Do your employees seem unmotivated? Maybe they’re experiencing burnout, or they simply don’t have the same pep in their step as they once did. This turn of events can be alarming.
if your employees aren’t happy, their work performance is probably suffering. Low morale can lead to low productivity and poorer quality customer service. All of these things can hurt your company’s reputation.
Your employees’ happiness (or lack thereof) can affect their personal lives, too. According to the American Psychological Association, people who are content in their jobs are twice as likely to thrive in other areas of life, such as their relationships. On the other hand, employees who aren’t happy in the workplace tend to report higher levels of depression, stress, and heart disease.
As an employer, you might be wondering what you can do to boost morale and productivity. We have a solution: incentives. Providing your employees with incentives can help give them something to strive to attain. It also lets them know that you appreciate their hard work and efforts.
Here are three great incentives to offer your employees right now:
Health and wellness benefits
Healthier people generally tend to be more productive. Workplace health programs can help increase productivity and reduce employee call-outs due to illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You might consider offering on-site health screenings and free healthy lunches for your workers.
A free gym membership can be another great incentive. Not only will it help promote health and wellness among your workers, but it can also be a more affordable option than you might think. Some gyms offer corporate discounts for employers, and it can also be a tax-deductible expense. It’s generally a win-win for everyone involved.
If you have a spare room you aren’t currently using, you might consider converting it into an in-office gym your employees can use during their downtime. If your employees spend a lot of time at their desks, another idea is to offer standing desks or elliptical or exercise bike desks.
Consider rewarding employees who make healthy choices. For example, you might offer small bonuses to workers who quit smoking, ride their bikes to work, or reach their monthly step goal. Offering an in-office ‘Biggest Loser’ weight-loss competition with monetary prizes can also be a lot of fun.
Professional development opportunities
As an employer, it’s essential to offer your workers the chance to grow within the company. One way to do this is to offer professional development opportunities. Not only will this help benefit your employees, but it will also benefit your company as a whole.
The types of opportunities you offer will vary according to your industry. You might offer after-hours courses. For example, if you own a hair salon, consider offering professional classes after-hours to help your stylists keep up-to-date with the current color techniques and trends.
You might offer learning or professional development events or encourage your employees to attend events to help them continue their education or advance their skills. Conferences and conventions can be an excellent way for your employees to learn more about the latest industry trends.
Does your business require your workers to spend a lot of time on computers? If so, you might consider offering employee security awareness training programs to help them learn how to recognize cyber threats and keep their information and data secure.
Tuition assistance
Many people in today’s society value education. Some workers even seek out companies that offer this incentive.
Tuition assistance generally works in the form of reimbursement. Employees will pay their own tuition upfront. Once the semester ends, the employer will then offer them tuition reimbursement.
If you’re afraid to offer tuition assistance out of fear of losing your employees, we have good news. Research has found the opposite to be true. In one study, Cigna workers who participated in the company’s tuition assistance program were 8% more likely to stay with the company than those who didn’t. Whether it means transferring to another department or being promoted, continuing education can help your employees grow within your company.
Offering to pay for your employees to get a certificate or complete a master’s degree program can help both of you in the long run. Your employee will gain new skills and authority in their career, and you’ll gain a more knowledgeable employee.
These are just three incentives to offer your employees right now. Whatever benefits you choose to offer them, the main goal is to let them know you care. Your employees are more than just workers; they’re people. Allowing them to feel appreciated can help boost company morale and, in turn, help your company grow.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg.
