As an employer, did you know that March 4 is National Employee Appreciation Day? What with the Great Resignation and the pandemic and everything that’s been going on, your staff could definitely use some heartfelt appreciation!

1. Employees don’t usually leave over money…

…if you’re already offering a reasonable salary, that is.Own a business with a physical location that clients (especially upset clients) visit? Money might be an issue for those on the front lines.

But if your people get reasonable compensation with decent benefits, they won’t leave over salary issues. And you might not be able to keep them with a 2% raise every year, if you’re not giving them a good culture to work in.

Staff leave because they don’t feel valued or respected. If your managers never listen to their suggestions and never provide an opening for them to make recommendations, you probably won’t be able to keep them. 

They might also leave if they don’t feel humanly connected to their supervisors. Talent doesn’t stay long when they’re treated like interchangeable cogs in a wheel.

One of the big contributors to being happy (or at least content) at work is being able to have some say over what they do and how they do it. People much prefer autonomy rather than top-down, command-and-control environments. 

If you hire professional people but don’t trust them to do the job in the best way they see fit, why did you hire them in the first place?

2. Are they able to contribute meaningfully?

Any job can be meaningful when viewed in the right way. Janitors at a hospital reported being happy and fulfilled at their jobs when they saw themselves as contributing to patient health by keeping everything clean. 

Do you take suggestions from your staff? Do you explicitly let them know how exactly their job contributes to the mission of the larger organization? Yes, every job has its administrative tasks and details that people don’t always love. But if they can see how they’re serving the larger purpose, then the less-fun parts aren’t so much of an issue.

When you’re introducing a new project or software, make sure the implementation team includes staff that will be using the software or be affected by the project. They can provide insights as to what features are most necessary for their jobs, and give you a wish list, because you’ll reap the benefits.

When you’ve got buy-in at this level, it’s more likely that the adoption goes smoothly and that no one falls back into the old ways of working. Team members see for themselves how much easier/faster/better it makes their jobs.

3. Are you keeping them safe? 

Sometimes people think of safety as something that’s only a concern for workers in a warehouse or factory. But even at the office (whether people work remotely or on site) there are safety issues to address.

They need ergonomic setups to reduce soft tissue injuries, which often take longer to heal than bone fractures. Workers primarily at a computer should have sit/stand desks or arrangements so they don’t spend all day on their butts. 

At the office, keep floors, sidewalks, parking lots and garages relatively dry from snow and snow melt. Make sure the hallways are clear and that there aren’t any cords or other obstacles to trip on. 

Do you or your staff use folding tables? You can convert them to sit/stand tables with our folding table risers. You’ll find our full product line in our online store.

Lift Your TableⓇ … SAVE YOUR BACK!