Employee Motivation Tips
Studies have shown that happy employees are more productive than unhappy employees. A study conducted by the University of Michigan’s Workplace Research Foundation also found that increasing investments in employee engagement by 10 percent can increase your company’s profits by $2,400 per employee per year. Companies like Google, who are keen on keeping their talent, already know this fact and act accordingly. You should, too. Creating a positive corporate culture is good for your bottom line. Plus, treating employees well is the right thing to do. You don’t have to be a Fortune 100 Company to provide great perks.
Share credit card perks. Many companies get perks from using their company credit cards. These often include airline miles, concert tickets and gifts. Pass those perks to your employees.
Stock the employee break room. At a minimum, you should provide your employees with a full coffee bar and cold drinks. Go the extra mile by stocking the break room with snacks. Ask your employees what they would like to have and then buy in bulk at places like Costco or Sam’s Club to keep costs down.
Arrange yoga classes. Yoga helps its practitioners to manage stress, develop coping skills and to improve their overall mental well-being. To give this benefit, hire a yoga instructor to provide classes once or twice a week. If you re a small company, you may want to have employees chip in rather than footing the entire bill.
Allow telecommuting. According to Gallup’s State of the American Workplace, “remote workers log more hours and are slightly more engaged.” The report shows that 39 percent of the employees surveyed spent some amount of time working remotely or in locations apart from their coworkers. Give your employee the option to telecommute and you will reap the benefits of a more productive workforce.
Be family friendly. Don’t make parents feel bad for being parents. Make your business family friendly for those times the kiddos need to accompany their parents to work.
Become a pet-friendly office. Pet owners are happier than non-pet owners. A survey conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association shows that Americans believe that pet owners who bring their furry friends to the office work longer hours and are more creative. This perk is free, but could really improve your corporate culture.
Conduct “brown bag” lunchtime workshops. Invite a local expert or knowledgeable employees to teach a short class on an interesting subject. Provide lunch for your employees, too. Do this and you’ll be feeding your employee’s minds and stomachs.
Negotiate dry cleaning pick-up/ delivery. Get a local dry cleaner to make scheduled stops at the office. You don’t have to pay for the cleaning, but you should at the least negotiate a favorable group rate. Your employees will appreciate the time and money you save them.
Free smartphone and data plan. Offer your employees free smartphones for business and personal use. You can find reasonable professional plans and business phones that don’t require annual contracts. This perk ensures your team always has updated technology to complete their work. Increase your generosity and pay for the data plan.
Provide an office “chill room.” This is a place your employees will visit when they are feeling stressed or when they just need to clear their minds. Put reading materials, cards and video games in the room for them to utilize. They’ll return to work refreshed.
Food truck Friday. Invite a different food truck to visit your location each Friday. You don’t have to pick-up the tab every Friday, but do so every so often. Bonus: Meeting at the food truck to eat will build camaraderie and give your employees something to look forward to each week.
Free Netflix subscriptions. It costs $7.99 a month per person for a streaming only subscription. It’s a small price to pay for a perk your employees will love.
Other resources:
7 Ways to Keep Your Employees Motivated and Happy at Work
Free Management Training Course Preview
Get Creative with Office Rewards and Recognition
