Make a happy workforce a high priority

Do you want a happy staff? If you pony up some extra funds, you may be able to make them more satisfied in their roles, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will enjoy coming to the workplace every day. In this article, we will talk about what keeps employees in good spirits at the office.

Money doesn't always buy happiness

In a recent conversation with Forbes, Heidi Golledge, CEO at the job site CareerBliss.com, said human resources management professionals must work on ways to ensure that workers don't wear down. A study produced by her company revealed that there are many factors that make staff members satisfied while on the job, which include:

Relationships with bosses and co-workersTheir work environmentThe resources they have at workTheir level of compensationThe opportunities for growthThe company cultureThe reputation of the businessWhat they do on a daily basisTheir level of control over their work

The research showed that as salary increases, happiness levels grow slightly. However, managers and executives care deeply about their daily tasks and their company's reputation. As you can see, compensation is important, but good pay isn't the end-all, be-all when it comes to their happiness.

"Employees used to be happy just to be paid consistently and hopefully paid well," Golledge said. "Now, overall job and life satisfaction, sense of well-being and the work that they do are intricately tied together."

Make employee happiness a high priority

The satisfaction that comes from having a competitive salary can only go so far, as the CareerBliss survey demonstrated. Keeping this in mind, you need to ensure that your business has a number of strategies that can contribute to staff member retention. Below are some tips from a blog post for Globoforce that you can use to ensure your workforce remains happy:

1. Ask employees to recognize the success of others
   Building camaraderie among the staff is key to ensuring that they will enjoy the company of the their co-workers. This is why you must encourage your team to notice a job well done by other members of staff. The blog post stated that employees who are asked to recognize their teammates will be more engaged in the office and more willing to form relationships with them.
2. Build a flexible work environment
   The blog post referenced statistics from research conducted by Georgetown University and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation that revealed 80 percent of employees would be happier in their roles if they have the opportunity to telecommute. Not only can this contribute to a better work-life balance, but it shows that you trust your staff.
3. Encourage workers to trust each other
   When team members can rely on one another to help them with their tasks, it builds respect throughout the workplace. Nancy Etcoff, the lead researcher on a Harvard Univeristy study cited by the blog post, said that interpersonal trust and quality personal relationships can contribute to a more productive workforce.

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