Are you trying to figure out how to make employees feel valued?
First of all, if your organization has been around for some time now and you’ve never taken steps to make your employees feel valued, you’ve probably been losing money. Employees who don’t feel valued are disengaged at work. Disengaged employees cost U.S. businesses about $500 billion every year.
Secondly, you’ve made the right decision. It’s never too late to make your employees feel valued and respected.
To help you get started on a solid footing, we’re sharing a couple of effective tips you can use to make your employees feel truly appreciated.
It’s the Little Things That Matter
In the workplace, as in life, it’s the little things that matter.
Assume you’re a child for a moment. Your dad or mom can buy you all the toys that money can buy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll feel valued. Perhaps they’re buying you everything you need and want simply because they can afford it. Like any child, you’d want your parent to spend time with you; tell you that they love and care about you.
In the workplace, your employees are like kids, and you’re their parent. It doesn’t matter whether you’ll buy them the best workstations, computers, fancy appliances, and whatnot. What matters the most is that you’re there, ready to congratulate them for a job well done.
Making a simple email or phone call to an employee to check on how they are doing goes a long way in making them feel valued.
Listen and Act on Their Concerns
Do you listen to your employees? If yes, do you act on their concerns?
In the workplace, there will always be emerging issues. Don’t be the kind of employer who ignores the issues affecting workers. Looking into your employee’s concerns as soon as they arise is a practical way to show them that you care.
And, in the event that you’re unable to address a certain issue at the moment, communicate and let them know why you’re unable to, and how you’ll take to address it.
Scrap Punitive Workplace Policies
Of course, it’s understandable that, as an employer, you want to maintain a certain level of order and procedure in the workplace. However, you need to ensure your policies aren’t working against your efforts to make employees feel valued.
For example, if you fine your employees, say $50, for being late for work, there’s a high chance they don’t feel valued. Monetary fines are simply punitive.
Instead, find better ways to deal with that problem. For instance, if you’re seeing that a certain employee is being perpetually late, try to understand their situation. Many a time it won’t be intentional; perhaps they’re having trouble at home or the car is problematic.
That’s how you make an employee feel valued.
Reward Your Employees
When did you last reward your employees? Do you want until the end of the year to reward a few top performers?
Rewarding your employees is an ideal way to motivate and make them feel valued. A proper reward system should be inclusive, taking into account the fact that workers are abled differently. You can even conduct a survey to gather their ideas for rewards.
That’s How to Make Employees Feel Valued
Your employees are your biggest asset and they deserve your attention. If you don’t invest in their wellbeing and show that you care, their productivity will wane, which hurts your business. Don’t let that happen.
Use the tips fleshed out in this guide on how to make employees feel valued. And, keep reading our blog for more workplace tips and advice.
