What is Employee Morale? How to boost morale Value

  

What is Employee Morale?

Employee morale is defined as the overall satisfaction, outlook, and feelings of well-being that an employee holds in the workplace. In other words, employee morale is how satisfied employees feel about their work environment. Employee morale is important for many businesses due to its direct effect on productivity. Employees with higher morale exhibit higher productivity while employees with lower morale show lower productivity.

 

 

Importance of High Employee Morale

Employee morale can determine how successful a company is. Employees with high morale possess a better attitude, maintain higher customer service levels, and are generally more productive. Poor employee morale reduces productivity, negatively affects other employees and customers, and reduces efficiency. Here are reasons why high employee morale is important:

 

1. Increases productivity and efficiency

When employees enjoy the work environment, they will work more efficiently and productively. Employees with high morale enjoy going to work.

 

2. Increases quality of work

Employees with high morale produce higher quality work than those with low morale.

 

3. Provides a competitive edge in times of crisis

Employees with high morale provide a company with a competitive edge. For example, if a company is going through a recession, surviving such a crisis is far easier when employee morale is high. Employees work and pull through together. Therefore, high employee morale can help shield a company from the crisis.

 

4. Retains and attracts talent

Naturally, employees want to work and stay at a company with a good work environment. An exceptional work environment leads to higher employee morale, helping retain and attract talent.

 

5. Reduces costs

High employee morale lowers workplace accidents, reduces absenteeism, lessens stress, and decreases the number of paid leaves an employee takes.

 

Indicators of Poor Employee Morale

Here are some indicators of poor or declining employee morale at a workplace:

• Poor or little communication between the employees and management
• Increasing amount of absenteeism
• Hostile or argumentative behavior in the workplace
• Excessive complaints by the employee(s) over small issues
• Increasing conflicts between employees
• Lower/Poor work quality
• Declining productivity
• Increasing customer complaints
• Low level of enthusiasm
• Increased tardiness
• Uncooperative attitude
• High employee turnover rate
• Silence during employee meetings
• Opposing authority and lack of commitment

 

Ways to Improve Employee Morale

Here are some ways to boost employee morale:

 

1. Celebrate accomplishments

Employees need to be recognized for their accomplishments. Take the time to provide positive feedback and acknowledge the accomplishments and success of employees. By doing so, employees will show more appreciation for their work.

 

2. Respect employees

Employees are sometimes heavily undermined. Treating employees with respect and making them feel like they are the company’s most valuable resources goes a long way in improving employee morale.

 

3. Communicate

Be as transparent with your employees as possible. Communicate often and take into consideration what an employee says.

 

4. Offer competitive benefits and compensation

Provide competitive benefits and compensation. Employees that are paid benefits and compensation that are industry competitive or above industry average exhibit significantly higher employee morale.

 

5. Provide employee perks

Provide the employees with perks such as dental care programs, vision care programs, medical care programs, wellness programs, on-site fitness facilities, etc.

 

6. Empower employees

Give employees the ability to empower themselves and feel like they are able to make decisions about their job.

 

7. Provide career path

Give employees a clear career path. Ensure that they know how they are able to progress in the company and what the attainable career paths within the company are.

 

8. Offer mentorship

Provide employees with coaching and mentoring. It will make them feel more in-tune with the company and motivate them to appreciate their employer more.

 

 

Now, after understanding ways to improve employee morale, can you think of what the store manager can do to improve Jennifer’s morale (in our example above)? Here are some ways, specific to the example, the store manager can improve Jennifer’s morale:

• Acknowledge Jennifer’s accomplishment.
• Provide Jennifer with a bonus upon reaching her sales target.
• Communicate with Jennifer and understand how she feels about working at the store.
• Raise Jennifer’s hourly wage in line with how well she is performing (the wage must be at least higher than the new hire’s!).
• Give Jennifer a management role by giving her the responsibility of looking after the new hire.
• Offer a clear career path to Jennifer.
• Make Jennifer feel like she is a valuable employee by outlining the hard work she’s put into the company.

