Has employee morale taken a dive in your business lately? If not, then congratulations. But unfortunately, dramatic drops in morale and engagement are far more common than most business owners expect, and it’s a good reminder that employers need to invest just as much time focusing on psychological employee needs as we do physical employee needs to boost morale.
So, I want to give you my one key piece of advice around this and a few quick tips on how some businesses have been managing this drop in morale.
Hi, I’m Jackie Strachan and I do hope some of the suggestions to follow are applicable in your own business situation, or at least get your creative juices flowing as to what initiatives you could introduce in your unique business.
Firstly though, I love research, did you know:
- A majority of Australians report that pre-existing mental health problems tend to worsen during periods of prolonged workplace stress or uncertainty.
- Psychological distress also tends to climb during these periods, with elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress consistently reported among affected employees.
So, what can we do?
- Remind your team in a variety of ways that their wellbeing matters to you
- Physical activity is so important, so whether your employees are working from home or in the office, encourage them to embrace every opportunity they have to participate in physical activity or step outside for some fresh air.
- Coach your employees and managers on what wellness actually is and the actions they can take to focus on their wellness and wellbeing.
- Provide resources such as an EAP (Employee Assistance Program), because you as the employer can’t always help employees directly with issues they may want to discuss across financial, legal, anxiety, depression, and other counselling support topics.
- Consider holding celebratory lunches or morning teas, in person or online.
- Send RUOK-style care packages out to employees.
- The final point I’ll make is to encourage you to personalise whatever initiatives you implement, because personalisation is the key.
If you’ve noticed a drop in morale in your business, don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at HR Tactics. We’re never too busy to help you or those you care about in business.
HR Tactics – Outsourced HR – Servicing SMEs and Employers Australia wide.
