When it comes to hiring new employees and welcoming them to the business, there will always be the extra pressure of ensuring they work hard and stick around! Not that long ago, the salary was the ultimate factor that would lead to many employees switching up their careers, however, in this modern day, that is no longer a priority.
Employee motivation is a key factor that managers need to consider within the workplace. If employees are unmotivated, then realistically, how productive will your workforce be? Considering that nearly a third of employees say they are not motivated at work, we have devised a few top tips to help you improve employee motivation for the long-term, ensuring your business is not part of that statistic.
- Who said a games room was distracting?
Imagine a grey office, comprised of old desks, chairs, and computers in a dull and non-collaborative environment – who would want to surround themselves in that 5 days a week? A working environment’s‘ culture’ is a major factor in ensuring employees stay motivated whilst at work, and just as importantly, make sure they stay! A bright, social and aesthetically pleasing office is much more appealing, especially with the millennial market. Millennials admire unconventional spaces; the days of dull, mundane colours in offices are ancient history now! What’s better than a game of ping pong on your lunch break to stop you from procrastinating?
You don’t need to break the bank – the devil is in the detail. A splash of paint on the wall to brighten up space or a comfy, colourful sofa are small ways that will help improve the feel of the workplace.
Some of your employees may be skipping breakfast and replacing it with a strong cup of tea or coffee, but research shows that a substantial breakfast can really benefit your employees’ health and drive productivity throughout the day. A 2016 report from the British Dietetic Association, estimates that up to a third of people regularly skip breakfast. This could be costing your company considerably in terms of lost productivity and employee health issues.
- If no one appreciates it, then why bother?
No matter what your seniority within an organisation, employees need recognition and praise for the work they do. If no one appreciates your contribution, why put out 100%? Communicating with employees and providing feedback on their work and progression is a major motivating factor. If a member of staff has spent a lot of time and effort working on a project or went out of their way to help a colleague – praise them!
If employees feel like valued asset to the team and are respected, they will continue to work hard. Constantly sharing the success of the business and plans for the future will help workers feel more invested in becoming a part of growing your empire!
- Employee Benefits
The next motivating factor is providing benefits for all employees. If they have something hard to work for, they are more likely to do so! Company events and activities to celebrate success are ways to involve and congratulate employees on their hard work and motivation. Recently we spent the day at Ascot to celebrate a great two quarters – A great sense of all working towards a common goal!
Not forgetting, offering discounted gym memberships, healthcare and life savings are all other ways to support your employees physical, mental, and financial wellbeing – which is becoming more and more important in the workplace. Incentives are a good way to ensure this and as previously mentioned, salaries are no longer the main motivation. 60% of workers would work for less money in case the company is more empathetic, showing that people will stay at the same organisation if they have a reason to and feel supported.
- I’ve got an appointment today; can I work from home?
The ability to offer some flexibility within the workplace is also proven to be a huge motivating factor.
Employees often value flexible work schedules, such as work-at-home and telecommuting options, because the work option gives them a more effective work-life balance. Flex-time scheduling also has benefits for employers. In addition to being an effective recruiting and retention tool, letting employees work from home can save employers money in myriad ways.
Benefits to you as the employer are reduced overhead and turnover, environmental impact, higher morale, access to a wider pool of candidates, and lower travel costs. However, the downsides can be an impact on culture, an effect on productivity, difficultly developing and track performance.
So, there we have it – 4 key ways to help improve employee motivation. Workplace, recognition & involvement, benefits, and flexibility will retain your staff in the long-term and inspire them to work to their best ability.
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Are you an EA, PA, or business support professional looking to take your career to the next level? Executive Partnerships can help. We’re a specialist recruitment agency working with leading companies and organisations to connect them with talented staff. Learn more at www.executivepartnerships.co.uk.
