The way people work has changed dramatically over the last five to 10 years, and is predicted to continue shifting rapidly as we move into the future. Employers are having to compete to attract and retain the best talent in this ever-changing space, in addition to focusing on business outcomes.
Enter the importance of morale. Teams that have low morale are often disengaged from the organisation’s goals and take increased sick days and personal leave, resulting in a significant drop in production. This not only has an impact on that specific employee, but also flows outwards to staff around them.
A disengaged staff member is often a bad influence on those around them, and tends to be disruptive to the organisation across several levels. This leads to higher staff turnover, which results in increased costs in the recruitment process.
Employees who have higher morale and levels of engagement, meanwhile, are more inclined to work hard, take on more responsibility and actively improve the organisation’s culture. Strong morale results in teams that work well together and focus on the core organisational goals.
Employers can boost staff morale by making employees feel valued, trusted and respected. This is increased by giving staff members greater flexibility and ownership around how they deliver their role, while ensuring that their work fits in with their lifestyle; this will be repaid by the employee when they deliver greater diligence and commitment to the organisation.
In short, a focus on and commitment to strong employee morale will ensure an organisation has staff that are dedicated, loyal and productive, no matter their position.
Liza Andersin is HR director at corporate training and further education search engine findcourses.co.uk