Pine Mountain Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on Feb. 8.
As the business industry navigates its way through the Great Resignation, here are 10 ways your business can keep its staff members happy and loyal.
Employers who want to retain their staff members must invest in employee happiness. — Getty Images/ fizkes
The American workforce is currently in the midst of an era dubbed “the Great Resignation,” where employees have been quitting their jobs en masse over the last year and a half. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, resignation rates rose to record levels in September when 4.4 million employees left their jobs.
While many factors contributed to these high resignation rates, some experts believe the pandemic has caused workers to shift priorities. This means employers who want to retain their staff members must invest in employee happiness in 2022. Here are 10 simple but effective ways to keep your team satisfied and engaged at your company.
Embrace flexible work hours
Today’s workers are increasingly seeking better work-life balance. A flexible work schedule is a perfect solution to offer your employees so they can meet their responsibilities at both work and home. You can even consider offering employees an option to work a four-day workweek so they have an extra day for the weekend.
Offer more time off
Life happens, and your employees deserve the chance to pay attention to priorities at home as much as they do at work. This may mean giving employees additional vacation time so that they can avoid burnout or increasing leave time for tasks related to general well-being.
Compensate your employees fairly
It’s important to provide your employees with an appropriate salary for their job experience, duties and performance. If your employees are unable to pay their bills or don’t have enough wages to take care of basic needs, they may take their skills elsewhere.
Map out growth opportunities
Simply put, a company is more likely to retain workers when it invests in its employees’ professional growth. Offer learning opportunities, such as online courses and access to resources that will help them develop skills they can use to grow within the company.
[Read more: How to Develop a Growth Path for Employees]
A flexible work schedule is a perfect solution to offer your employees so they can meet their responsibilities at both work and home.
Work toward DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) goals
Having a healthy level of diversity, equality and inclusion is a goal every workplace should strive to achieve. As employers adopt DEI goals, employees of all backgrounds will feel more comfortable going to work each morning knowing that they won’t experience disrespect or discrimination.
Offer remote and hybrid work options
Quarantine measures at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic made many businesses adopt a remote working arrangement. Many employees are eager to continue with either remote or hybrid work options to create a better work-life balance. If you can adopt this in your business model, offer your team the chance to work remotely and mutually determine which days they would come into the office.
[Read more: How to Create a Positive Hybrid Office Culture]
Celebrate individual and team successes
Don’t wait for your end-of-year event to acknowledge employee milestones. Gestures like thanking a team member for their contributions to a presentation or holding a monthly team luncheon will go a long way in making your employees feel appreciated.
Prioritize company culture
A positive company culture occurs when employees are engaged with their work and invested in the overall success of the organization. It’s important to encompass a company culture that allows employees to feel safe, supported and heard. Address behaviors that may contribute to a toxic work culture promptly, such as miscommunication, gossip, burnout and favoritism.
Provide non-monetary benefits
You don’t need to pay enormous salaries to keep employees motivated and engaged. For example, a one-on-one lunch is a great way to check-in with your team members and it lets them know you’re available to listen to feedback, concerns or questions they have. You can also consider setting up a company charity initiative so employees can rally around a good cause. Or, you can try offering voluntary employee-paid benefits on top of standard employer-paid benefits like health insurance and retirement savings plans.
Focus on employees’ mental health and well-being
Positive mental health and well-being are vital to a productive and engaged employee. Offer wellness incentives, such as a gym membership or counseling services, or encourage employees to take breaks from daily tasks. Additionally, if you notice an employee is struggling, reach out to ask how you can better support them.
[Read more: 5 Small Business Owners on How They Support Employee Wellness]
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
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