 

Practical Example

Jennifer is an employee at her local retail store. She started working at the store as a sales associate more than six months ago. Despite being able to consistently reach her monthly sales target, Jennifer receives no acknowledgment from employees at her workplace. Recently, the store hired a new sales associate to work alongside Jennifer.

It turns out that the new hire is paid a higher hourly wage than Jennifer, despite a lack of prior work experience. Realizing that she is not appreciated at her workplace, Jennifer decides to stop trying to meet sales targets and spends the majority of her time in the back room of the store instead of greeting customers.

In the example above, we can see that Jennifer is exhibiting low morale due to a poor work environment. This, in turn, reduces Jennifer’s productivity and negatively affects the store.

Ways To Improve Employee Morale in Your Workplace

1. One-on-one Sessions

One-on-one sessions with your employees can be one of the best practices to boost employee morale. This may seem a very time-consuming deal for you but believe me, a little effort in knowing the employees and allowing them to express without an agenda would bring more positivity in them.

Asking interpersonal questions in one-on-one sessions would give your employees a sense of importance. Ask your employees if they are happy with the work assigned to them. If they find enough support from their team members? If they are keen on learning other processes? Or any suggestions they have on the current way of work.

Questions like these would definitely give your employees a sense of morale boost, they would feel important and their thoughts would be clearer and clutter-free. They would have a good feeling since they are being cared for.

2. Create a Healthy Work Environment

Create an environment that employees enjoy and love. The one which motivates them to wake up and move to their jobs happily. A healthy work environment not only means the look and ambiance of the workplace. Its also about how the managers, supervisors, and staff behave internally in the organization. How they respond to an unwanted situation or crisis and how the interpersonal connection among the folks are.

Teamwork is another factor in a healthy work environment. In an ideal work environment, everyone knows his/her role and form a symbiotic relationship with each other and know how to fit into the company’s goals and objectives.

3. Acknowledge and Appreciate Employees

A survey by Office Team says ‘nearly 50% of the workers would leave their jobs if they are not appreciated by their managers.'

Also, employee recognition in the workplace reinforces particular behaviors, practices, or activities that result in better performance and positive business results.

Never forget to acknowledge and appreciate your employees. When you appreciate your employees for the good work they do or achieve any small/big milestones it boosts their confidence and morale. More than that it keeps your employees satisfied, engaged and drives them to be more productive.

4. Be Personal

When I say ‘Be Personal’ I don’t mean to get into their personal life and forcefully keep a tab on everything your employees do. However, make your employees feel inclusive and make them feel important. A flower bouquet for their anniversaries or a customized birthday present when the day arrives can do all the talking. Also, knowing little more about their families or arranging a get-together or knowing them personally gives your employees a sense of belonging.

And this way you not only boost their morale but also earn a loyal employee for your organization.

5. Motivate your Employees

Motivation is a driving force. Managers who know how to motivate employees in times of doubt or any critical situation keep employee morale high. Motivation is also not bread to your jam, it is the sausage you need use in variations to uplift your taste buds. For some, hearing out could motivate them and for others maybe a day off. Or crackling them up with a good joke may do the trick.

6. Empower your Employees

When you give employees the power to make decisions, trust, freedom, and autonomy in the workplace, you empower them. Empowered employees feel in control of their jobs and therefore, gain the potential to achieve high levels of productivity. This helps them boost confidence and employee morale.

7. Involve Employees as Equal Members of your Team

Employees work together to achieve organizational goals. To meet these goals employees should be respected and involved in all aspects of decision making and planning. Involvement increases employee morale, commitment, and awareness in the workplace. When you work together you get a sense of purpose and a common goal to work and cut the unhealthy conflict and competition.

8. Show Care to your Employees

No matter wherever you go or how diverse people you meet, one common thread you would find among them is their need for care. And here your employees are no different. Listen to them intently. Help them grow their skills. Keep an empathetic approach towards them. Also, discuss and help solve a task they are struggling on. Small gestures like these are always noticed and also helps in improving morale and attitude.

Thanks For reading 

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