leave to their employees through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). However, there’s no federal requirement to provide paid sick leave.
For this reason, many employers opt to give their employees the minimum amount of unpaid sick leave as required by law. But this sends the wrong message to loyal workers when they need your compassion the most.
Offering a generous sick leave policy that includes paid time off can boost employee morale significantly.
It shows team members that you truly value them and want to support them during tough times. You can spread compassion even further by sending sympathy gifts to employees who experience prolonged illness, undergo surgery, or sustain serious injuries.
2. Employee Recognition
According to a Gallup analysis, most workers in the U.S. don’t think they’ve received adequate praise or recognition for their good work. That’s unfortunate because employee recognition is one of the easiest ways to support positive morale.
If you’re currently slacking off in this area, consider implementing an employee recognition policy right away. Doing so could take declining employee morale up to an all-time high.
In one survey, employees revealed that the most memorable recognition typically comes from the employee’s manager or another high-level leader. Surprisingly, workers found peer recognition to be the least memorable. Therefore, it’s crucial for you as a manager or CEO to take the time to personally recognize and thank workers for their efforts.
3. Flexible Working Arrangements
Flexible working arrangements are becoming much more commonplace in the workplace. They can include a variety of scheduling options that don’t fall into your standard 9-5 arrangement. Not all industries are conducive to such arrangements.
However, if you can implement a flexible work policy, it may improve company-wide morale significantly. Popular flexible working arrangements include:
Flextime: This is when employees get to choose their working hours, as long as they consistently work a specified number of hours each week. This arrangement enables workers to balance their personal, professional, and recreational needs more easily.
Remote work: It’s no longer strange to hear someone say they work from home at least part of the week. A remote work policy makes it possible for team members to handle their professional responsibilities from any location. This arrangement can help workers save money on gas and avoid wasting time commuting to and from work.
Compressed workweek: A compressed workweek involves working longer hours for fewer days of the week. For example, instead of working from 9-5 five days of the week, a compressed workweek might involve working from 7-5 four days of the week.
Part-time opportunities: People who can’t commit to working 40-hour weeks can often benefit from part-time opportunities. Businesses also benefit from offering part-time work policies because they don’t have to offer full benefits to part-time employees.
Annualized hours: This unique flexible working arrangement specifies a set number of hours employees must work in a year. However, they have complete freedom over when they choose to put in those hours. This type of arrangement may come in handy for jobs that tend to be more seasonal in nature.
If you are wondering how to quickly boost company morale, offering flexible working policies is a quick way to do so. You may be surprised by how many workers long to have more freedom over when and where they work.
4. Employee Rewards Program
Just as regular recognition is crucial for employee morale, rewards are equally important. Verbal rewards are always great and can help anyone feel appreciated.
But if you really want to increase excitement and productivity, consider implementing an employee rewards program. Corporate discount programs are popular because they help team members save money on everything from clothing to vacations.
There are a lot of employee rewards programs out there, so be sure to do your homework. Look for options that offer discounts on a wide variety of services and products.
As you roll out your employee rewards program, you’ll have an easier time recruiting top talent and keeping your existing personnel happy.
You’ll also most likely experience a lower turnover rate, which can help your company save money on recruitment and training in the future.
Boosting morale in the workplace requires forethought, intentional effort, and creativity. But your work will pay off in the form of increased productivity, greater employee loyalty, and a lower turnover rate. Implement these policies today and notice how much happier your workers become.
