The Bottom Line

5 Low Cost Ways to Boost Employee Morale

Companies all over are cutting budgets just trying to stay afloat. Are you one of these companies?

If you are, then money is probably not the only thing that is running low right now. When cut-backs happen, morale usually follows the money out the door. Now is the perfect time to take little steps to show your employees how very important they are to you and your organization. One of the greatest predictors of employee productivity and performance is knowing that their employer cares about them.  Here are some simple ways to boost employee morale, energy and overall health and well-being:

1. Hold a health and wellness fair and give away prizes donated by community businesses. You’ll be showing your employees that you care, introducing them to resources they might be looking for, and giving away gifts without spending the money on them yourself!

2. Schedule short ‘strengths’ meetings with each employee to discuss how their innate gifts can be showcased in their work. Studies completed by the Gallup Organization show that employees who have an opportunity to play to their strengths most of the time are more productive, more likely to stay in their job, and receive higher customer satisfaction scores.  Your employees will leave the meeting feeling invigorated and your company will benefit.

3. Put on a ‘health’ challenge directly from the CEO or most influential person in your company. Challenge employees to walk 30 miles in 30 days.  Start a company walking club and encourage employees to complete the challenge together.  Enter all employees who complete the challenge in a drawing for a free 3 month gym membership.  You will get your employees moving, which increases their level of health and stimulates their brain and natural mood enhancing chemicals, creating healthier, happy, more productive teams.

4. Establish an attitude of gratitude in your organization by leaving your employees quick notes of thanks for a job well done. Recognition, even when free, goes a long way in showing someone you care and increasing productivity.

5. Survey your employees using myWellmetrics online service about their feelings on work related areas such as: sense of team, resources and support, work-life balance, fit with culture, square deal, belief in company, job satisfaction, work growth, feeling energized and work meaning. Once you know where your company stands, you can focus your hard earned dollars in the right direction.  While it might cost you $0.01 – 0.02 per employee per hour, that two cents will save you oodles of dollars in the long run.  And while you’re at it, you’ll be giving your employees an opportunity to engage with and challenge their coworkers, create their own plan for well-being and access a supportive coach to help them make their plan a reality. You’ll be learning clear, concise simple ways to boost the bottom line of your company, and your employees will gain an opportunity to boost the bottom line of their lives.  It’s a win-win situation.

Employees need more than survival and security from their work, the area of their lives that occupies most of their time.  They also need to know that they are accepted, cared about, and respected by their teammates and supervisors and that they have an opportunity to grow in their work.  Showing them you care might be simpler and less expensive than you think.