Happy employees are productive employees. It’s an age-old adage, but one that still rings true. And yet, it can be tough to keep your team satisfied day in and day out. That’s where engagement comes in. Here we are sharing 10 employee engagement ideas that work.
Employee engagement is the degree to which employees feel emotionally connected to their work and are willing to put in discretionary effort to achieve collective goals.
Happy employees lead to successful companies. It’s no secret that a little bit of effort can go a long way in terms of employee engagement.
From fun company outings to thoughtful recognition, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 employee engagement ideas that will keep your team happy.
Top 10 Employee Engagement Ideas
- Organize team-building activities outside of work.
- Celebrate employees’ birthdays and special occasions.
- Recognize employees for their accomplishments.
- Let employees take time off to volunteer.
- Allow employees to work from home.
- Encourage employees to participate in wellness activities.
- Offer subsidized benefits and discounts.
- Provide comfortable and enjoyable workspaces.
- Host social events for employees and their families.
- Show your appreciation for your employees’ hard work!
1. Organize team-building activities outside of work
Team-building activities are a great way to help co-workers get to know each other better and develop trust. They can also be a lot of fun. However, many people feel uncomfortable organizing activities outside of work. Here are a few tips to make it easier.
First, try to find an activity that everyone will enjoy. This may take some research, but it will be worth it in the end. Second, make sure the activity is affordable. There are always budget constraints. We need to find the right balance between cost and fun. Finally, pick a location that is easy to get to.
2. Celebrate employees’ birthdays and special occassions
One way to keep employees engaged is to celebrate their birthdays and other special occasions. This not only shows that you care about your employees but also helps to build camaraderie and teamwork.
There are many different ways to celebrate employees’ birthdays and special occasions. You could have a birthday party in the office, or take the team out for lunch or dinner. You could also give employees a gift or special treats, such as a gift card or flowers.
Whatever you do, make sure it is something that your employees enjoy and that makes them feel appreciated.
3. Recognize employees for their accomplishments
Employees crave recognition for a job well done. It makes them feel appreciated and valued, and it can be a great motivator to keep them going. However, recognition doesn’t have to be big or expensive. Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest impact.
Here are a few ideas for recognizing employees’ accomplishments:
- Publicly thank them for their work
- Give them a shout out on social media
- Write them a handwritten note
- Take them out to lunch or dinner
- Give them an award or trophy
- Send them a gift
4. Let employees take time off to volunteer
According to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management, employees who take time off to volunteer feel more connected to their company, are more productive when they return to work and are more likely to stay with their company for a longer period.
In addition, the study showed that employees who volunteered felt more engaged with their work and had a better understanding of their company’s mission and values.
So if you’re looking for a way to improve employee engagement, improve productivity and increase their chances of staying with the company for a longer period, consider giving some time off to volunteer.
5. Allow employees to work from home
Employees who can work from home feel more engaged and productive when they return to the office, a study has found.
The study, by the Harvard Business Review, said that employees who spent at least some time working from home were more likely to feel “engaged” and “focused” when they returned to the office.
The researchers said that the findings could have implications for how companies manage their staff. They added that employers should not see working from home as a way of “replacing” office workers, but rather as a way of “enabling” them to do their job more effectively.
6. Encourage employees to participate in wellness activities
Employees who participate in wellness activities generally have lower health care costs and are more productive. In addition, they can take fewer sick days.
There are many ways to encourage employees to participate in wellness activities. One way is to offer financial incentives, such as a lower health insurance premium for employees who complete a health assessment or participate in a wellness program.
Another way to encourage employees to participate in wellness activities is to make the programs fun and social. For example, you could sponsor a trekking group, or offer a discount on gym memberships.
Whatever methods you use, it’s important to make sure that employees know about the wellness programs that are available to them. You can do this by sending regular communications, putting up posters in the office, or even hosting a wellness fair.
7. Offer subsidized benefits and discounts
Employee satisfaction is a crucial component of the success of any company. Happy employees are productive employees, and companies that offer subsidized benefits and discounts see a rise in employee satisfaction.
There are many different types of subsidized benefits and discounts that companies can offer their employees. Some common examples include:
- Subsidized gym or club memberships
- Discounted rates on company products or services
- Tuition reimbursement
- Childcare subsidies
- Parking subsidies
- Meal coupons
- Shopping vouchers
8. Provide comfortable and enjoyable workspaces
This starts with the basics, such as having a chair and desk that are adjustable to each employee’s needs. It’s also important to have an ergonomic setup, which can be achieved by using monitors that are at eye level, keyboard trays, and trackball mice.
In addition to the basics, it’s also important to make the workplace comfortable and fun. This can be done by adding plants, artwork, and comfortable furniture. It’s also important to create a break area where employees can relax and take a break from their work.
9. Host social events for employees and their families
Social events are a great way to get employees and their families to know each other better. They can also help build team morale and strengthen relationships within the company. Some ideas for social events include:
- A picnic in the park
- A potluck lunch or dinner
- A day at the amusement park or zoo
- A night at the bowling alley or cinema
- A barbeque or pool party
10. Show your appreciation for your employees’ hard work
Employee appreciation is a key part of any good workplace culture. It can be tough to know how to show your employees that you value their hard work, but there are plenty of different ways to do it.
It doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. There are plenty of small things you can do to show your employees that you appreciate their hard work.
Some simple ways to show appreciation include:
- Saying thank you
- Giving employees unexpected time off
- Letting employees leave early on Fridays
- Sending employees handwritten notes
- Taking employees out to lunch or breakfast
- Offering employees flexible work arrangements
Takeaway
Employee engagement has been a popular topic in the business and HR world for a while now. And for good reason – companies need to have happy and productive employees. But what does employee engagement mean?
Employee engagement is a measure of how connected employees feel to their work and their company. It’s not just about how happy employees are, but also about how productive they are and how likely they are to stay with the company.
Gallup’s study on employee engagement found that companies with highly engaged employees had earnings per share that were 147% higher than those of companies with low engagement.
There are many different ways to increase employee engagement, but one of the most important is to ensure that employees feel heard. According to a study by UNC Kenan-Flagler, employees who feel their opinions matter are 1.5 times more likely to be highly engaged.
We have shared the top 10 employee engagement ideas in this post. These certainly will help create a happy workspace and boost engagement. Subscribe for more business and employee engagement tips.
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