Happy Employees - Higher Productivity

Job dissatisfaction is a common reason for employees to quit their jobs, and the costs of this are high for employers and society as a whole. Likewise, happy employees lead to higher productivity, better morale among staff members, and less turnover.
For many people, the workplace is a second home. Their loyalty to a company is only as great as their satisfaction with the work and their colleagues. Indeed, job satisfaction has been identified as one of the conditions that make workers feel part of a team, which in turn drives them to work more efficiently and productively.
Benefits of happy employees
Increasing employee happiness is beneficial to employers because it boosts retention rates, increases productivity creates an overall better working environment, and leads to increased profits. Yet there is more to happiness than just fun things like these.
Higher productivity and better sociability
Studies have shown that happy employees are more productive and more sociable, with higher productivity translating into higher profits, better quality, and reduced turnover. When an employee is happy, they tend to be more willing to go the extra mile for their employer, so the benefits of having happy workers extend beyond businesses. "Studies have also shown that happy employees are 34% more productive compared to their unhappy counterparts. It is because people who have lost their skills and become rusty during a period of unemployment tend to require extra training because they have lost these skills or become rusty during their time out of work. Happy workers, however, are typically better performers from the start."
Improved morale and lower staff turnover
Happy employees are more likely to stay with a company for longer, which translates into higher productivity and quality, less absenteeism and sick leave, and reduced staff turnover. It is because happy workers feel part of a team and want to be able to contribute.
Improved retention of professional employees
When people are happy in the workplace, they are more likely to commit themselves fully to their job or career path. They are more likely to check company culture before accepting a job offer. If the employer has committed itself to make its employees happy and working towards that end, it will be easier for the employer to retain its best workers.
Lower turnover of key personnel
Happy employees are less likely to quit, so companies have fewer replacements to recruit when key staff members quit or retire. It helps keep the core team intact and increases a firm's chances of being recognized as an employer of choice, which makes it easier to attract new workers."
Reduced staff turnover
Happy employees are also more likely to stay with a company for longer, which translates into higher productivity and quality, less absenteeism and sick leave, and reduced staff turnover. It is because happy workers feel part of a team and want to be able to contribute."
Positive business image
Finally, employee job satisfaction positively affects a company's image – both within the business community and among consumers. Since the quality of a company's products and services depends on its employees' quality, employers that make their workers happy are seen as having better customer service, which translates into increased business."
Reduced absenteeism
Happy employees are less likely to take sick days, which cuts down on costs related to sick leave. When employees feel valued at work, they are less likely to need time off work for personal reasons like holidays or sickness. It means that businesses will save money on overtime and perks such as paid breaks and paid leave.
Reduced recruitment costs
A study by the University of Warwick has shown that happier employees are more likely to be hired, making them easier to recruit for a company. Happy workers also tend to stay with their employers for longer, which saves businesses money on recruitment costs."
Increased customer satisfaction
No matter how good a company is, if customers are not happy, this is reflected in their reviews – both on the internet and among potential future customers. It can mean large amounts of loss for a business, so increasing staff happiness is vital for any company that wants to maintain a good image.
Reasons Why Happy Employees Increases Productivity
The old saying goes, "happy employees produce happy customers, who then produce happy shareholders." So, it only makes sense that employers want their employees to be as happy as possible. There are many benefits of keeping your employees in a good mood, and one of them is increased productivity at work. Here are 5 great reasons why this is the case:
1) Happy Employees Stay at Work Longer - Happiness has been shown to decrease absenteeism among employees, so the happier you make your employees, the more likely they'll stay for long periods.
2) Happy Employees are Loyal - Happy employees are more likely to stick with their employer over time than their unhappy counterparts.
3) Happy Employees Perform Better - Happy employees tend to perform better on average and produce better quality work than their unhappy counterparts. It is because they focus better on the job at hand and bring a higher level of enthusiasm to tasks that they don't enjoy.
4) Happy Employees Get Along Better with Their Peers – When people are happy, they're usually more liberal with other people's feelings and preferences in order to get along with them. Communication tends to be stronger because the mood is high within an office environment.
5) Happy Employees Improve Productivity - Happy people try more, persevere longer, and are more likely to be productive in the workplace.
25 Ways to keep your employees happy
People want to work at great companies. They want a good boss, exciting projects, and clear career prospects. People also want to stay happy and motivated – too many ills in the workplace today are because employees aren't happy or doing their best work. Here are the top 25 ways you can make sure your people enjoy their jobs.
Ensure your people feel involved
A great way to keep people happy is to ensure they feel like they are involved in the decisions that affect their lives. When you involve people in decision-making, you get open to feedback and votes from the team. It helps everyone understand the issues better and is a great way of finding solutions.
Try incentives for good performance
Giving employees bonuses for good performance is a proven way of keeping workers happy and motivated. But don't forget about smaller incentives, like gifts for exceptional work or even personal pizza and beer nights.
Create a fair workplace
It's not enough to just give people bonuses, and you need to ensure there is a level playing field. If one employee is being paid the same as another but doing much more, they are likely to be unhappy. It can lead to problems further down the track, so it's important to ensure everyone is getting a fair amount of pay for their contributions.
