Putting employees first
Editor’s note: This is an edited version of an article written by GoJoe.
Sixty-five percent of professionals are responding to uncertainty by making plans to apply and interview for new opportunities in 2025, reveals data from Robert Walters’ Salary Survey. This has caused employers to fear staff loss and look for ways to improve employee retention.
A recent Lifesum study found that 48% of Gen Z and Millennial employees would consider leaving their jobs if their well-being wasn’t being supported, so it’s vital that management get it right. These tips will help create a workplace that puts employee happiness and well-being front and center.
Encourage a healthy work-life balance
Offering a hybrid working option gives your team the benefit of face-to-face time with their colleagues while also being able to take advantage of the benefits of working from home.
While in the office, it is important to take regular breaks and encourage your teams to do the same. When you take a vacation, turn on the out-of-office autoreply and wait until you’re back to respond to work matters. This applies to evenings and weekends too, make sure you allow yourself to switch off or unplug to achieve a healthy work-life balance and encourage all staff to do the same.
Recognize achievements
Give credit where it’s due and recognize the achievements of your team. Offer plenty of feedback to help your employees grow and feel happy in their careers. Both positive and negative feedback should be given to employees. Praise can be given in public, but criticism should always be given privately. It is crucial to be constructive, suggesting solutions to problems and offering support.
Create a trusting workplace environment
An office with a high level of trust will result in happier, more productive and confident employees. To develop trust with your team, be vulnerable with them. Sharing your struggles or failures shows them that it’s okay to take risks and make mistakes. It is also important to ask for feedback from your team and to be open to criticism. When a colleague offers feedback, demonstrate active listening by restating what has been said, asking questions, nodding and maintaining eye contact.
Introduce active meetings
Rather than cramming your days with endless meetings sitting at a table or behind a screen, schedule standups or walking meetings with your team. These meetings allow you to take a break from the office and spend some time moving around outside. This won’t be appropriate for all meetings but can be great for more general check-ins.
Encourage employee growth
To ensure employees feel fulfilled in their roles, offer plenty of chances for career development. If a promotion is not in the works right now, offering regular check-ins and one-on-one meetings are a great way to show that you care about their growth in the company.
Tackle digital fatigue
It may seem odd to talk about a digital detox when computers and smartphones have become so essential to office life but taking a break every now and then is a great way to boost employee well-being. Another way to lower digital fatigue is to encourage face-to-face meetings to reduce the amount of time spent on virtual calls.
Invest in mental health resources
Workplace mental health benefits could include counseling or private health insurance. Mental health training for managers could help spot symptoms of burnout and allow management to offer their employees support when they’re struggling.