Are there drinks in your fridge?
Are you doing what so many other companies are doing now to attract and retain employees, that is, offering some or all of, free lunches, a drinks fridge, a pool table, Friday night drinks, extra leave, bring your pet to work day or maybe even an in-house yoga class?
We can all recognise that it’s important for employees to have fun at work, socialise as a team, and be able to enjoy great facilities in order to feel valued. These added benefits are great, and in some industries they’re actually no longer a differentiator or attraction, but an expectation - the norm to remain competitive.
As these additions become expectations – rather than benefits – does their novelty begin to wear off? Consider the time when ‘casual Fridays’ were an enticing addition to your workplace; then suddenly (almost) everyone had it and it was no longer a big deal.
You have to stop and ask yourself whether these benefits are realistically the answer to keeping employees engaged or what else you could be doing for the long-term.
Start off with these initiatives:
Role clarity is of utmost importance. Provide clear job descriptions and KPIs from Day 1. This immediately results in employees (and their managers) understanding their role, their objectives and what’s expected of them.
Everyone must know where they stand and decisions shouldn’t be delayed. Implement customised, user-friendly HR policies and guidelines, which provide consistency, leaving little room for confusion.
Communicate whenever you can. Whether it’s a monthly email, a staff newsletter, or a quick company update while you’re all enjoying pizza day, take the time to communicate. Employees want to know what’s happening in the company, whether it’s good or bad.
Don’t let your managers frustrate employees. They must lead and not micromanage. There’s nothing more frustrating to a high-performing employee than a control freak who refrains from delegating and allowing an employee make their own decisions.
Don’t ignore problems. Turning a blind eye won’t make them go away. Take time to listen to your employees, investigate further if necessary and provide advice. Follow-up until it is resolved.
Remember to say ‘thank you.’ There’s nothing more disheartening than not being thanked for a job well done. Providing praise and recognition should be immediate, and in person. Your hardworking employee should go home feeling appreciated and willing to return to work the next day.
Ensure employees feel connected to your Company, your brand and its values. They need to love what they’re doing and what you’re doing; feel proud of working for you and feel a sense of accomplishment with opportunities to learn and grow.
Enjoy the pizza, the drinks and the fun …but remember that’s not all that you need to do!