The 5 Things You Need to Do to Keep Employees Happy

Ever hear the phrase “Happy wife, happy life?”   While “Happy staffing, happy boss” doesn’t roll off the tongue, it doesn’t make it any less true!

In a recent post, we reviewed several ways to retain existing talent – including offering the compensation, work/life balance and advancement opportunities they need. While these are three big drivers of retention, simply showing employees how much you appreciate them is a powerful way to keep top talent in the fold.

Let’s face it, whether you’re talking about family or work relationships, showing that you care:

  • raises morale;
  • increases retention and productivity;
  • is just the right thing to do!

If you need a little inspiration, here are five ways to express your appreciation for the hard-working people who drive your success, every day:

Celebrate work anniversaries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average tenure for US employees is just 4.6 years. Research shows that tenure for high performers is significantly lower. So when your employees hit employment milestones, celebrate it!

Surprise employees with an unexpected gift. The gift needn’t be large or expensive; even a paid lunch hour is a welcome surprise (and a huge morale-booster) for hourly employees.

Recognize employees’ contributions. Formally acknowledge both group and individual achievements. Create a plan that’s consistent, timely and in-line with your company’s ideals. Informally, remember to thank your employees, every day. Expressing thanks is a free – yet powerful – way to demonstrate appreciation.

Ask, listen, and show you care. Sometimes, all your employees need is to know that you understand them and take their concerns seriously. Remind employees that your door is always open. Hear them out when they have legitimate complaints. Listen to their new ideas – and implement the ones that make sense. Knowing that they’re heard reassures employees that they are a valuable part of your organization.

Update your recognition program. Is your employee appreciation program a bit stale? Does it unfairly recognize the contributions of certain departments? If so, then overhaul it!

Get your whole team involved in developing new, inclusive ways to show employee appreciation. Make sure that your plan celebrates the value of all kinds of employees – including those who only serve internal customers – bring to your company.

Staffing Support: A Powerful Way to Show Employee Appreciation

If your team works hard for you, use PrideStaff’s services to minimize burnout, offload non-essential activities and provide essential support. Contact your local PrideStaff office today to learn more.