Is your organization doing enough to invest in the professional success of its staff? Do you offer support to make their work-life balance more manageable? If the answer is no, you may want to rethink your position, as more people are walking away from dead-end and unsupportive jobs to chase opportunities more conducive to their needs and lifestyles. Unless you want to find your company understaffed or unable to find qualified and interested candidates, you must do more to show your team you care.
Why employee satisfaction and support matter
If prioritizing your team hasn’t been your objective lately, these factors may convince you otherwise.
Financial survival is possible (without an employer)
When people were laid off from their jobs or received pay cuts during the pandemic, they had to find a way to survive. While some applied for new positions or took on a second job, many ventured out independently and started side gigs and businesses. Over the course of a few months to a year, some people were generating enough money to supplement their income, cover everyday expenses, and afford a better lifestyle.
As modern advancements continue to evolve, the number of people leaving their traditional jobs will increase, leaving businesses without a team to help them reach their goals. To acquire and retain top talent, you must have more to offer than a paycheck because people have learned that your financial offerings aren’t the end-all-be-all.
Times are tough
It’s no secret that the world is chaotic right now. An ongoing global pandemic, inflation, climate change, food shortages, wars, government corruption, and social injustices have wreaked havoc on the minds and livelihoods of everyone. Although it’s natural to prioritize your livelihood and business, you mustn’t forget that your team has also been affected.
When team members are inundated with personal, psychological, and financial trauma, it will naturally transition into their morale and performance in the workplace. No, it isn’t your job or place to resolve everything in their lives, but an effective leader should be understanding, empathetic, and supportive whenever possible.
Continuing to dehumanize or see your team members as nothing more than “bots” you pay to do a job will create a hostile work environment that may have great potential but bears no fruit.
How can you do more to show compassion and support your team during challenging times? You can offer pay raises and bonuses to help those that need extra money. You can give employees one or two mental health days a year to provide them the opportunity to deal with emotional stress. You can offer free bus passes and gas cards or install the best commercial EV charging stations to help team members save money on their daily commutes. Even if all you can do is be a listening ear when you notice a team member is having an off day, it can be enough to make a difference.
Your business depends on it
Perhaps the threat of losing loyal team members or the understanding that times are challenging for everyone isn’t enough to convince you that you must continually invest in and support your staff. Understanding how their satisfaction and well-being impact your business may change your mind.
People remain loyal when they feel heard, supported, and appreciated by another individual or entity. They express their gratitude by working diligently to ensure that those who poured positivity into their lives get the same in return. Your team will come to work willing and ready to perform well. They will collaborate with others, bring you innovative ideas, evolve professionally, and help you reach success.
Going beyond the paycheck to provide what you can for your team will result in better morale, productivity, customer service, and sales. As this is any business owner’s goal, it seems necessary to invest in your team’s well-being.
The world is changing, and with it comes the need to adjust. A decent salary, health benefits, and a retirement or pension plan may have once been enough to attract and retain highly skilled, experienced, talented, and loyal team members. However, as the needs and priorities of the average person shift, they demand and want more from the establishments they work so hard to help succeed. Effective leadership starts and ends with remembering to invest in and support your team every step of the way.