How to Boost Employee Morale

It’s often said that the employees are the most important asset a business can have. It’s an old truism and it’s just as relevant today when AI and automation are taking over. One of the most important tasks an HR team may have is to keep the morale high and encourage employees to cooperate.

It doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor. For the most part, the employees will appreciate a good work environment more than higher salaries and bigger bonuses. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t raise your employees’ salaries when you’re able to.

Work/life balance

One of the biggest issues an average employee faces is how to handle creating a healthy and productive work/life balance. This is especially the case in small businesses where everyone is filling in on tasks that aren’t their job.

The company needs to provide a structure for maintaining such a balance. This is mostly done by providing enough free time for all your employees, but there’s more to it than that. It’s important to discuss this matter with employees on a one-on-one basis and show them that their needs are important to you and that you’re willing to meet them halfway.

Fun team building activities

Team building gets a bad rap because it seems like something the HR teams have come up with and that doesn’t have a real practical use. A well-organized and implemented team-building exercise can go a long way toward bringing your team close together.

For young companies, the biggest part of this process is simply to provide a fun activity for your team to do together. For instance, company dance trophies could be a great incentive for the team to become friendly with each other beyond the office.

Mentorships

Employees want to have a sense of purpose in their job. This is often more important than a salary and it’s best accomplished by having a feeling that your job is going somewhere and that you’re learning on the job. One of the best ways of doing so is to have mentorship programs.

Mentorship programs aren’t just good for young employees that need help exploring their new job and career. They are also a great tool for more experienced employees because it gives a greater purpose to their job and keeps them in touch with the newcomers in the industry.

Praise is important

It may seem like a small and irrelevant matter, but praising your employees for the work they are doing can be one of the best ways to motivate them. So, don’t hesitate to do so when you feel that it’s appropriate, not only when the employee is performing well but also when they need encouragement.

It’s also important to make sure that praise is something that’s done publicly and in a transparent and honest way. Weekly email chains that point out a person or action that deserves praise are a good idea. Even if it seems to be a bit embarrassing, everyone enjoys getting praise in the end.

Boosting employee morale isn’t just about making everyone who works with you to feel comfortable. It’s actually something that improves productivity and makes sure that you retain the right employees as long as you can. For the most part, this doesn’t have to be expensive, it just requires you to know and appreciate your employees.