Ways to Make Your Employees Happier

It is a well-known fact that happy employees make successful companies. So, it is in every employer’s interest to find out how to make their employees happier. However, to ensure your employees enjoy job satisfaction, more is needed than just a pay rise.

Even though bonuses and pay raises are an important part of retaining employees, paying your employees more doesn’t necessarily make them happier.

What are the best and most effective ways to boost happiness among members of your staff?

In this article, you will find out some simple strategies that work at making your employees happier.

The Challenges of Happiness in the Workplace

It may surprise you to know that the concept of happiness at work is a relatively recent one. In the past, businesses were more interested in productivity and profits than in the wellbeing of their employees.

How important is it that employees feel happy at work? A report in 2017 found that most employees feel happy at work when they feel valued, comfortable, and engaged. Factors affecting how workers felt about their work include the climate they work in and the levels of stress they are under.

The report found that one of the best ways to improve staff morale and increase happiness is to foster a positive team spirit. This has the added benefit of improving the performance of individual employees and the company as a whole.

Ways to Make Employees Happier at Work

What are some of the most effective ways to boost happiness and maximize productivity? Let’s look at what you can do.

1. Get feedback from employees

One of the best ways to help make your staff feel valued is by listening to them. Being able to provide feedback on all areas of their job helps employees know that they are an important part of the team. What’s more, when they see that their opinions are taken on board, their feelings of self-worth increase.

Even if you make a decision that is different from theirs, the fact that they could voice their viewpoint is worth a lot. So, anything you can do to improve communication between management and staff will benefit everyone. This also goes a long way to helping employees feel happier at work.

2. Encourage flexibility

Introducing flexible working schedules is another way to help boost employee happiness at work. Flexible working hours is one of the most important ways to achieve better work-life balance.

Forbes magazine reported on a study on the benefits of flexible work patterns. It found that 46% of employees rate flexible hours as the most important aspect of their job. This allows them to work when they are at their most productive and also care for their family needs.

3. Eliminate sources of irritation

The more you can do to get rid of points of friction will remove a source of frustration among employees. These are often small things, but if employees have to deal with them every day, they can be extremely irritating.

Of course, each company has its own needs and nuisances. For example, this could be using outdated methods of time tracking. Or, it could be something as simple as a slow internet connection or a messy staff room. Certainly, the more you can streamline and improve your operations, the happier your employees will feel.

4. Create a career pathway

Setting out clear career goals for your employees is an important way of keeping them engaged and happy. When employees know how their careers can progress in the company, they won’t feel stuck in a dead-end job.

In order to achieve this, management and team leaders need to communicate clear options for growth in the company. This could also allow for additional training and upskilling to allow employees to advance their career.

5. Remember to say ‘thank you’

It’s amazing the power that 2 words like ‘thank you’ can have to help an employee feel more valued and, therefore, happier. Showing your appreciation for the work and effort of each member of staff can foster positive feelings and improve workplace happiness.