Happy employees are often more creative and productive

There is no doubt that happy employees are more productive and creative. According to a study by the Social Market Foundation and the Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy of the University of Warwick, happy employees are on average 12 percent more productive, and their productivity can even reach 20 percent.

It’s not a secret. If you feel valued by your company and enjoy being at work, you’re more inclined to perform better. It’s simply human nature. The bottom line and meeting company objectives are important to a company’s success, but having fun at work is just as important. Some employees place as much importance on the workplace atmosphere as on their paycheck. Maybe even more.

You can keep your team engaged and increase their enthusiasm for your company by trying the following:

Time off – Days off with pay (and no catch) are ALWAYS appreciated, and necessary to rest and recharge!

Flex time – Keeping good employees will be easier if you allow them to work flexible hours as much as possible. This will allow them to maintain their home life and help them keep all aspects of their life running smoothly.

Training opportunities – No matter how long an employee has been on the job, it’s important for them to have the tools to be empowered to do their job! When you offer regular training and job education opportunities, whether it’s self teaching, one on one or in a group setting, your employees will feel confident in their abilities to perform their job duties the best that they can. Investing the time and effort that goes Into training is really just investing In your employees!

Accessible information – Similar to providing training opportunities, providing accessible information about things like job duties, benefits, compensation and more gives your employees peace of mind and makes them feel like there’s an open, transparent line of communication.

Employee recognition – Everyone wants to be recognized for work well-done. Praise employees for a job well done and connect how it contributes to the company’s mission. Ensure you are recognizing the type of work and behaviors you want to see on the job. Include a mix of one-on-one recognition, meetings and e-mails.

Equipment – Employees need the right tools to do their jobs more efficiently. Include them in the discussion when evaluating equipment needs. They know the most about what they need, because after all, when you do the work day in and day out you know what’s best!

As you’re looking for ways to strengthen your employees and keep them engaged, we are here to help. Visit http://www.uasd.org/ to learn more.