Studies have shown that happy employees are productive employees. Happiness can increase productivity by as much as 20 percent. Not convinced by that number? Let’s take a look at the flipside: unhappy workers cost the US between $450-$500 billion each year.
With these statistics in mind, let’s dive into a few tips that may help you retain employees and keep your current employees happy and engaged.
1. Screen employees for cultural fit
As an employer, you already know it’s important to use an applicant background check to screen potential employees. It’s critical that you know who a prospective employee actually is. A thorough screening process may help filter out applicants with red flags like those who have a criminal history. However, it’s just as important to screen for a cultural fit as well.
Similar values between the employer and applicant is a proven measure of compatibility. 67% of workers believe that sharing values and core beliefs were important to workplace success.
Here are some questions you can ask to assess whether or not an applicant will be a good cultural fit for your company:
- What are you looking for in terms of company culture?
- What does your ideal workplace look like?
- Why do you want to work with us?
- What type of workplace culture do you thrive in?
- Have you ever worked anywhere where you considered yourself to be a bad cultural fit? Why wasn’t the right fit?
These questions will — at the very least — guide you toward whether or not the applicant will do well within the organization. On a similar note, a strong culture and looking for applicants who would function efficiently within the company culture doesn’t mean you have an office full of identical people. An office with a strong, shared culture can be diverse but simply believe in the same core values.
2. Recognize achievements
One way to retain top performers is to take the time to recognize your employees. Workers who feel appreciated by upper management consistently perform better than those that don’t. If you have to provide feedback to an employee that includes criticism, do your best to sandwich it in between two compliments.
As a manager, make sure to regularly check in with employees and stay engaged to keep tabs on their happiness and workload.
Here are some unique ways to show employees appreciation:
- Send them mail rather than an email
- Let other employees reward them using apps like YouEarnedIt
- Take them out to lunch
- Give them an extra day of PTO
- Celebrate work anniversaries
3. Provide perks
A cool workplace doesn’t just create itself. As an employer, you’ll have to take the time to really think about how to make your office stand out. Standard benefits like great healthcare, sick pay, and paid time off are still appreciated in today’s modern work landscape. However, there are plenty of other perks you can offer to encourage in-office friendships and promote the happiness of your employees:
- Snacks
- Use snack subscription services like Graze, Love with Food, and SnackNation
- Unlimited PTO
- This gives employees more freedom with how and when they use their vacation time
- Paid leave for new parents
- Student-loan debt reimbursement
- Paid gym memberships
- On-site child-care
- Regular happy hours
Not every company can be Google and offer perks like on-site haircuts and free food for three meals a day, but you don’t have to be Google to give your employees creative perks. By thinking a little outside the box and paying attention to what your employees actually want, you’ll be able to reduce the risk of burnout and keep your workers happy.
4. Be a dog-friendly office
Research has proven that dogs in the office can boost workplace happiness. So, encourage your employees to bring their pooches in. Who can be angry at work when they’re greeted by a wagging tail every day?
5. Get some greenery
Plants help reduce stress and create a more cozy, vibrant office space. Here are some low-maintenance plants if you’re looking to add a little touch of green to your workplace:
- Victorian Parlor Palm
- Japanese Sago Palm
- Aglaonema
- Devil’s Ivy
- Dragon Tree
6. Encourage a work/life balance
If you have a lot of parents in the office, think about offering child-care. Introduce a flex schedule so employees can fit in their life obligations during the work day or simply choose what hours work best for them.
Conclusion
Creating a productive, happy workplace that encourages employees to be productive and engaged is crucial to your workplace success. By promoting a healthy company culture, providing your employees with meaningful perks, and recognizing achievements, you’ll be on your way to an amazing office.