Well, it had to happen.
It was only a matter of time before inquisitive researchers decided to do a survey to prove the obvious: Employees’ job satisfaction favourably impacts organisations.
As we know, happy workers increase productivity, go the ‘extra mile’ and become willing cheerleaders, (without being asked) of companies’ brands, thereby boosting their reputations.
It is all common sense.
But here’s the kick: This report reveals, among other things, that happy employees may actually make organisations richer.
Yes, they drive financial outcomes; this is not a vague conjecture.
The ultimate trade-off seems simple: Organisations strive to provide A,B,C (or whatever their employees value the most, which might not necessarily be more money). Then the happy, engaged employees do their jobs plus X,Y,Z.
A win-win situation for both the employees and the companies.
So we want to be helpful.
To smooth out the rough edges in the employment relationship, this discussion forum has been set up to help Management make decisions that would ensure that smart, talented, and driven professionals, like you, are happy in their careers.
Before you jump into the discussion, kindly note the guidelines below.
Guidelines for discussion forums
1) Only comments related to the topic would be approved.
2) Please edit your comments for clarity before posting.
3) Language should kindly be kept professional and ‘clean’ as inappropriate contributions will not be approved. Comments written as personal attacks will also be rejected.
4) Comments submitted after the deadline will not be published.
And now over to you.
Discussion Forum #2 – What Would Make You Happy At Work?
(27 September 2014 – 25 October 2014 at 00.00 West African Time)
Share all. Reveal all.
Even if you are your own boss, tell us what you believe would make your employees happier to work for you.
If you are a one-man/woman entrepreneurial wonder, then what drives you in your chosen field?
Start the conversation and invite others to share their opinions as well.
Cheers!
Recommended reading:
Discussion Forum #1 – Communications At The Workplace
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N.B – First image is courtesy of Bplanet via freedigitalphotos.net. Second image is courtesy of Jscreationzs. Animation courtesy of gifgifs.com
This discussion is now closed. No more comments would be accepted.
Many thanks to all who contributed. Your participation was really appreciated.
If you were unable to post your opinions this time, never fear – the next discussion forum will take place next year.
A new article will be posted soon, so watch this space :-).
Cheers!
What will make me happy at work is for me to feel like my work matters. For my manager to respect and value the work I do and make me feel like it's just as important as what the CEO does. This is of course only one of a number of things that make employees happy at work, but is generally one of the main things.
I think there isn't one answer to what makes employees happy, I mean it would very much depend on the perspective you are looking at it from, each employee is different and have their individual drivers. As a rule of thumb, I think it's safe to generally say honesty and transparency is key, organisations must not be seen to just talk the talk without walking the walk and employees need to align with those values.
Secondly there is perception of value, employees need to know that what they do is valued and respected. Then of course i'd say the key driver of employee happiness is having good leaders. This is because good leaders are emotionally intelligent and realize each employee is different and of course try and ensure they create a positive environment to ensure employees are happy and playback to organisation owners what they need to be doing to ensure that they stay happy. These factors to me seem more important than perks and money, however those come into play as well.
Happy employees are just happy – engaged employees on the contrary add measurable business value. I wrote a post along those lines not so long ago – https://challengera.com/is-there-a-layer-of-fun-on-top-of-your-office/
As a business we will be running our 3rd annual employee engagement survey next month. This survey is freely available for all employers and has been a real catalyst for change in our business. Led by our Business Support Manager, Claire Gibbons we have seen a significant fall in employee sick days to just above 1% of all hours worked, we have seen staff turnover drop like a brick (broad generalisation as I don't have the numbers to hand) and we have seen a general feel of happiness spread across the whole business. This has been collated anecdotally.
The significant changes we introduced were, education of managers in what and how they create potential stress and how to manage in a more positive way. Forming project groups from across the business to tackle self identified issues, empowering people to change their working practices. We also engaged with Andrew Harris at The Fit for Work Team, Leicester, SME Wellbeing. A government funded scheme that helps employees to get fitter.
None of our actions cost a significant amount of money at the outlay and I can say that every action has bought significant improvements to the business in both cash and wellbeing terms.
I work for myself. I am an author and blogger. I believe that the greatest thing you could do for an employee is sincere praise for really superlative work. Yes, tangible rewards are crucial, but they are second to any sincere appreciation.
I'm a blogger!
Sincerity and transparency from top management. Everything starts at the top and trickles down. When top management is transparent and sincere others take note and want to emulate. We are a top down society and corporations are designed that way, however, there are good managers and there are the liars and b.s'ers and those people typically have a very unhappy staff. If you are saying the company is not doing well and then giving yourself a million dollar bonus, staff will catch on quickly and be very resentful. If management genuinely appreciates staff and is honest with them then the staff will want to perform up to it's expectations. Perks and pay are always nice but they are mere "bones" and can also be insulting. In my opinion it's the attitude and persona and the honesty at the top that make all the difference.
Any organization trying to make people happy are clearly following the wrong path.
Dr. Steve Maraboli says it well:
“Happiness is a state of mind, a choice, a way of living; it is not something to be achieved, it is something to be experienced.”
In my opinion, perks make for happy employees, and happy employees are good for business.
A successful business model without perks should be a non-sequitur. Companies that successfully incorporate perks and survive in tough times demonstrate why the old “carrot-and-stick" approach to management is untenable and the “carrot-and-carrot” approach is the new model for successful 21st century business. Perks energize in the same way austerity measures enervate a business and its employees— by affecting employee morale and churn far beyond their actual cost in dollars. While austerity measures create a "bunker-and-hunker” mentality and encourage churn, perks engender an "anything-is-possible" atmosphere of positive peer pressure and heightened productivity that can buoy an organization through the stormiest economic seas.
Contributions that employees make to enhance achieving departmental objectives should be appreciated by their immediate managers.
Workers give more when the little they offer is commended. So far as one has been employed as a worker, s/he has something positive to give to the organisation, otherwise there is no need to engage that employee. Managers should also not shout on employees under them; such managers need training on communication. You do not shout when you're communicating to your staff. Your message should rather be audible to be received/interpreted correctly. This is for now.