Why are happy employees so important these days?
The world of work has changed a lot in recent years. Today's employees place more value on a good work-life balance, a pleasant working atmosphere and the opportunity to use and develop their skills and abilities. In addition, labor markets have changed and competition for talent has increased. The pressure on the company side is increasing, employee recruitment and retention is becoming more and more difficult. Read more about current recruiting trends and how they have changed the labor market.
Employees are now in the driver's seat, companies have to come up with something. Mistakes can leave you behind the competition as a potential employer, as this article shows->Recruiting mistakes you should avoid.
Companies that make it their goal to keep their employees happy and provide them with a positive work environment can gain an edge in this competition. But what makes people happy at work?
These 8 factors make people happy at work
There are many factors that contribute to job satisfaction. Based on our experience, we have summarized eight points that employers should consider in order to make their team happy and thus strengthen employee loyalty:
1. Recognition & appreciation
Employees want to feel valued and appreciated. Employers should therefore regularly provide positive feedback and recognize achievements. This can be conveyed in the form of a conversation or expressed as a bonus.
2. Career opportunities
Companies should offer their employees career opportunities and the chance for further development by opening up opportunities for promotion and promoting further training.
3. Pleasant working environment
The work environment has a major impact on job satisfaction. Therefore, it makes sense to provide a pleasant and ergonomic work environment in which employees feel comfortable and productive. Bright office space and a modern, well-equipped workplace are just as important.
4. Work-Life-Balance
One of the most important factors for employees today is a good work-life balance. Flexible working hours and home office options reduce time and space dependency and create a better work-life balance.
5. Meaningful work
Employees want to do meaningful work and know that what they do every day has a purpose. Employers should therefore communicate the importance of their employees' task and give them the opportunity to identify with their work.
6. Teamwork and cohesion
A positive team culture and good team cohesion can make employees feel comfortable and happier at work. Companies should ensure that there is open communication and collaboration between colleagues. Team building activities help the team get to know each other better and build stronger bonds.
7. Benefits
The importance of benefits cannot be denied nowadays. Employees are happy about goodies and the obligatory fruit basket is no longer enough. Read here which benefits make employees happy.
8. Fun at work
When employees enjoy their work and look forward to their tasks, this increases their motivation and commitment. Companies can promote this through a positive work culture and creative projects.
Attention: These 5 signs show you that your employee is unhappy
If an employee exhibits these behaviors, you as an employer should take notice:
1. Loss of performance
2. Negative mood
3. Withdrawal
4. Low commitment
5. Frequent absences
Loss of performance: An otherwise reliable employee is making more mistakes? This could be due to a lack of motivation and is a strong sign of dissatisfaction.
Negative mood: Is a bad mood spreading among colleagues? As an employer, you should be alert to this, intervene early and try to improve the mood in the team.
Withdrawal: Is an employee withdrawing and spending little time with the rest of the team? This could indicate that the employee is already emotionally detached from the current position.
Low commitment: If an employee is unhappy with his/her job, he/she usually no longer brings the full level of commitment.
Frequent absenteeism: Of course, it is always possible for employees to become ill. However, if the days of absence accumulate within a short period of time, this could be the first sign of dissatisfaction in the job.
