It was recently reported online that employees in the UK are some of the happiest in the world, in terms of overall satisfaction with work relationships, career progression and the job itself. This is great news; however, if as a business owner, you find that your employees are not as happy as they could be, there are a number of methods of improving their happiness levels, which of course will only serve to benefit the business as well as the employees.
One very simple way to improve employee satisfaction is to offer a more flexible work schedule. The nine to five schedule, which seems to have been the only acceptable time frame in the 20th century is now giving way to a more flexible, modern approach to what constitutes the working day. Allowing people to work from home for a couple of days per week, or working half days will let them know that they are trusted to get the work done on time and give them more freedom in terms of how they do so.
Open communication is at the heart of a happy workplace. The difference between an effective boss and a mediocre one is often their communication skills, or lack thereof. Transparency when it comes to work issues will ensure that employees know where they stand, making them feel more secure and happier overall.
When it comes to larger businesses, with several hundred employees, face to face interaction between employees and employers is often very limited and may only occur when there is a major problem. Taking the time to regularly meet with employees for informal catch ups on work projects will ensure that they trust the employer and feel more loyal towards the company. Emails are often one of the most used forms of communication, however they can seem very impersonal; make that your employees know who you are and what you are like, and workplace happiness will inevitably follow!
Recognising the successes of employees is a very significant happiness booster; a clear rewards system will ensure that employees feel motivated and of course, appreciated. Having a personalised ‘employee of the month’ awards piece, such as the Jade Elite, up for grabs will help to increase enthusiasm for the work that needs to be completed.
One very simple way to improve employee satisfaction is to offer a more flexible work schedule. The nine to five schedule, which seems to have been the only acceptable time frame in the 20th century is now giving way to a more flexible, modern approach to what constitutes the working day. Allowing people to work from home for a couple of days per week, or working half days will let them know that they are trusted to get the work done on time and give them more freedom in terms of how they do so.
Open communication is at the heart of a happy workplace. The difference between an effective boss and a mediocre one is often their communication skills, or lack thereof. Transparency when it comes to work issues will ensure that employees know where they stand, making them feel more secure and happier overall.
When it comes to larger businesses, with several hundred employees, face to face interaction between employees and employers is often very limited and may only occur when there is a major problem. Taking the time to regularly meet with employees for informal catch ups on work projects will ensure that they trust the employer and feel more loyal towards the company. Emails are often one of the most used forms of communication, however they can seem very impersonal; make that your employees know who you are and what you are like, and workplace happiness will inevitably follow!
Recognising the successes of employees is a very significant happiness booster; a clear rewards system will ensure that employees feel motivated and of course, appreciated. Having a personalised ‘employee of the month’ awards piece, such as the Jade Elite, up for grabs will help to increase enthusiasm for the work that needs to be completed.
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