Why Employee Morale Matters

Have you ever heard the saying, “You can’t sell it outside if you can’t sell it inside”?

It’s a sentiment that rings true in just about every industry. Having employees buy into what they are doing and becoming invested in their company’s success is critical if CEOs want to meet their goals. Although employees are ultimately responsible for a company’s bottom line, they should be treated like the humans they are, not nameless assets. Building a strong company culture with positive employee morale leads to lower absence rates, helps with recruitment and retainment, and results in high productivity levels. Allow us to explain…

STRESSED EMPLOYEES TURN INTO SICK EMPLOYEES

Work in all fields can be stressful, and it can affect anyone whether they are in high or lower pressure positions. Workplace stress has been proven to lead to short and long term mental and physical health issues, such as heart disease and anxiety disorders. Good company culture starts at the top, and so those in executive and management positions have the power to help alleviate the stress their subordinates are under.

Unreasonable deadlines, frequent extended hours and negative interactions with coworkers and managers can all result in undue pressure, as can unnecessarily strict policies and poor working conditions. In contrast, giving your employees positive feedback for good work, fair work arrangements, and added benefits will raise morale and lower stress. Providing your employees with financial and “fringe” type benefits comes at a cost financially, but it costs much more to frequently have sick and stressed employees who are unproductive, are forced to take lots of sick days or who risk spreading illnesses to their coworkers if they fear being disciplined as a result of calling in sick.

RETAINMENT AND REPUTATION

You should want your company to have a good reputation as a place where employees are happy and satisfied with their work environment; this is especially important when it comes to recruiting top talent. With the existence of workplace review websites such as Glassdoor and Comparably, there is more transparency than ever when it comes to an outsider being able to see what happens behind closed doors. These platforms allow current and past employees to voice their joy or discontent with a particular company, and browsing such sites is now often an integral part of an individual’s job search process. Just a few negative reviews are all it could take for a qualified candidate to decide they don’t want to apply for a position within your company.

Employee loyalty is key and you can only build that level of trust and commitment by providing them with a workplace they can thrive in. You don’t want your skilled employees leaving for greener pastures (a.k.a. your competitors) because they are unhappy working at your firm. Employee turnover is expensive and time-consuming; it is more cost-efficient to make the necessary changes that will lead to a more positive work environment than it is to hire and train new workers. Invest in your talent by providing them with the resources they need to be successful.

A HAPPY EMPLOYEE IS A PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYEE

It’s a simple concept – if people enjoy their work and the environment they work in, they are likely to be more productive. An employee who actually enjoys their job, rather than just going to work for the paycheque, won’t mind spending extra time at the office when necessary. They’ll also work harder on assignments instead of just putting in the bare minimum to get by because they are proud of their work and know they will be rewarded for doing a good job. Perks and activities to boost morale get employees more involved and invested in the success of the company. You should want them to feel as if they are making a valuable contribution, which in turn will encourage them to work even harder. Strong company culture also leads to innovation; engaged employees are always looking for ways to improve and are open to new ideas. Furthermore, happy employees are more likely to collaborate with coworkers rather than keeping to themselves from nine to five. Collaboration is important because employees can work together to get the best solutions and assist each other when needed to increase overall productivity.

Often, an entire company overhaul isn’t necessary to boost morale. Sometimes, it’s as easy as thanking your employees for their hard work, celebrating milestones or letting them leave the office an hour early on a nice Friday afternoon. Small changes like these add up, and it will benefit your company big time in the long run.