What happens in your organisation will frequently affect the morale of your employees. If you notice low morale in your organisation, it's usually time to make a change. In this blog, we provide you with effective methods for increasing employee morale in the workplace.
Employees are extremely important in any organisation. They are regarded as a company's backbone and have a significant impact on the outcome of almost all aspects. Employee morale can influence a variety of factors, including productivity - but what is actually meant by employee morale?
Employee morale is defined as an employee's attitude or mindset, which influences their willingness and ability to work. In other words, it basically reflects employees' feelings about their jobs, co-workers, and even employers.
People that have high morale are normally quite optimistic about their work and believe that it's worth the effort. They usually work effectively under pressure and always tend to meet the organisation's objectives.
What factors can affect morale?
There are many factors that can affect your employee's morale, but here are just a few of them:
Work-life balance - People who have a great work-life balance seem to be happier and have a higher motivation to work. They don't seem to be under as much pressure to work without resting, which will normally lead to burnout.
This is not the case for members of staff who are under pressure to work when they don't need to. These employees may be frustrated because they're unable to address personal issues or take time off, which is likely to continue to lower their morale.
Development opportunities - Employees who work for organisations that don't provide training opportunities can become stagnant over time, which can reduce their morale.
Additionally, employees who are struggling to complete tasks given the lack of knowledge in certain areas, they can become frustrated, which also contributes to lowering their morale. Organisations should always provide career development and training where they can. This will ensure that your company's employees have the opportunity to grow, whilst feeling supported when achieving their goals.
Workplace culture - The morale of a company's employees can also be determined by its culture. Having low morale will prevail, for example, if a company has a culture of teams that struggle to collaborate or a high turnover rate.
Employee morale is typically higher in companies that have and maintain a positive culture. That is why managers and other people in positions of authority should strive to create a positive company culture.
The Benefits.
Reduced absenteeism - Employees, unsurprisingly, will take sick days not just because they're feeling unwell, but they also do this to avoid work. This can be down to having a lack of enthusiasm in the workplace.
The employees with a high morale don't usually feel the need to fake a sick day to have time off. They are much more likely to communicate when they require time off and to set boundaries in order to maintain their work-life balance.
Retention - The people with a higher morale are a lot less likely to switch jobs. It indicates that the employees are content with their current company and are less inclined to leave. Organisations will always benefit from high retention as it reduces hiring and new-hire training costs.
Productivity - Morale has a significant impact on workplace performances. When individuals have high morale, they are only motivated to do their best and contribute to the company's success. This boosts productivity, which will result in increased profitability.
How to increase employee morale.
Below are some of our top tips that are effective at increasing employee morale in the workplace:
Promote work-life balance - A great way to boost employee morale is to make work-life balance a part of your company culture. Unfortunately, many employers have difficulty reaching this balance.
Encouraging your employees to take time off is one of the simplest, yet most effective ways to promote a healthy work-life balance. Breaks are necessary; don't reward employees for working continuously without taking breaks - as this could cause more harm than good.
Keep in mind that work-life balance can mean various things to different people. You can always allow employees to choose a schedule that works for them if it's possible. Working 9-5, may not be suitable for everyone. Letting your employees choose another schedule that fits in with their other obligations - such as flexible start times or even a four day work week!
Helping personal and professional development - Helping your employees to develop professionally and personally is an extremely effective way to boost overall morale.
You can help them to develop professionally by providing them with various learning opportunities. This can include efficient training and providing access to learning programmes that are paid for by your company.
Try not to forget that the personal aspect of employees is just as important - and it may also affect their morale. Encourage them to learn more personal skills, such as empathy, communication, and even critical thinking.
Encourage feedback - Make sure that your employees know that you care and appreciate their feedback. Allow them to give their opinions often - don't just give them an annual opportunity in a meeting.
It's important that you take action on the feedback you're provided with. Communicate to those who give the feedback so that they can see the value of the input that they have given you. By doing this, employees will feel seen and heard.
Appreciating your employees - Acknowledging those who work for you is the easiest way to boost morale. Employee appreciation makes them feel valued and that their efforts are respected. It's important to appreciate your team on a regular basis so that they know their efforts are being noticed and valued - motivating them to perform even better.
There are companies who are thriving as they take employee morale quite seriously, and they understand the affects that low morale can cause in a business. These are the businesses that are always looking for new ways to boost their team's morale so that it benefits everyone greatly.
Employee morale has a significant impact on many organisations. If you choose to ignore it, your company may experience low profitability and high employee turnover, among other consequences - which is why it's your responsibility to maintain high morale in the workplace and amongst your employees.
Hopefully, the advice we've given you will help you get off to a good start in creating a better working environment for everyone in the company - let us know any tips you may have!