A happy employee is a more productive and content employee. So what makes an employee happy with their job? A good salary, with good benefits and a good work environment only go so far. Employees want job satisfaction, they want to feel like they are a part of something and that their contributions are appreciated.
Recognition
This is one of the biggest complaints employees have. They feel their work is not appreciated by their boss. Some employees may even stop trying to do a good job because their work is never recognized. It is important to give honest praise to your employees. It does not cost a thing, but benefits employee morale.
Top performers should be recognized when they deserve it, but don’t forget about the average worker who never rises to that level. These workers are the backbone of your company and need to know that their work is important and appreciated.
You should not have to look to hard to find examples of employees doing a good job. When they do they should be recognized for it. Sometimes a thank you, or good job is enough. If someone does something above and beyond publicly recognize their achievement. Take them out to lunch, left them leave an hour early on Friday or if it is a team effort have a pizza party.
Always keep in mind that people want to know they are valued as a person and their work is appreciated. Never overlook an opportunity to make an employee feel more satisfied about their job by recognition or praise.
Variety of Work
Boredom is a production sucking emotion. Doing the same thing day after day, year after year will lead to boredom in any job. One way to break the boredom is to move tasks around between employees. If needed give them training in the new task. Every so often rotate again to keep boredom in check.
The employee benefits from not doing the same boring work and you benefit by having more well rounded employees who are capable of doing more tasks. Well rounded employees are important so that sick days, vacations or other reasons for absences can be covered.
Opportunities for Growth
Some managers mistake the need for growth as career advancement. The truth is some people are content in their present position and are not looking to move up the ladder. But they do want opportunities to grow and learn in their present position.
In the same way new tasks break boredom, new skills allow an employee to grow within their present position. You can train someone with new skills yourself, have another employee do it or send them to class if your company offers it.
If your employee works with Microsoft Office products in their position this is an excellent area to train them in. Improving their skills with tools they use to do their jobs will benefit the employee and you. They will appreciate the opportunity for growth and in turn become more productive by knowing how to better use the tools they do their job with.
Being Part of Something
Employees want to be active participants in their work and their work environment. Everyone has a streak of independence in them and do not want the policies they must abide by without any advice. While you do not want employees to set their own policies, you can ask for their opinion and participation when it comes to establishing performance measures, setting goals and work priorities.
Employees want to understand how their efforts contribute to the business and want to feel that they are making a difference to their team, their department, and the company. Humans are tribal by nature and the need to be part of a group or a team is important to them.
You can have 5 individual employees each doing their part. Take these 5 employees and make them part of something larger. Make them a team, hold meetings with them to share the progress and challenges. Give them a sense of purpose about their job and their contributions to the company.
Summary
What Makes Employees Happy? Look at yourself for answers. What makes you happy about your job? Everyone will be happy with more money, but there are many other ways to keep your employees happy and satisfied in their job.
Employees want to know their work is appreciated, they want to do a variety of tasks, they want to grow and learn new skills and they want to know they are part of something. Employee satisfaction increases productivity, decreases absenteeism, and decreases job turnover.