An employee’s job satisfaction is the result of a combination of factors including financial remuneration, being part of a positive working environment with productive working relationships and the opportunity to grow and develop. Article by Chris Rowson, Managing Director at Ecardshack.
It’s likely that if one or more of these factors is disrupted for an extended period of time, then an employee will look to change jobs. This can be good if you’re looking to employ some fresh talent, but on the other hand, it can have a negative effect on your business if your staff are opting to leave. Here are five steps that you can take as an employer to increase employee job satisfaction:
Provide a positive working environment
Research reveals that employees spend 92,120 hours of their lives in the workplace so it is crucial that companies optimise their working conditions. You can invest good, state of the art technology that allows employees to complete tasks quickly in a hassle free way. You can also look into providing benefits such as discounted gym memberships and flexible working. Tech giants are great role models when it comes setting a good example of creating a positive working environment, as they offer a number of benefits such as competitive salaries.
If a recent new recruit has relocated for a role in your business, you might want to suggest activities in the area that will help them to establish a good work/life balance. It’s also important, as an employer, that you try to create an open and honest working environment where employees can discuss the positives and negatives.
Reward and recognition
It goes without saying that financial rewards significantly impact job satisfaction levels. Input a process to evaluate employee performance and provide salary increases to top performers. Opportunities to earn special incentives, such as bonuses, extra paid time off or vacations, also bring excitement and higher job satisfaction to the workplace. You can demonstrate recognition without offering a monetary reward as personal recognition from a superior can be a powerful tool in building morale and motivation.
Involve and increase employee engagement
Disengaged staff can have a serious negative effect on productivity. More than one in four professionals recently surveyed said their company is not effective in keeping workers motivated. To keep employees engaged, you should share topline company information, define expectations, be consistent and set a good example from the top.
Develop the skills and potential of your workforce
Employees will be more satisfied with their current role if they have a clear path marked out for career progression, according to new research by New Chapter Consulting. Alongside this, offer their new recruits the opportunity to grow their skill set through new courses and educational opportunities in your business and openly discuss advancing skills with their employees in reviews and appraisals.
Evaluate and measure job satisfaction
Measuring the satisfaction of customers in the workplace is common practice, but how often do you measure their employees satisfaction? The measurement of staff experience should be taken more seriously in business as high employee satisfaction drives loyalty, which encourages value, adding to customer satisfaction which promotes customer loyalty, increases investment and therefore top line profitability. In essence, job satisfaction is the first element of the service profit chain. If you have unhappy employees, this process is hindered. An employers role in enhancing employee job satisfaction is two fold; you need to establish a motivating and positive working environment whilst pushing your staff to embrace their role fully and the exciting new opportunities that come with it.
