Boosting Employee Morale Without Increasing Salaries

Morale is a big deal for businesses. Low morale costs more than you may think. A highly satisfied employee will increase productivity, reduce errors, and stay with the company longer. While high morale cannot be guaranteed, there are a few ways to improve morale without having to resort to increasing salaries. If fact, only increasing salaries in the hopes of improvement can be detrimental. There is a certain point where salary typically does not increase the happiness of an employee very much. Managers that implement these activities to boost morale will find themselves less stressed and in a smoother work environment.

Display an Active Interest in Caring for Employees

Employees watch how you act and conduct yourself. They speak about it and take cues from it. If you do not care, why should they? Cultivating an environment where employees feel valued will improve morale. Did your team reach a milestone? Surprise them with lunch like Chipotle catering and speak to each one individually. Get to know their stories and families by listening and asking questions. Make sure that they feel understood and create an open environment where questions can be asked and confusion removed.

Spend Time with Your Team Outside Work

Giving your personal time to the team and taking them out for agreed upon activities show that you are serious about getting to know them. Bringing your team closer together will increase the flow of ideas, reduce stress, and generates positivity. A close-knit, positive team works wonders for productivity. They will feel valued, and morale will improve.

Treat your Employees like People and not Numbers

Look at issues from their perspective, listen, and communicate thoughtfully. Mistakes happen, and it is imperative for them to feel that you understand they are human and we all make mistakes. It will relieve much stress and worry than many employees carry around. A number is easily replaceable and faceless. A person is known and understood. Give honest, accurate feedback and do not sugar coat things. They will appreciate your actions and become more loyal. The feeling of loyalty is a powerful morale booster.

Provide Training

A trained employee is a confident employee. Training breaks them out of a routine, increases their learning, and shows that you want them to succeed further. Is an employee at the final stage of a position? Training them in other areas will motivate them to produce even more, as they feel advancement can occur. A motivated employee that understands you are supporting them in their growth will become more dedicated and spread their positive morale around the office.

Invite Inventiveness

Create a cupcake club where different employees bring in cupcakes once a week. Invite them to share their ideas, no matter how silly they may seem. Fill a box with names and draw one to select an idea of the week. Have a luncheon piñata party. Make sure to get their input and figure out what is viable. They need to feel that their ideas are taken seriously and will be used. If a simple cupcake idea was accepted and used, how will they feel when you use a business impacting idea? They will be ecstatic. The more ways that you can find to spark their creativity, the more you will see their morale blossom.

The central theme in these ideas is to reward, recognize, respect, and appreciate your employees. They can sense if you are being sincere or not and will act accordingly. Employees will work harder and be more productive if they feel valued and that their work means something. Support their growth and, in turn, they will support you.