| Employers that work to communicate with staff and | | | | 5. Give opportunities to progress |
| keep morale high are likely to suffer fewer problems | | | | If staff feel like they are working hard for your |
| such as absenteeism and high staff turnover. | | | | business, yet being left to stagnate, they will take their |
| Here are some good ways to keep staff happy and | | | | talent and skills elsewhere. |
| fulfilled at work. Boosting staff morale does not have | | | | Opportunities for progression can include subsidised |
| to involve employers spending large amounts of | | | | training and workshops, and mentoring schemes. |
| money. | | | | 6. More than money |
| 1. Offer flexible working | | | | Nowadays, employee benefits are as important as, if |
| Flexible working is now extremely attractive to a lot of | | | | not more important than, pay for many workers. The |
| workers, who value the ability to have more control | | | | most popular employee perks are those such as |
| over their work-life balance and their time. Surveys | | | | company pensions and private medical insurance |
| regularly show that initiatives such as flexi-working are | | | | schemes. Initiatives such as private health insurance, |
| increasingly becoming as important as, and in some | | | | gym membership and workplace fruit schemes also |
| cases more important than, pay. | | | | show staff that their employer cares about their health. |
| Flexible working includes flexible hours, remote working, | | | | 7. Give feedback |
| part-time options and sabbatical leave. | | | | Feedback is important to staff and is a key way to |
| 2. Communicate | | | | boost morale and boost productivity. Regular informal |
| Transparency and good communication are essential | | | | feedback is important, as well as more structured |
| to a happy workforce. When staff don't feel they are | | | | initiatives such as appraisals. |
| being dealt with openly and honestly, tensions can | | | | 8. Free coffee and tea |
| grow and employees can feel suspicious, worried and | | | | Even small perks such as free tea, coffee and biscuits |
| resentful. Regularly update staff on company news, | | | | make staff feel valued and foster an atmosphere of |
| such as financial performance, future plans and other | | | | team-working. Think about low-cost initiatives which |
| new developments. | | | | bring people together such as occasional social events |
| 3. Reward staff | | | | and the odd office lunch and even family events. |
| Make sure that good work is recognised. This does | | | | 9. Create a pleasant environment |
| not have to involve financial bonuses but could include | | | | Make sure the workplace is a pleasant place to be, |
| things such as small rewards, public recognition and | | | | with enough space and a good temperature. Perhaps |
| increased responsibility. | | | | you could allow staff to have a say in workplace |
| 4. Be clear | | | | issues such as how their space is decorated and what |
| One often overlooked source of stress for employees | | | | is on the walls. |
| can be when they are unclear on what is expected of | | | | 10. Be open |
| them. Be fair and make sure staff are clear about | | | | Make staff feel like they have a voice at your |
| expectations and targets. Make sure staff are made | | | | organisation by creating an open atmosphere where |
| to realise that the role they perform is important and | | | | new ideas and feedback are welcomed at all levels of |
| that they understand why. | | | | the company. |