Keep employee morale sparkling right through to Christmas

We all have moments where the thought of going to work fills us with dread. But with colder, darker mornings setting in, there are days when the prospect of dragging yourself out from under your duvet can really drive you to despair.

However, once employees start to lose their motivation, the desire to do a great job can disappear just as quickly as those long, summer nights. Everyday tasks suddenly seem like a chore, the quality of work begins to slide and employees might just start to look elsewhere. And when one person’s mood takes a nosedive, it can quickly spread to others, breeding negativity through the office and creating a stressful environment for everyone. We caught up with Jamie Mackenzie, Director at Sodexo Engage to get his view on how to keep things upbeat!

“Of course, feeling bored is nothing out of the ordinary, with as many as two in five of us admitting to experiencing boredom at work. And a little bit of downtime after a busy period can actually be welcome. But companies need to be careful that staff don’t find themselves in a rut they can’t break.

Feeling unenthusiastic or downbeat on a daily basis doesn’t just impact productivity, it can take its toll on an employee’s overall job satisfaction and even their mental wellbeing if left unchecked.

That’s why it’s important businesses do everything they can to help their employees stay motivated and engaged throughout the year.

Promote from within

While plucking new, exciting projects out of thin air might be a stretch too far, businesses should use the autumn period to see which employees deserve a promotion.

Promoting staff within the business shows that a company values its workers and trusts them to do well. In fact, a recent survey showed that as many as 40% of people who left their job did so because of a lack of career opportunities.

If people see there’s potential to climb the ladder, they’ll feel more incentivised to bring their A-game to work and less likely to jump ship. And when people know there’s the chance of being promoted at any time, it will boost morale and motivation all year round, helping to build a more positive, engaged workforce.

Team building

During slow working days it can become easy to just coast along doing the bare minimum. But quieter periods are the perfect chance for bosses to break this negativity and encourage people from different teams to work together.

Getting staff involved in team-based activities is a great way to help staff bond which will ultimately lead to a friendlier, more supportive workplace culture.

Employees can share ideas, learn about each other and quite possibly discover new strengths and skills they didn’t know they had. Working as part of a bigger team not only boosts morale but can do wonders for building employee confidence too.

Celebrate your staff

Healthy, happy workforces are ones that value and appreciate their staff. And that means rewarding a job well done.

Some companies are guilty of thinking remuneration is more than reward enough but today’s employees expect more than just their pay packet. They want to feel they matter. When someone goes out of their way to recognise your work, it creates a warm, fuzzy feeling that you just can’t bottle and that can be dynamite for a happier, more motivated workforce.

Research has shown that employee engagement, productivity and performance are 14% higher than in organisations without recognition. It’s really quite simple – celebrating your employees’ achievements can put your business a cut above the rest.

It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. Recognition can be as simple as saying thank you. As a manager, with lots of balls to juggle, it can be easy to forget it’s the small, personal touch that makes a real difference. Whether it’s a handwritten note or a voucher for a shop or restaurant they like, it’s important that it’s tailored to that individual.

In a nutshell, every business wants a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed workforce 365 days a year. But creating happy and engaged employees means going that extra mile to keep them motivated, whatever the season.”