For modern workers, showing up, performing their tasks, and heading home isn’t good enough. They also want to feel invested in and enthusiastic about their jobs, connected to their colleagues, and valued by their organization.

Unfortunately, the majority of American workers don’t feel that way. Research from Gallup in 2023 reveals that just 31% of employees report feeling engaged at work, a decline from the previous year.

Polar Opposites

Happy employees are enthusiastic about their work, have an upbeat outlook, and actively seek ways to help their company achieve its business goals. Through their attitude and actions, they improve the organization’s retention rates, customer satisfaction, market reputation, and overall financial health. Unhappy employees do the exact opposite.

The good news is that there are many ways you can make your company a place where people genuinely want to work.

5 Ways to Boost Employee Satisfaction Without Maxing Out Your Budget

1. Be a Visible, Transparent Leader

It’s far easier for people to feel connected and loyal to their company when they know what’s going on—both the good and the bad. When leaders are transparent with their people and keep them up to speed on organizational developments, it sends a signal that they’re trusted and valued.

Ideally, senior management should host regular company-wide meetings where they ask employees for their ideas, opinions, and feedback before making important business decisions. Not only will this allow them to gauge how any change might affect employees, but there’s also a good chance their plans will be improved after employees have weighed in with their own points of view.

2. Encourage Connection and Get to Know Your Employees

Social interaction is a fundamental human need, and people shouldn’t feel lonely in the place where they generally spend most of their waking hours. Research shows that having friends at work has long-term health benefits and reduces stress. Give your employees the time and space to collaborate during work hours and socialize during break times. You might also consider an internal communication app where individuals and teams can connect and talk throughout the day.

A word to managers: You can’t truly show that you value and support your employees unless you know who they are as people. So, get to know the names of their partners, kids, and even pets! Set time aside for 1-on-1s to explore their hobbies, values, and aspirations.

3. Introduce Flexible Pay Options

If you compensate your people via weekly or bi-weekly paychecks, there’s a good chance they often find themselves in a tight spot if a sudden, unexpected expense crops up between paydays.

Earned wage access (EWA) provides a no-cost means to give your people immediate liquidity when they need it most. It eliminates the stress and embarrassment of having to borrow money from friends and family or high-cost, unsecured lenders. Payactiv’s EWA service also comes with handy personal finance resources like budgeting and savings tools¹.

4. Celebrate Milestones

It doesn’t take much time and costs next to nothing, but celebrating people’s professional and personal milestones is an excellent way to keep morale high and ensure employees feel valued.

Make a point of remembering employees’ birthdays, work and wedding anniversaries, and other events like the birth of a child or college graduation. Celebrate your employees by sending a personalized card or email, and mentioning their milestones during in-person or online team meetings.

5. Have Fun

Humans weren’t designed to work like machines! There’s a strong case for scheduling time for some fun and informal bonding experiences that allow people to relax and enjoy getting to know one another on a personal level. Some ideas include:

• Ordering pizza for everyone on a Friday
• Going paintballing, bowling, or to a local sports event
• Organizing a family picnic in the local park
• Bringing in an interesting local speaker for a lunch-and-learn

Employee satisfaction is an intangible yet powerful force that creates engaged and productive workplaces. Companies that demonstrate their commitment to enhancing satisfaction in the workplace will be rewarded with the loyalty and productivity of their people.

Through our all-in-one employee benefits and financial wellness platform, Payactiv helps companies make their employees’ journey through their careers and lives a secure, empowered, and rewarding one. Click here to schedule a demo or get in touch to speak to one of our team members.

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