10 Proven Ways to Increase Employee Satisfaction

You may believe in your company and its product, but you can tell that not all of your employees share your same passion.

And while they may never feel exactly the same as you do, you want your employees to find purpose and meaning in their work. After all, low employee satisfaction is linked to lower productivity and product quality.

But how do you improve your employees’ relationship with their work? The same old, surface-level benefits like catered lunches and kitschy company memorabilia aren’t enough to retain great workers for years to come.

Start to dig deeper into your company culture, and learn what you can do to increase job satisfaction for your valued employees with these top tips.

1. Empower Employee Decision-Making

If you hand your employees a detailed to-do list at the beginning of each week, their work probably feels monotonous and robotic. When you show people you trust in their ideas, their creativity and innovation can begin to expand.

Let your employees make decisions that matter, and include them in company considerations. It’s an effective way to let them know that they are an important part of your organization.

2. Authentic Recognition

People love being recognized for their work. It provides value and meaning to their daily efforts.

Take an employee-of-the-month ceremony a step further. This may look different for every business, depending on what kind of work is being acknowledged and appreciated.

Find ways to make an authentic gesture of gratitude to your employees, including outside of an award ceremony.

3. Encourage Individual Growth

Employees who can clearly see a future of development and learning at their job are more likely to stick around for the long-term.

Those who struggle to see growth are much more likely to leave their current position in search of work that will support their career expansion.

4. Quit the Micromanagement

Micromanaging is one of the most discouraging signs for employees. It makes them feel like they are not trusted to do their work, and that the individual touches they provide to the company product are meaningless.

If you don’t weed out and retrain micromanagers, you’ll be sure to see elevated stress levels and suffocated creativity throughout your business.

5. Communicate Company Goals

Your company’s primary mission is not to reach certain sales numbers. Remember why you wanted to do the work you’re doing. Let your employees know the true meaning of their work, and do so on a regular basis.

Establishing a clear mission for your workers helps them to know that they are a part of something bigger and that their work is making some kind of difference.

6. Take Time to Listen

It may seem too simple, but there are plenty of owners and managers who don’t take the time to genuinely listen to their employees.

Don’t wait for someone to come up to you or your HR department with a complaint, though you should also pay close attention to the concerns of those that do.

Make time to survey your employees, whether it be monthly or quarterly. These check-ins will give you a better idea of how your employees enjoy their work.

It will also clue you into what parts of the job could use adjustments, and what parts could promote further job satisfaction.

 

7. Flexibility and Customization

People like to feel like they have control over their time. While ultimate schedule customization isn’t available in all industries, offer as many options as you can.

From remote work opportunities to flexible time-off approvals, it’s crucial that you recognize, and let your employees know, that you value their time outside of work.

After all, rest and play are some of the defining factors that foster innovation and productivity.

Another way you can offer job customization is through a payroll card program. For your employees who may not have bank accounts, this option is certainly one to consider providing.

8. Support the Health of Employees

Prioritizing your employees’ physical and mental health is a must for any business owner or manager.

If your employees’ health isn’t properly managed, or they struggle to find time to take care of themselves outside of work, their work quality will suffer and so will your company.

It can be as simple as offering discounts for gym memberships or offering healthy snack and lunch options at work. Or, you could invite a yoga instructor to teach a class to help everyone unwind and take a few deep breaths.

9. Foster Friendships

Employees who have meaningful friendships at work are much more likely to be satisfied with their careers.

Encourage your employees to socialize during and outside of work. This relationship-building doesn’t have to impede their work, and it can improve overall employee happiness.

You can create spaces for team-bonding and friendship-building through off-site company outings.

A company beach day, pizza party, or camping trip is a stellar opportunity to challenge your workers to problem-solve together, relax, or just get out of the office.

10. Perks Aren’t Everything

While perks, prizes, and gifts provide temporary joy for employees, they don’t significantly affect employee retention.

Providing other benefits will help your employees develop deeper relationships with their work, their coworkers, and the management. This connection and meaning-making is the foundation for employee satisfaction.

Foster Employee Satisfaction

The success of your company is reliant on the quality of your employees, and how much they value the work they’re doing. Ensure that the best work is being done by taking the time to improve employee satisfaction.

If you’re looking for other ways to improve your business, your management style, or your productivity, head over to our page to find more ways to grow.