30+ ideas to boost employee morale at work in 2024
When employee morale is an issue for a company, everyone knows it. The employees aren’t happy to be there and are not performing well. The company knows there is a problem but may not know how to fix this low morale. In contrast, good morale looks positive and employees feel happy at work. An employer wondering how to boost morale at work can introduce specific activities to help employees feel better about their work and their coworkers.
What is Employee Morale?
Employee morale is the defined as the employee’s satisfaction and attitude during their relationship with a business or an organization. If the business has a poor culture, then it will lead to low employee satisfaction and low productivity within the organization. Employees will not stay with the company for a long time; they will be more likely to find another job relatively quickly.
Importance of Employee Morale for Companies and Employees
If employees have low morale, they simply won’t be happy or engaged at work. They won’t put forth their best effort when on the job. They won’t be productive and this negative attitude will spill over to other employees.
After a time, other team members will adopt the same negative thought pattern. They won’t be putting their best foot forward on the job either. No one will want to stand out as one of the few (or the lone) positive employee on the team.
When company morale is poor, the company may have much more difficulty attracting top talent for available job openings. Current and former employees may discuss their lack of motivation on social media. People reading about employees’ negative opinions about their employer are likely to interpret these opinions as facts. It’s difficult for a company to overcome a bad reputation if company morale is poor.
How to Measure Employee Morale at Work?
Companies that want to get an idea of employee morale need to encourage open communication. The following are some ways to encourage workers to share their thoughts:
— Employee Counseling
During a counseling session, the employee can share their feelings about work in a safe, supportive, and confidential environment. Employment counselors help employees understand why they may not feel enthused about their work. Counselors can also make note of trends in employee feelings about their work and advise management about what they see so that managers can make appropriate changes.
— Suggestion Boxes
Suggestion boxes are a way for employees to share their thoughts about how to improve the workplace anonymously. Some people have concerns about confidentiality or privacy and prefer not to have their name associated with a particular suggestion.
A company suggestion box can be virtual or physical. The important thing is that employees find it convenient to share their thoughts.
— Exit Interviews
Exit interviews give a company valuable information about the reasons why an employee has decided to leave the organization. Human resources should track the information provided during these sessions to look for patterns. If several employees give similar reasons for leaving the company, it points to an issue in the company culture that must be addressed.
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How to Boost Morale at Work
The following are good ideas for boosting employee morale and showing employees that the workplace doesn’t have to be a place where everyone is feeling down all the time. It’s possible to work hard and enjoy one’s work at the same time.
1. Communicate with employees often
Set realistic goals for each employee and make a point of checking in often to track their progress and ask if they are having any issues. Managers should offer to help employees with any issues that are getting in the way of meeting their agreed-upon goals. No one likes to feel as though they are working on their own, and knowing the manager is there to help goes a long way in encouraging employees to feel positive about the company.
2. Be transparent with employees
Management shouldn’t try to hide problems from workers. Don’t avoid conversations with employees when morale is low. It won’t help the situation. Instead, face issues head-on and work together to resolve them. Keep employees informed about company updates, new protocols being introduced, and customer feedback.
3. Ask for employee feedback
A sure way to boost morale at work is to ask employees what they think about the company and how things are being run. It’s not enough to ask questions about the employee experience. Management also has to listen to the employees’ suggestions and then act on them.
If employees take the time to share their opinions and it doesn’t result in any concrete changes, then employees will become frustrated. They may not be honest when asked for feedback in the future and some of them may move on from the company. If the company can’t implement all the changes that employees suggest, management should at least acknowledge them by thanking the employees for their suggestions.
4. Train managers properly
Some people holding management positions don’t know how to manage people properly. They lack empathy, emotional intelligence, and good communication skills. All managers need training in these areas, along with how to give feedback correctly. They should also learn different leadership styles so they can help their team members succeed instead of standing in their way.
A poor manager can definitely be the cause of low morale in a team or even an entire department. Invest in training for all managers so they know how to be effective managers.
5. Create a zero-tolerance policy for workplace bullies
No one likes dealing with a bully. In the workplace, bullying behavior makes the victim feel powerless, impacts their health and happiness, and makes them less productive.
Let all executives, managers, and employees know that workplace bullying will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Anyone engaging in behavior that unfairly targets another person to make them feel harassed or excluded will be dealt with promptly. Penalties will include termination of employment.
6. Recognize employees for their performance
Focus on the positive! When employees do something right, let them (and their colleagues know about it)! Employee recognition results in several benefits to the company, including better employee engagement, better customer satisfaction, higher productivity, and higher morale.
Employees want to know that their employer appreciates them for the work they do and the effort they make daily. When employees feel appreciated, they will be more loyal to the company.
