How to Keep Your Employees Happy (So They’ll Never Leave)

It’s a fact: Engaged employees are involved and enthusiastic. Yet less than one third of Americans report feeling this way about their jobs. It can be difficult to find the right employees for your small business, but when you do, it’s in your best interest to keep them happy. Here are 10 things you can do to keep your employees looking forward to coming to work.

“Truly great customer service and customer experience can only be provided by the employees who feel happy and engaged at work. When your employees are happier, so are your customers.”

— SUCCEED member Olga Bondar, customer support manager for Provide Support LLC; director of sales at Immerge Technologies

01. Create a Culture of CamaraderieEmployees who feel connected to their coworkers experience greater job satisfaction. Encourage your employees to take coffee breaks together or host gatherings after work to give them a chance to get to know each other outside of the office.

02. Consider Flexible Hours

Research shows that letting employees set their own hours is one of the best ways to increase happiness on the job. Offer different start times or allow employees to telecommute some or all of the time.

03. Don’t Forget (Quality) Face TimeHumans have an innate desire for bonding, and nothing promotes that more than real-world interaction. Instead of sending an email or making a phone call, make it a point to routinely connect with employees face-to-face.

04. Acknowledge Great WorkRecognition for a job well done gives an employee intangible rewards, such as motivation and a feeling of happiness. Acknowledge employees’ accomplishments publicly, such as during a company meeting or in an employee newsletter.

05. Work with Your Employees to Set GoalsAccording to psychologists, workers are happier when they believe their jobs are meaningful and fitting into the big picture. Help employees set goals that have a sense of purpose by not only using their skills, but stretching them.

“Employees want to feel they are an important part of the team. A product or service is only as good as its weakest link; consequently every member is equally essential.”

— SUCCEED member Salvatore Graziano, owner of Huntington Family Dental Group

06. Offer Growth OpportunitiesCareer development ranks as one of the top five benefits that employees desire. Offer learning opportunities, such as classes or mentorships, which have the added benefit of potentially improving your employees’ performance, and always try to promote from within.

07. Show RespectTake into account that employees are humans with personal lives and challenges. Show your workers leniency during family emergencies or major life changes, such as death or divorce. When employees believe their boss cares about them, they will be more loyal and engaged.

“Respect the responsibilities employees have outside of work and be flexible if able. Workers with a balanced home are better workers with less stress.”

— SUCCEED member Claire Pacchielat, president of Raynham Physical Therapy

08. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Food!Feeding workers can make them happy. Thirty percent of employees say the availability of food throughout the day contributes to their workplace happiness. Consider keeping healthy snacks at the office or ordering pizza on Fridays.

09. Review Your HierarchyIt’s been said that people don’t quit jobs; they quit managers. Train your supervisors on how to communicate effectively and establish an open- door policy where all employees feel comfortable sharing feedback about their bosses.

10. Give Them a VoiceEmployees deal with customers, vendors and operations on a daily basis, and they often have

knowledge that a business owner doesn’t. Asking for an employee’s input and feedback will give them a sense of empowerment.

“Providing a forum for listening and initiating praise or corrective action to fix a concern goes a long way to ensuring employee engagement and retention.”

— SUCCEED member Lillian Sealey, assistant financial operations for General Mills

Do you have an employee

happiness strategy? Create

one by implementing these 10

steps. It could be as important

as your business plan or

marketing campaign.

Advice InspirationActionOnly 22 percent of employees

say that their happiness at work

is tied to compensation. Pay

more attention to intangible

benefits — such as meaningful

work and an expression of

appreciation — to increase

employee loyalty.

“Happy employees are central

to the success of a business.

Whether you’re launching

a startup or managing an

established enterprise, you have

to go out of your way to make

people happy — it doesn’t just

happen.”

— Richard Branson, founder of Virgin

Group

For more tips on builiding a strongteam for your business, visit the

Staples Small Business Hub.

> http://www.gallup.com/poll/181289/majority-employees-not-engaged-despite-gains-2014.aspx

> http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/new_study_shows/

> http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/10-ways-to-keep-employees-happy.htm

> https://hbr.org/2013/04/foster-a-culture-of-gratitude

> http://www.spherion.com/Documents/Job%20Happiness%20Survey%20Press%20Release%20-%20FINAL%208.26.pdf

> https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/7-secrets-to-keeping-your-employees-happy/

> http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/232702

Sources