More often than not, employees don’t get the recognition they deserve for the effort and dedication they show to their employer – despite the fact that taking the time to show your appreciation is a great tool for boosting productivity.

Some brands set a high standard for this, like the owner of women’s shapewear brand Spanx, who gifted her employees with two first-class tickets on Delta Airlines, going anywhere in the world and $10,000 to spend.

If happy employees are likely to be 12% more productive, how productive do you think the employees at Spanx will be?

Yes, that’s an extreme example, but the principle of rewarding good behavior is simple psychology. As humans, we are more likely to keep doing something if we know we’re getting rewarded for it.

Below, we will explore ways to keep your employees happy and why you should never neglect employee satisfaction.

Reward Hard Work

It’s easy to forget the hard work that employees do on a day-to-day basis. Some employees start early and finish late, take work home with them, and create new innovative ideas that improve business processes.

There are many appealing options for personalized appreciation gifts. You could send a custom bag, custom-made logo decanter, a travel mug, or custom coins as an unique gift. This is an effective way to show your employees the love that you feel is to show them how much you’re valuing them.

All of which deserve a reward. Employee engagement will be so much higher if they know they’re working towards something other than their standard paycheck.

Interestingly, 75% of employees receiving at least one recognition a month are satisfied with their jobs, and we know happy workers are 12% more productive.

Every business knows staff engagement is not always easy to achieve. Distractions in the office and personal life, lack of motivation, and poor workplace culture are linked to low productivity – but an employee engagement programme can change that.

Employees who are disengaged are 37% more likely not to turn up to work, which can reduce office productivity by 18%, and overall business profits by 15%.

Do you need any more stats to show you how effective an employee engagement program could be?

Implement a Robust Management System

A robust management system provides employees with guidance, support, and a confidant. Line managers are people hired to manage either one person or a group of people, keeping tabs on their productivity, happiness, and being that helping hand – if needed.

Lack of a robust management system can leave employees feeling unsupported. One study even found that the lack of support and management system is the reason why 79% of employees quit their job.

Plus, it’s not hard to support an employee. It’s a simple as creating an email template asking workers if they’re happy, what can be done to improve the working environment, and a roundup of the rewards for good work that month. One email a month offering an avenue of support isn’t hard to achieve.

Similarly, line managers should aim to meet their employees at least once a month or so for a catch-up. Face-to-face meetings are so much more personal – providing employees with a confidential space to open up.

Offer Opportunities to Progress

76% of employees want to know that there are avenues to progress before starting a new job role, and 52% of workers aren’t happy that their company doesn’t offer a progression option.

Brands should create avenues for progressions such as training packages, new roles, and more responsibility within the company. The more your employees have to work towards, the more likely they are to work harder.

Managing a team of people is no easy feat. There are conflicts of interest, different personalities, and expectations to handle, and there’s a business to run at the same time.

Conclusion

Simple techniques like employee engagement solutions work well, but the working environment plays as much of a part in employee satisfaction success. An inclusive, wholesome workplace culture filled with rewards and benefits is the sweet spot.

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