7. Give employees the right digital tools to do their job
A great way to boost employee morale in the workplace is to invest in a communication and engagement platform for your team. Give employees the right tools so they can focus on their work instead of waiting for sluggish technology to work and they will be happier and much more productive during the workday. Choose a platform that is mobile-friendly so that employees who work from home and frontline workers can stay in touch easily.
8. Offer opportunities for professional growth
Top talent wants to be assured they are working in an environment where they can advance to a more senior position by joining a particular company. These candidates are ambitious and have a goal in mind when they accept a job. For other employees, the career path may look slightly different. They may be interested in improving their professional skills to be more effective in their current job.
Offer opportunities to attend courses and conferences so that each type of employee can continue to learn and grow. It will boost their morale and help them stay motivated.
9. Make health and wellness a priority
There may be times when teams are busy and the atmosphere at the company is “all hands on deck.” However, if employees are pushing themselves to the limit all the time it’s a recipe for burnout and, ultimately, low morale.
The company should encourage a healthy work-life balance instead by staying organized and encouraging all employees to take their annual leave. An employee assistance program (EAP) offers confidential help to employees who are experiencing stress and problems in their personal life. These issues impact the employee’s health and wellness and can spill over into their work performance.
10. Encourage employees to take breaks
Some employees feel they have far too much work to do to take breaks during the day. They eat their lunch at their desk and work straight through the day. This habit doesn’t help them perform creative thinking. Ideas don’t have the chance to percolate unless a person gets away from their desk and changes their location.
They need to get into a different environment, preferably outside, to perform at their best. Take a walk, stretch, and breathe some fresh air. It’s good for one’s overall health, both physical and mental.
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11. Create a separate space for employees to decompress
Everyone needs time to take a break and recharge throughout the day. Make a company-wide policy that employees can step away from their desk or work area when they feel their stress levels rising. Taking a few minutes (or longer) to sit quietly, take some deep breaths, stretch, or meditate can help workers refocus. When they are ready to return to work, they will feel relaxed and ready to refocus.
Place comfortable furniture in the room so that employees can use it in the way that makes the most sense to them. Some people may want to take a brief power nap to recharge during the day. Others may want to sit quietly and look out the window or chat with a co-worker. Be sure there is a comfortable couch and some chairs arranged in a conversation area to accommodate both needs.
12. Bring some green plants into the office
It may seem a little silly on the face of it, but bringing the outdoors into the office does help boost employee morale. People feel better about their job and the work they are doing if they have some green plants nearby compared to those who work in offices without any plants.
If there is a way to introduce more natural light where people work, it will benefit employees too. People naturally feel better and more positive when exposed to natural light as opposed to fluorescent light. Open the blinds and let the sunshine in!
13. Organize team-building activities
Team-building activities are a great idea for employees because they create opportunities for participants to solve problems, think strategically, and boost morale. They also help the participants to get to know each other more personally. Participating in these activities challenges all participants to work together and think creatively.
When chosen carefully, team-building activities are fun ways to boost morale at work. They don’t have to be very complicated: challenge the team to a trivia challenge or ask employees to bring in a baby picture of themselves and ask everyone to try to match the youngster to their coworker!
14. Give employees some exciting incentives
When morale is really low, do something to shake things up a bit. Give employees something they will remember for some time. Let everyone work from home for the day or wear their pajamas to work. Do something fun and unexpected. Order pizza for lunch for the entire company and send everyone home 30 minutes early in the middle of the week.
15. Promote diversity in the workplace
Companies that make a point of recruiting talent that represents a wide variety of backgrounds, ages, talents, experience levels, etc., have teams with the potential to develop inventive solutions. Their employees approach projects and issues from their various perspectives. Together, they have the potential to come up with something new and exciting, as opposed to the same way the company has always done things.
16. Acknowledge employees’ life events and losses
When employees experience significant life events, make sure that the company acknowledges them. Place an announcement in the company newsletter that an employee has become engaged, married or welcomed a child into their family. These are positive events that the entire company can celebrate with them.
In a situation when an employee has experienced a personal loss, acknowledge it by sending them a personal note. Let their teammates know about the situation so they can offer support. These policies should also apply to remote employees, who may feel especially isolated during challenging times.
17. Reevaluate company benefits and rewards
Employees work for more than just a regular pay check. The benefits and rewards matter to them as well. A good benefits plan allows employees to look after their physical and mental health. Consider giving employees flexibility in their paid time off so they can use it in the way that makes sense to them. Some workers may need to care for a sick child or a parent or take personal days to recharge their own batteries.
Add some company-sponsored activities so people from different departments (and of all ages) can spend time together outside of work. It helps employees to make friends at work and does wonders for employee morale.
