Taking note and understanding your employees’ levels of satisfaction and wellbeing in the workplace is a vital component to ensuring that your business runs smoothly and efficiently. Employees represent the forefront and future of any organisation, acting in effect as advocates of your business and playing a pivotal role in building and maintaining the reputation of your organisation.
If employees feel satisfied within their role and working environment, they are more likely to demonstrate higher levels of commitment and strong sense of dedication to making the business a success. From the perspective of the employee, when an employer takes the time to consider the thoughts and opinions of those who work hard for them, it establishes a level of trust, respect and confidence that can act as the foundation to establishing a loyal workforce. Furthermore, it makes your employees aware that you value their contributions and that the work they are doing is adding value to the company and increasing productivity.
Developing an employee-centric culture in the workplace is not a short-term task; it requires an on-going effort to measure your employees’ satisfaction and wellbeing. Changes and advancements within the company due to shifts in the market can also have an effect on the level of satisfaction your employees’ experience. It is recommended that you conduct an annual review by administering questionnaires measuring employee satisfaction to ensure you are conversant with the current levels of satisfaction.
In order to improve overall performance and productivity in the workplace, the responses you receive from the questionnaires are extremely important and should not be discarded or ignored. As the questionnaires are anonymous, employees responses will be more open and honest, which will provide you with invaluable insight into improvements that need to be made, whilst also highlighting the positive aspects of your organisation and current work practices.
With job satisfaction being directly related to employee wellbeing, implementing an action plan that incorporates the feedback you receive is crucial. The advantages of boosting team morale and confidence in your workforce are plentiful. Maintaining a positive and happy work environment can reduce levels of sickness and absences from work, reduce staff turnover and in turn minimise the cost associated with recruitment and training. Furthermore, it can aid your decision as to whether you need to implement a company well-being programme, or inject changes into any current programmes.
Hopefully, this information will provide extra advice to companies who already employ ways to measure employee satisfaction and wellbeing, and encourage those organisations who do not, to seriously consider the impact that overlooking this important issue may have on future growth.
David Price is managing director of Health Assured.
Further reading on employee wellbeing
