Simple initiatives are the key to keeping employees happy

During the hiring process,  it is not uncommon to see businesses enticing potential employees with the promise of benefits such as free lunches, office bars and wellness programs. Each year, employee benefits have increased as showcased in a report published by the Society of Human Resource Management. Health and wellness benefits were found to have increased the most, by an admirable 20%, across all employers surveyed for the same report. Even though these benefits no doubt help employees, they are ultimately not what employees desire from their employer to be content in the workplace.

You do not need to shell out big bucks to please employees

Flashy office perks like onsite gyms and meditation rooms have become the definition of wellness benefits for many businesses, and can be an intimidating standard for employee care for businesses that do not have the capital for these spaces. Smaller businesses and startups should not feel pressured to spend their money on these costly additions because as the Harvard Business Review points out, such benefits typically benefit only a small number of employees. The first step in making sure that employees are happy with their benefits is to ask them! While there is no perfect benefits program, ideally office perks would be based on what would benefit the majority of employees.

Some office perks require no company spending and can be incredibly valuable for small businesses and startups trying to define their company culture. Something as simple as allowing employees to personalize their workspace, meaning both environmental factors and physical objects, can increase productivity and give employees a better sense of control over their conditions, HBR found. Individual workspace decor such as appropriate pictures, artwork, and knick-knacks can also be a great way to break the ice and encourage conversation between employees to create a friendly company culture.

Additionally, a personal and timely recognition of hard work from a manager or supervisor directly to their employees can go a long way. Of course not all employees enjoy public recognition for their work, but a survey of 1,500 employees by Reward Gateway found that 75% of employees agreed that motivation and morale would improve if managers simply said "thank you" more. All of this comes at no cost to the employer, but can drastically affect an employee's experience at a company.

Start with the basics

For startups and small businesses especially, it is important to provide the basics of what employees want in the workplace in order to attract and retain new hires. In a report by Future Workplace and View, the top three environmental aspects that employees believed affect their performance, happiness and workplace well-being were air quality, comfortable/natural light and temperature respectively. As you can see, what employees desire in the workplace are for their basic human needs to be met, not necessarily for extensive wellness benefits or company lunches. Providing these basic needs in the workplace will allow employees to thrive and are important to keep in mind when purchasing or building an office space.

Providing some of these needs may sound daunting for a company that is already in an existing workspace without the financial means for a complete remodel, but creative and cost effective solutions are possible. If indoor air quality is a problem, invest in an air purifier and encourage employees to take breaks outside. Not only will this make employees happier and more comfortable, but the same report stated an 11% increase in employee productivity as a result of increased fresh air and a reduction in pollutants. If water quality, another aspect that can affect an employee's performance and wellbeing, is poor, try a water filter or provide bottled water. While not necessarily free, helping to improve these basic workplace wellness factors can, in turn, increase employee productivity and ultimately be the foundation for a better work environment.

While businesses must comply with federal and state laws set forth by the U.S. Department of Labor, having an attorney for small business can help you make sure your small business is in compliance. The proper legal help with employee regulations will make sure both your business and your employees are working in a productive environment.

Categorised in: Business Law

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