18. Host an office karaoke hour
The good thing about karaoke is that no one has to sing alone. Everyone has a song they really like and if they have a coworker who enjoys it too, they automatically have a buddy who can sing with them. The bonus is that studies show that when people sing together, their heartbeats synchronize. They feel connected, which is exactly what a team should do.
The body also releases endorphins, which are “feel-good” hormones. These are the same ones that the body makes when people fall in love, exercise, eat a delicious meal, or perform an activity they really enjoy. There aren’t any down sides. So employees shouldn’t worry about what their voices sound like; just sing and feel good.
19. Bring pets into work
Having furry faces at work does improve the employee experience. Arrange for a shelter dog to spend the day with the company. (It may inspire an employee to adopt a new pet.) Have a designated employee bring their pet to work one day each month. This strategy will work as long as the pet doesn’t mind getting lots of attention from staff.
Employees performing remote work can participate in a “Bring your Pet to Work Day” by introducing their furry or feathered companions to their teammates in a virtual meeting. Everyone will no doubt enjoy meeting their coworkers’ pets and taking this opportunity to learn more about them.
20. Encourage employees to give to charity
Giving back to the community makes employees feel happier. Workers can vote for the charities they wish to support and choose to donate a set amount from each pay check. This option makes donating an easy process.
Some employees may wish to donate their time to a charity of their choice. Consider giving them paid time off for company volunteer days to encourage participation in these types of activities.
Employee Engagement
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21. Designate one day each week as “Meeting-free Day”
The only thing worse than long-running meetings, may be a day on the calendar that is completely taken up by one meeting after the other. Some people find multiple meetings very stressful and they can definitely be a distraction from their other work duties.
Set aside one day each week as a “meeting-free day.” It means those employees who are scheduling meetings will need to be more efficient. Meeting-free day is a time when workers can focus on other duties, knowing their schedule won’t be interrupted.
22. Brainstorm team-building ideas
Ask employees for their suggestion about team-building events. It shouldn’t always be up to the manager to find one and plan it for their workgroup. By asking employees for their ideas, the group is more likely to participate in something they will enjoy doing. The employees will feel a sense of ownership as well.
23. Start the day with a morning huddle
Get the team together at the beginning of the team’s shift to get motivated together. Ask someone to share a positive thought or a motivating idea so that everyone starts their workday focused on achieving the team’s goals. Remind everyone that yesterday is finished and they are starting the new day with a fresh start.
24. Recognize the Employee of the Month
This idea is a very simple one. Choose an employee each month who has distinguished themselves from their colleagues with their hard work and great attitude. The criteria for choosing the employee of the month should be made clear to all employees so they have an opportunity to be recognized in this way. Make sure this person’s achievement is recognized in the company newsletter, the online bulletin board, or another virtual or physical place where everyone can celebrate with them.
25. Create a Wow Wall
Remind employees of the impact their efforts make by creating a “Wow Wall”. Use it to pin positive client feedback, completed projects, photos, and positive affirmations to give anyone who views it a confidence boost. Be sure to place the Wow Wall in a place where everyone can see it.
26. Celebrate birthdays at work
Everyone has a birthday and celebrating this special day with employees is a fun way to boost morale at work. Schedule a birthday lunch for anyone celebrating their special day during that calendar month and let them enjoy themselves. Extra points if the attendees get to take an extra-long lunch because they are enjoying their birthday cake!
27. Observe employees’ work anniversaries
Each person who works for an organization contributes to its success. Take the time to recognize their value to the company by recognizing their work anniversary and sharing it with their coworkers annually. Give employees a small token of appreciation on this special day.
It reminds the employee that their efforts are appreciated and that the company recognizes that the employee chooses to continue working there. Long-term employees should be especially valued since they have knowledge that comes with years of working for the company that can’t be acquired overnight.
28. Order company merchandise
Employees like company merchandise. They can wear and use it on the job and in their leisure hours. It’s also great advertising for the company. This is an excellent idea to boost morale at work. The merchandise helps employees feel proud of where they work. It may help workers start conversations with others about their job and opportunities with the company.
29. Start a canned food drive
Local food banks can always use donations. Ask employees to bring in canned food to donate to the needy in the community. Make it interesting by pitting work teams or departments against each other to see who can bring in the most cans during a certain period.
30. Compete in a recycling competition
Here’s a fun idea to boost morale at work: Divide employees into four teams. Assign each team a category of items to recycle: paper, plastic, aluminum, and glass. See which team can recycle the most items within a set time to determine the winner.
Employee Engagement
Time to start or overhaul an engagement strategy? Capitalize on Employee Engagement Opportunities.
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