Group O Blog

Improve Employee Morale in the Workplace

Employees who are respected and valued are more efficient and productive. Below we will explore three tangible ways to improve morale in the workplace.

1. Employee Recognition

Sincere praise and recognition of a job well done is a great way to engender loyalty. Loyal employees are more engaged and willing to go above and beyond basic job duties to achieve company goals.  

Recognition can be delivered in many different ways. Verbal praise works in many situations, but it must be done timely. It can be informal – such as in-the-moment recognition of a good idea or outcome – or more formal, such as a written compliment in an email.

Tangible rewards, such as monetary bonuses, can be great incentives. These bonuses don’t need to be substantial, however should still be something employees enjoy working toward. You may also consider establishing a larger, more formal bonus system for work completed over the quarter or year.  

When employees feel recognized and rewarded, it creates a sense of joint purpose and supports a culture of teamwork.

2. Service Awards

It is critical for companies to stay up-to-date on motivational tactics, especially as technology changes. Service awards are more of a formal way to recognize milestones and specific achievements.

In the past, milestone recognitions often came every 5 years and often took the form of a plaque, a token gift and a handshake from the boss. This type of recognition is archaic and won’t meet the needs of a more diverse and mobile workforce.

With workers changing jobs more frequently, recognition must come earlier in the employee cycle and should be based on achievements rather than simply tenure.

Creativity is key to driving engagement through recognition. Create a deep catalog of options for your employees to choose from. Rewards can take the form of experiences (a free lunch, a movie pass), tangible items (a travel mug, a gift card) or even charitable giving as some companies are increasingly giving those recognized the option of having a donation made in their name to a cause they care about.

Offering options can keep employees invested in the process while showing them they are valued.

3. Health and Wellness

Caring for the health and wellness of employees goes beyond insurance programs. Employees value a company that cares for their well-being, both in body and mind. It also helps the bottom line.

Begin by soliciting ideas and input from your employees. Stress the importance of the program aligning with company culture. Giving employees a voice gives them ownership of the program, which will drive participation.

Look to make your program more than just about getting everyone active. Some ideas include:

- Encouraging employees to use their paid time off

- Promoting financial literacy, such as courses on budgeting and investing

- Using digital platforms and apps that make staying active fun and easy

- Creating a culture of gratitude

- Offering choices of activities to encourage participation

- Implementing a robust health and wellness program can improve morale, help attraction and retention of good employees, and decrease absenteeism. 

Knowing where to start when it comes to improving employee morale can feel overwhelming. Contact us at Group O, your single-service provider, for tips and tactics that build a better business.