The average employee works around 40 hours per week. For business owners and employers, this number is much higher. Employers and business owners care about their bottom line. But this does not need to come at the expense of their workforce.
The following tips serve not only as advice for employers, but also as a checklist for job seekers and employees. Few companies meet all the points on the list. The one that comes closest is Google (NASDAQ:GOOG).
1. Pay every employee a decent salary. Avoid paying top brass (including yourself) 6-figure salaries while paying your employees the absolute minimum you can legally get away with. Apart from morally questionable, it is just dumb business practice. Disgruntled employees equal lower productivity, potential strikes and legal complications, as well as brand/reputation damage. In short – it impacts your bottom line – and not in a positive way!
2. Engage your employees by making them stakeholders in the company. Stock options, bonuses, and profit sharing are all great ways to make your employees feel part of the company and to share in its success. It’s a win-win situation!
3. Pamper your employees. Full-time employees spend most of their waking hours in their offices (or cubicles). Their working environment needs to be comfortable. Noisy cubicles or too many employees sharing one office only lead to lower productivity. Just think about it: did you ever try to write an important document while colleagues are talking on the phone trying to make a sale or supplying customer support? You get my drift.....
4. Encourage socializing. Homo Sapiens is a social animal. Non-work related chats are part of our lives. I once worked in a company where my direct boss frowned upon any conversation that was not directly related to work, including: “how was your weekend?” Needless to say, it was counter-productive. Clever companies allow for coffee klatch, water cooler gossip, and joint activities. I also worked at a company where once a month a department prepared lunch for the whole company. It was a great way to socialize with other departments. I still have fond memories of the barbecue that the QA department organized (and not only for the food!).
5. Encourage the use of social media. Whether an employer likes it or not, employees have access to social media, especially outside working hours, and know how to use them. As the saying goes “if you can’t beat them, join them”. To avoid any brand or reputation damage, issue a briefing that states what employees can post on Facebook and tweet about. It’s also a golden opportunity to turn your employees into brand fans! Your employees will be happy to blog, twitter, Facebook and post on LinkedIn about the latest product, investments, or any other news that can be shared.
6. Feed the masses. Napoleon figured out that an army marches on its stomach. We all need to eat, so stack the company’s fridge and kitchen with bread, fruits, vegetables, milk, soft drinks, yogurts, cheeses, etc. Make sure to include low fat products. Include products to meet the dietary needs (e.g., gluten-free products). In short, make sure that your employees can make a (healthy) sandwich or snack during working hours. Coffee and tea should be free of charge. Lunch should be affordable and there should be provisions for employees working overtime. HR should inform employees if they need to pay income tax on free or subsidized lunches and dinners.
7. Encourage physical exercise. If the company is too small for owning their own fitness room, make sure to strike a deal with a local gym/swimming pool. The best option is to offer a discounted membership at a network of fitness centers or gyms. This way, the employee can exercise close to the office or close to home. Also encourage company sports teams and provide the location for players to practice and hold tournaments.
8. Define career paths. Treat your employees like gold and find out what hidden talents they have. Be clear in your expectations and tell them if they have room to grow. Encourage your employees to take initiative and to propose new ideas or concepts. Many employees underachieve due to unclear guidelines. Many need to play it safe in order to hold on to their job, which is a waste of potential talent. Be fair to your employees and do not oversell opportunities. I was told many times that I would get a promotion or amazing opportunities “once we are going public/are being bought up”. Sadly enough, it never happened!
9. Democracy rules. Many companies claim they have two-way performance reviews in place. In most cases, it is still a one-way street. Employees need an environment where they receive regular feedback about how they are doing, but can also freely talk with their management. Yes, I know, easier said than done!
10. Company culture is set from the top down. As an employer or business owner, you must make your managers accountable for treating all employees with respect. When going on a job interview or a business meeting, just check out the company culture. Is the girl at the front desk polite and cheerful? Do people you meet in the corridor smile and say hello? Are people helpful? If not, there is something rotten in the State of Denmark!
If you want your employees to be happy, your might want to pay attention to the tips above. As the old saying goes: “a happy wife, a happy life”. In the same spirit: a happy employee contributes to a profitable organization!
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