4 Small Things That Make a Big Difference in Employee Satisfaction

When your employees are happy, it results in your customers also feeling happy when they interact with your business. Employee satisfaction translates to better customer service, productivity, quality work and ultimately higher sales. You may be tempted to "think big" to maximize employee satisfaction, but the truth is, it's the little things that go a long way. These are the things that are often neglected. Here are four things you can do for your employees to boost their morale: 

1. Facilitate a Sense of Autonomy 

According to a Gallup poll, what employees care most about is having freedom from micromanagement. Although many employers think employee morale is soley tied to salary, the truth is, fostering a sense of autonomy in employees may achieve better results at less of a cost. Allowing employees to manage their own time and complete tasks with minimal oversight makes them feel more motivated to achieve. 

2. Alleviate Commuting Stress 

An employee's investment in their job is not just their time given to work, but also their time and expenses required to commute. Stressful commutes lead to stressful work hours, especially when late arrival policies are strict. Employers can ease the stress by staggering shifts to help circumvent rush hour traffic. Setting up telecommuting as a viable option where possible also benefits employers so they don't need to worry about time and expenses spent commuting. In fact, some research shows that working from home boosts employee productivity. 

3. Incorporate Social Engagement into the Equation 

Employees feel better when there's a sense of community at work. Socialization is fundamental to human happiness, and encouraging social engagement among employees is a cost-effective way to boost morale. Again, it's the little things that make a big difference, such as providing a cozy eating area that brings co-workers together. Office celebrations for holidays and birthdays are another way to incorporate the social element. Giving employees a role in their organization lets them personalize the events and feel more engaged and autonomous in doing so. 

4. Prioritize Physical Health and Mental Well-Being 

The stress of work can take a toll on anyone's health, and employees like to know the company they work for wants to alleviate that as much as possible. 

Target Corporation offers employees 20 percent off healthy foods like produce and organic products, as well as their line of fitness apparel, versus the standard 10 percent discount for all other store items. This shows the company cares about the health and well-being of their employees by incentivizing healthier choices. Companies that don't sell wellness items can provide periodic vouchers employees can spend at gyms, spas, yoga studios or other qualifying venues. 

It's helpful to have an accessible list of resources available for employees to use as needed, such as mental health assistance hotlines and therapy references. This adds a human element to the workplace. It shows you see employees as human beings rather than worker bees, and it fosters a sense of compassion and understanding as opposed to intolerance. 

Making the Difference 

Improving happiness in the workplace is a low-cost way to improve your company's performance. Especially when you help your employees solve problems most companies ignore, you make them feel good about their job. Freeing workers from micromanagement, solving commuting issues, providing space to socialize and investing in employee health are some great places to start.

About Insightlink:
Insightlink Communications is a leader in full service employee surveys and offers a range of employee survey products and services to fit their client's needs. With over 18 years of experience, Insightlink's reputation has been built on giving organizations the knowledge they need to create effective change using their acclaimed employee research, analytics, benchmarking and survey methodologies. Insightlink's expertise in data collection reporting and analytics takes the pressure off organizations that find data overwhelming and daunting creating reports that are digestible and understandable, simple and easy to understand for organizations of any size and experience level. For more information please contact us at 866-802-8095 ext 705 or visit our website here.