How To Help Your Workers Happier In Their Role By Nerdwallet

Employers need to consider the needs of their employees in order to retain them and this could come down to ensuring a good life balance and fair salary is in place to keep all parties satisfied. Connor Campbell, Business Finance Expert at NerdWallet, gives his advice as to how employers can help their workers be happier and more engaged in their role. 

Arrange regular check-ins

Communication is important in any relationship, whether that’s in or out of work. Setting time for regular one-on-one meetings could give business leaders or managers the opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback as to how their employee is getting on at work. It’s important to be open to any criticism and to also be prepared for any employee questions, whether that’s about pay, culture or any personal issues that may arise. A rise in outgoings due to the cost of living crisis is highly likely to be on the minds of workers right now, so offering support or letting them know they have support could be of great help.

Set clear career paths

Employees may not go the extra mile if they can’t see their future with their business. Steps can be taken to fix this, such as by showing what career opportunities are available, as well as any packages that may come with this. Training can be a big driver in career development, so setting aside time and resources to upskill employees could make a huge difference in how they approach their day to day work. Employees will want to feel like they can be trusted in their role, so finding ways to give them a sense of autonomy can help achieve this.

Consider team building activities

In an age where people are adjusting to life post-pandemic, some people may feel lonely or not in touch with their line manager or colleagues. To help prevent feelings of isolation, arranging team building activities may help to remedy this. Not all people will want to attend social events, so it’s important to make these voluntary events, rather than compulsory. Online events may have been exhausted during the pandemic, but they can still play a role to ensure inclusion.

Use tools to manage time 

By having a handle on the workloads of employees, managers can get a feel for whether they have too much on their plate. If they do, they may be stressed or feel undervalued. Tools such as Asana and Trello are great ways to visualise a team or individual’s workload, whereas a shared Google or Microsoft calendar can help prevent too many meetings.

Be flexible 

Many employees have been seeking out a better work life balance, so workers may be happier and more productive if flexible working arrangements are on the table. A recent NerdWallet survey found that 72% of UK workers are either in favour or strongly in favour of a four day working week. Not all employers can offer this, but asking for feedback could help businesses improve their employees’ work life balance.