As a business owner, your employees’ happiness and wellbeing should be at the forefront of your operation. Without a healthy work culture, your team may not feel comfortable in their abilities or satisfied in their role, which can increase the risk of high staff turnover.
While we’re currently in unprecedented times thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are things you can do as the company leader to stay engaged with employees during this difficult period and beyond. If you’re not sure where to start, here are five tactics you can implement today.
1. Put Health and Safety First
With COVID-19 restrictions beginning to lift, it won’t be too long away until your team can return to their desks. Whether you operate in an office environment, construction site, or retail store, your employees’ safety is essential. You’ll need to make sure you remove any hazards in the workplace, such as loose wires on the floor in an office. No matter what, your team’s health and safety should be your top priority as should an employee get injured, you may have a personal injury lawsuit on your hands.
2. Keep Communication Lines Open
Business owners have a duty to keep communication lines open with their team. If your employees are currently working remotely due to the pandemic, that doesn’t mean communication lines have to break down. While it’s naturally easier to engage in person, there are video conferencing tools you and your team can use to stay in touch, such as Zoom or Skype. Effective communication is essential for building relationships and gaining trust from your team. Once your team trusts what you say and do, this can help them feel more relaxed and happier in their role.
3. Hold Regular Meetings
We’ve all been through ups and downs over the last 12 months especially, so if you have any concerns about an employee’s productivity and efficiency, it may be wise to hold a one-on-one meeting. Doing so will give you the opportunity to iron out any problems and ensure your workforce are happy and content in their position. You should also hold regular team meetings that can promote the importance of teamwork and keep everyone in the know of what is expected of them.
4. Add a Fun Element
Injecting some fun and excitement into the workplace can be a great way to keep employees on board. If your team are working remotely, there are lots of things you can do, such as hosting a virtual quiz night. Having something to look forward to and getting to know your team on a personal as well as professional level can be a big help, especially when it comes to reducing staff turnover. We all need to let off steam from time to time, so hosting your own quiz and handing out prizes like a voucher or a bonus can be a great incentive.
5. Listen to Your Team
If your team doesn’t feel like they’re being listened to, they may not stick around. Your employees are the backbone of your business and are the ones that keep it a success, so if you don’t listen to their point of view and go against them in decisions, they may decide that it’s time to move on. To avoid a revolving door situation of staff coming and going, listening to your team is essential.
No matter what kind of industry you’re in, keeping your employees happy, safe, and healthy should be at the top of your list as a business owner. No matter the size of your company, you can easily employ the tactics above into your operation which will transform the way you interact with employees, helping to foster strong relationships with your team.
