Six Low-cost Ways to Keep Your Employees Happy

We all know that workplace happiness is one of the keys to business success. It helps boost retention, fosters creativity, increases productivity – and the list goes on! But what some people don’t know is that it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Here are six low-cost, sure-fire ways to keep your employees happy and productive in the workplace.

1) BE FLEXIBLE

Flexible working arrangements can reduce workplace stress and absenteeism, and increase employee morale. Luckily, mobile technology has advanced to the point where employees can access the resources they need to do their job from just about anywhere. So, encourage work-life balance and (where possible) allow your employees to arrange their work in a way that suits them.

2) GIVE PRAISE

Numerous studies have shown that money isn’t the only thing that matters to employees. One even found that people are willing to sacrifice up to $30,000 of their yearly salary in exchange for recognition and praise at work! So, start giving credit where credit is due – and make sure it’s timely, specific and genuine.

3) PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLBEING

A whopping 96 per cent of working-age Australians have at least one risk factor for chronic disease. The impact on the workforce? Low productivity, high-stress, absenteeism and high staff turnover (just to name a few!).

So, identify the health issues affecting your workplace and roll out a tailored program that addresses them. Your program is much more likely to succeed when management ‘walks the talk’ – so get support from the top down.

4) ENCOURAGE SOCIALISATION

Team building can increase employee morale and improve communication between team members/departments. So, get thinking about some activities that’ll help your employees bond and work better together – assign a buddy for every newcomer, encourage indoor group discussions and get your employees socialising out of the office every once in a while.

5) FOSTER GROWTH

There’s no worse feeling than stagnation. So, make sure you’re constantly encouraging your staff members to reach their potential and find new ways to improve their skills. Start by creating an atmosphere of growth – turn weekly meetings into learning opportunities, let your employees ask questions, provide mentorship and offer training and development opportunities.

6) R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Stephen Covey once said, ‘treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers.’ And this statement couldn’t be more true. So, show your employees how much you value them – be polite, listen, respect cultural differences and, above all else, treat them with respect.

About TGC

TGC is a Sydney-based commercial real estate agency. We bring over 25 years’ experience in the Sydney CBD, city fringe and metropolitan property markets. We can assist you with any of your property needs, be it buying, selling, leasing or property management.

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