10 Tips for Keeping Employee Satisfaction High

Posted by Dave • May 29, 2018 (Last modified January 19, 2023) • 5 min read

Employees are the most important asset a company has. They do all the little things that add up to make a business successful.

And because employees do so much for the company, it’s important the company does what it can to keep them happy, comfortable, and productive. The average person wants favorable compensation and great benefits, but the feasibility of work perks differs from organization to organization.

So what can any company, big or small, do to keep employees satisfied?

  1. Provide continuous feedback
    Letting employees know how well they’re performing is one of the best ways to keep them happy. In modern, fast-paced work environments, people often wonder if they’re doing everything they can to be successful in their job. Many managers wait until their weekly or monthly catch up with an employee to provide feedback. However, continuously sharing thoughts and advice outside these meetings is a great way to put an employee’s mind at ease so they can focus on always doing great work.
  2. Set clear goals for employees
    Employees will always know where they stand if they have a clear set of goals to work toward. They’ll know exactly what they must accomplish in the long term and the daily activities that will get them there. Employee goals should be somehow connected to team and company goals. They should define the contributions each team member is expected to make to help the team and company hit its larger targets.
  3. Acknowledge great work
    When your company does identify an employee who is exceeding expectations, be sure to give them the recognition they deserve. Call out wins when the entire team gets together in a meeting, or send a weekly company-wide email pointing out recent successes. Acknowledging great work influences all of your employees. It makes the people being recognized feel like their hard work is paying off and motivates others to put in more effort.
  4. Highlight special days
    Why not make a humorous video for an employee’s birthday as a way to acknowledge them? It could take the form of a skit featuring other members of the team, or a collection of photos and videos from past birthdays with a funny song playing in the background. Whatever you choose to do, it will ensure that the employee has a memorable birthday.
  5. Promote top performers
    Employee recognition is important, but top performers should eventually get promoted. It’s a good idea to create a succession plan that outlines who will step into senior-level roles when they become available. Your company will get the most out of its best people by putting them in roles that allow them to do important work. If a top performer gets passed over for a well-deserved promotion, they’ll likely leave for another employment opportunity.
  6. Offer training and career development programs
    Many employers don’t promote top performers simply because they lack the skills and experience to step up to a senior-level role. Your company can solve this problem and maintain high workplace satisfaction by providing a training and education program.It should come as no surprise that employees want to grow professionally and take on more responsibility that results in higher compensation. Help your employees acquire new skills with training programs, so they can make greater contributions.
  7. Accept feedback from employees
    Your employees likely have a lot of great ideas for how the company can improve. After all, they’re on the frontlines every day doing the important work that moves the company forward. However, many people aren’t comfortable sharing their ideas because it can seem like they’re criticizing the company’s decision makers. Your leadership team should not only make it known that they’re open to ideas, but also create a formal process for accepting suggestions.
  8. Correct workplace issues
    In a perfect world, people would come to work and only have to worry about taking care of their job responsibilities. Unfortunately, every job comes with its own set of unique challenges that have nothing to do with an employee’s individual tasks. Many employees would rather put up with a problem than bring it to the attention of their manager, especially if it involves a coworker. But issues will only get worse the longer they’re not addressed so always be aware of workplace dynamics and take steps to resolve issues.
  9. Provide the right tools and resources
    Employees are the most productive when they have everything they need to do their job. Be sure each team member is provided a comfortable workspace equipped with all the tools they need to be successful. Employees get frustrated when they want to do great work but have to figure out hacks or workarounds to accomplish basic tasks. It’s in the company’s best interest to provide the staff with whatever they need to be successful and efficient.
  10. Establish a positive culture
    At the end of the day, employees are happiest when they work in a positive environment with good people. Your company should establish a culture that represents the values the organization embodies. You can then hire people who share those values and build a team of people who make your company a great place to work.
  11. Offer perks that make sense for your company
    Employees of course want great benefits and perks. But as we mentioned at the start of this article, most companies face constraints when it comes to paying for extras for employees. Ask your employees what they would appreciate, then figure out what your company can afford to provide. Great perks can be as simple as having a flexible work-from-home policy or stocking the employee break area with snacks and drinks so don’t overlook the little things.

Satisfied employees are the best employees

Satisfied employees are invaluable to your organization. They produce great work and lift the spirits of the people around them. Be sure your company does everything it can to maintain high satisfaction in the workplace.

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