Be kind to employees
It is a simple thing, but it can go a long way – being friendly and kind to your employees is a great way of keeping everyone happy… and happy people are more likely to give their all at work.
Keep an open relationship with your team
If your people don't know what you are thinking or doing, they will feel like they have lost control of their lives at work. Keeping your team informed and feeling like they have some control over their future is a great way of keeping people happy.
Ensure the teams are not too big
Working in a large team can be hugely stressful and demotivating. It's important to keep teams small enough to get involved in diverse projects, but this doesn't mean you should throw together any group of workers you can find – people want to feel like they belong to a community at work more than anything else… and that's exactly what happens when you keep teams small.
Respect your team members
Respecting your employees is another way of keeping them happy. It can be as simple as making them feel like they are more than just workers. Some managers treat their team like faceless cogs in the company machine, but by treating them with respect and dignity, you are going a long way to keep people happy at work.
Provide a welcoming environment
If you want happy employees, you need to provide a welcoming environment. It might involve having good leave policies or even just being friendly and kind. You should never treat your staff like robots – making them feel welcome is a great way of keeping them happy.
Keep the team in touch
It's important to connect with your employees regularly to keep them informed about developments and progress. Some companies send out e-mails with new jobs, but it's nice to make sure you talk weekly as well.
Don't forget your mission
Make sure everyone is aware of what the company's goals are. If they know why they are doing their job, they will be more likely to enjoy it (and do it better). You can also make sure your mission is alive and motivating by updating it regularly.
Train your people
One of the best ways to keep your employees happy is to make them feel good about their abilities and the training they receive. It takes a great deal of planning and attention, but it goes a long way in ensuring they feel like they are at work.
Show some flexibility
If you expect all of your employees to be the same, you will be disappointed. Great companies are ones where staff is encouraged to try new things, use new skills, and learn new things, and being flexible means employees feel like they can grow with the organization and still be happy.
Find out what motivates your people
It is important to do because knowing what motivates your people will help you find a way to keep them happy. If you know your people have a certain hobby or interest, it may help inspire them to work even harder for the company.
Don't take things personally
Personal disagreements and issues can lead to a lot of problems in the workplace. It's important that you don't take your employees' issues with you – if they are unhappy, let them know it's not because of anything you've done.
Encourage social interaction
If your people feel like they don't have enough opportunities for fun, this will most likely be a problem for them. Let them know there is time for socializing in the office. If you've implemented some of the other changes we've mentioned, then this should be easy – e.g., pizza night, get-togethers after work or Friday afternoon drinks on the beach… or whatever works best for your team!
Don't micromanage
It's important to allow your people to work in the way that suits them best. If you tell them how to do things, they will resent you for it and probably won't enjoy their work – if you give them freedom and trust, they are much more likely to love what they do.
Be clear about performance expectations
If your employees know how well they have to perform, they will be happier and more productive. Make sure everyone knows what the goals are and how well they have to perform in order to reach them. It is an effective way of keeping your employees happy… as long as they can achieve their goals!
Give the teams a sense of purpose
Giving your employees a sense of purpose isn't having a mission statement or even saying anything about their work. It's about giving them something to focus on other than their job. If you ask people what they do, they tend to say, "I'm just there to get paid." The best way is to find out what the employees want to do with their lives – then dedicate resources and help them achieve it.
Create a friendly peer atmosphere
If you want to keep people happy at work, you need to create a friendlier environment. Allowing everyone to get involved in the decision-making process and team activities can make a huge difference – it's all about making employees feel valued and accepted.
Celebrate the wins
Every time your employees achieve something, make sure they know they have earned it. Even if you didn't give them anything that day, make sure you acknowledge them for their efforts – this is an effective way of keeping your team happy at work.
Be positive
Be sure to think positively. If you keep your team on a happy and productive note, they will stay that way. There is no need to burst into song every time you walk into a room, but you should make sure you are continually communicating positivity in the workplace. There is no need to be all sunshine and roses – but don't think things are always bad either!
Don't be quick to criticize
Criticizing your employees too often can make them feel like they are being criticized for doing their job wrong. Always try and find ways of improving any areas of improvement without being rude or condescending – it will go a long way to keeping your people happy at work.
Appreciate your people
If you want to keep people happy, then make sure you are happy with their work. If they are not meeting your expectations, address the situation. Don't feel like you have to be friends with your employees but try and establish a good working relationship – this keeps workers motivated and makes life easier for everyone!
Don't underpay your staff.
It's important that employees are paid what they are worth, especially if they work hard and do a great job every day. If you pay them unfairly or underpay, it's likely this will cause stress and unhappiness.
Set clear expectations
It's important that everyone knows what they can expect from each other in terms of responsibilities, deadlines, and tasks. This makes sure everything runs smoothly and keeps people happy!
Do you feel like you are struggling with putting "strategy" and "business growth concepts" in place that make a difference? Doing it all is overwhelming! Let’s have a honest discussion about your business and see if the Power of 10 can help you. Click “HERE” to have a great conversation with our team today.
Written and Published By The Strategic Advisor Board Team
C. 2017-2021 Strategic Advisor Board / M&C All Rights Reserved
www.strategicadvisorboard.com / info@strategicadvisorboard.com









