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Industrial leaders and the fight to raise employee morale
In times of uncertainty, employee morale begins to slip. Uncertainty can stem from the economy, a change in leadership, new plant processes, even an employee’s job function.
Your workers likely have questions and concerns in the back of their minds. These concerns can ultimately affect performance on the job. Which raises the question: what can employers do to keep spirits up? Having a firm grasp on why employee morale should be a focus is an important place to start.
Happy employees are part of the equation for a successful operation. When employee morale is high and stable, the tangible results can be measured by the company. Employees with higher morale are more productive, produce higher quality work and promote a positive work environment. On top of that, employers who actively work to keep employee morale high achieve higher employee retention. With less need to recruit and train new employees, employers will see increased efficiency in operations and the results can be measured fiscally.
Benefits of high morale
Boosting morale at work leads to happier, more dedicated employees. Having an overall better atmosphere to work in also promotes healthy communication. With the immense concern for safety in plants and refineries, increased communication can help foster a culture of safety. With high morale at work, employees leave at the end of the day more satisfied and fulfilled – boosting their overall mental health.
Now that we’ve had a look at the importance of employee morale, let’s evaluate a few ways we can gauge employee morale at your facility.
Gauging employee morale
Employee morale can be estimated informally – getting a feel for how your employees are from the moment you walk on to your job site. Or, morale can also be calculated formally – prescheduled surveys from Human Resources or a 3rd party every year or two. John Deere has an aggressive, formal morale gauge. Every two weeks they do a temperature check on the morale of their employees. Because John Deere sees a strong correlation between employee morale and customer satisfaction, checking in frequently helps them stay competitive in their industry. While this frequency may not be necessary for your company, keeping a pulse on the physical and mental well-being of your workforce is important. Here are a few ways to quickly gauge the morale of your workforce:
- Signs of high morale
○ Upbeat and positive employees
○ Collaborative team atmosphere
- Signs of low morale
○ Persistent negative attitude
○ Poor performance or quality of work.
No matter how you or your company choose to monitor employee morale, it’s an important step in taking care of your employees. With the connection between increased productivity and employee morale, it’s necessary to keep a gauge on how your employees are feeling.
5 simple ways to increase employee morale
Increasing or maintaining morale at your location doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Here are a few ideas for increasing morale for your workforce:
- Recognition
○ Awards for performance
○ Personal thank you notes or cards
- Concentrate on work/life balance
○ Reasonable work schedules keep employees from burnout
○ Recognize employee needs and support them where you can
- Be transparent
○ Share your business mission and current goals
○ Foster open communication
- Plan activities
○ Cater a lunch
○ Start a company sports team
- Pay for training and personal/professional growth opportunities
○ Train an employee on a new job if they express interest
○ Encourage professional or leadership growth opportunities
Helping maintain morale during uncertain times
Small shifts inside or outside the plant can have employees second guessing their job stability, resulting in a dip in morale. As employers, we know that even though something may be uncertain, it’s important to take care of our employees so they can continue to perform as best as they can. Here are a few tips to maintain employee morale during questionable times:
- Set your sights: Identify main priorities for the company and your team
- Don’t lose your way: Remember your core values and mission
- Communicate: Listen closely, provide support where needed
- Make work fun: Plan activities, lunches, contests
- Give back: Organize fund raisers or volunteering
Satellite Shelters, Inc
Satellite Shelters provides temporary and permanent space for industrial plants across the United States. We’re here to provide safe, functional buildings for contractors.
To find out more about how our products and services can help your facility, visit our website, or request a free quote.
