Managers are often concerned with employee morale and finding ways to improve it. According to an article on the Entrepreneur website, morale in the workplace is the final result of factors present in the work environment including salary, working conditions, status and job satisfaction. Employers may notice symptoms of low morale, such as apathy, low productivity, decreased quality and more absenteeism. To combat low employee morale, employers must be willing to make lasting, positive changes.
Listen to Employee Concerns
If you detect employee morale is slipping, try talking about it with individual workers. If employees are willing to be open and share their concerns, ask them for their ideas to improve the work environment. If the workforce greets your inquiries with suspicion, consider asking them to complete an anonymous job satisfaction questionnaire.
Give Employees Clear Expectations
If workers do not understand the expectations of their job, morale will suffer. Make sure that training materials and job descriptions are up-to-date and accurate. Try to give employees plenty of advance notice regarding changes in policy or work volume that will affect them.
Set Mutually Acceptable Goals
Morale should start to rise if employees are working toward goals they helped set. Give every employee the opportunity to participate in setting work-related goals. Find out if they need additional training or resources to be successful, and encourage them in their efforts.
Provide Feedback
Take the time to let employees know how they are doing. If they are under performing, find out if they need more training or have personal problems that are affect their work. Be sure to recognize exceptional performance and show your appreciation.
Show Concern
Spend a few moments each day speaking individually to employees. Speak to them by name and ask them how things are going. Show genuine concern if employees share problems or struggles.
Be Persistent in Efforts
Turning around low employee morale does not happen overnight. In fact, a short lived, half-hearted effort to improve the work environment will likely make things worse. Some employees may view your attempts to improve morale with cynicism, but if you persist, you can prove you are sincere.
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