You must have come across illustrations of sulking employees like the one below. How did it come to this? Who is responsible? And is there a way out? If you’re looking for answers to any of these questions, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss employee satisfaction.
The usual suspects in the case of employee dissatisfaction are; underpayment, a restrictive work environment and a lack of connection with one’s work. If you’re an employer/HR manager, your aim should be to work towards a more enabling work environment, as this can translate into a higher level of employee satisfaction.
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What Is Employee Satisfaction?
In layman terms, ‘Employee Satisfaction’ refers to the level of contentment an employee feels toward their work life.
This contentment or ‘satisfaction’ is reliant on a number of factors such as work duty, company culture and professional relationships. It is an essential decisive factor in the employee turnover rate.
How to Determine Employee Satisfaction?
It is important to determine employee satisfaction rates before coming up with strategies. Your best bet is to use the ESI and ENPS metrics. It is important to allow employees to answer these surveys anonymously. This can help employers collect unfiltered feedback.
If you want answers to specific employee satisfaction questions, then you can always customize your surveys. You can use the popular survey tool SurveyMonkey for this purpose. This data is the starting point on the road to employee satisfaction.
It is also important to keep an eye on the employee-satisfaction practices being employed by competitor companies so that your efforts don’t fall short. Keep reading to find out more about these metrics. These can help you kickstart your efforts to improve your satisfaction scores!
Employee Satisfaction Index (ESI)
This score helps companies determine the level of employee satisfaction on a scale of 1-100. It covers three basic questions relating to; satisfaction with the existing workplace, how the company fares in terms of employee expectations and how close it is to an ideal company.
There is a simple formula to the ESI, one that all companies should employ to determine where they stand over time in terms of employee satisfaction with other companies. The data obtained can be extremely useful in terms of improvement.
Employee Net Promoter Score (NPS)
Next up we have the Employee Net Promoter Score. It is similar to the ESI. It asks a point-blank question: ‘How likely are you to refer the company to your friends, colleagues, or family?’ This helps measure an employee’s connection to the company they work for.
The NPS is an excellent survey option. It is simple and quick. The answers can guide employers to improve the work culture. However, this survey can be limiting in terms of the feedback it gathers. It is best to make use of more questions in surveys to get a better idea.
This score does not have to be the only source of feedback. You can supplement it with other surveys to get more comprehensive feedback. This will better inform you about employee satisfaction. However, it is most commonly opted for by many companies. As an employee, you must have been at the receiving end of it at one point or another.
How to Improve Employee Satisfaction?
After receiving the dreadful scores, you will need to come up with strategies to fix the problem at hand. Here are some of the top strategies that can help you improve your company’s standing in terms of employee satisfaction.
It is important to remember that there are a number of social factors at play when it comes to employee satisfaction. Your aim should be to provide employees with a positive experience of working for your company. There are simple ways to achieve this, and change can be brought on incrementally. Keep reading to find out more.
You should not deter from your efforts to create a positive work environment. There will be times when you’ll have to deal with failure, but you must deal with it head-on. As an employer, your responsibility is to form and implement policies. To make it work, the employee must meet halfway.
Fair Pay: Money Does Buy Happiness
In the age of serial entrepreneurs, a 9 to 5 job no longer seems satisfactory. How can employers fix this? The answer is simple; offer a competitive salary. If an employee feels like they’re not getting compensated fairly for the work they are doing, then it’s going to take a toll on their well-being.
It is worth noting that salary ranks as the second most important determinant of job satisfaction. This statistic should guide employers/recruiters to offer a salary package befitting prospective employees as well as existing ones. It is also essential to pay heed to employee requests regarding a pay increase.
By dismissing valid employee requests, employers add to the dissatisfaction of employees. It is never too late to reform your company’s salary-related policies. It would also work in your favor to hand out monetary rewards from time to time.
Celebrate When the Occasion Calls for It
It is important to celebrate the little wins in life. If an employee is giving their all to the company, then it’s best to show appreciation. This can contribute to employee satisfaction as it makes the employee feel valued. The celebration can look like an appreciation email from a higher-up, a surprise bonus or a round of applause.
It is important to give credit where it’s due. It’s what keeps employees going. Many employees see their work as a reflection of their creative talent. For example, if someone works for a writing firm and their work is subject to constant unconstructive criticism, they’re likely to internalize that feedback.
As a result, they end up feeling dissatisfied with their work. It is, therefore, essential to give constructive feedback and to avoid using absolute statements. Managers/Supervisors should be mindful when communicating with trainees. By doing so, you can observe a surge in satisfaction scores.
Mental Health: Now or Never!
Employees spend one-third of their lifetime at work. If their office experience is unsatisfactory, then it can be consequential to their health. This is why employers should hire mental health professionals to help employees improve their experience. A professional will be better able to guide employees to process their work-related issues and find ways for them to overcome them.
There are other ways to help employees with their mental health concerns, like introducing mini-breaks or scheduling one-on-one meetings with mentors. But the best way employers can help employees in this regard is by covering mental health in an employee’s health plan, in the company.
It is important for employers/HR managers to advocate for mental health. This should be a top priority in this day and age. Access to professional help can prevent a range of work-related mental health issues from surfacing. This can include but is not limited to, employee burnout. By enacting preventative measures, both employers and employees benefit from it.
Invest in Workplace Relationships
Employers/HR managers can take a backseat for this one. The responsibility for this is on the employees. Most of a person’s time is spent at work, so you might as well make it worth the while. You should actively work toward improving your relationship with your coworkers and higher-ups.
It is common to find oneself in the midst of workplace politics, but there is always the option of resolution. It is important to set differences aside when communicating with peers. You should also try to interact with those you work with and try to understand and empathize with them. By doing so, you can find yourself more satisfied with your workplace.
Your employer is not responsible for the relationships you cultivate at work. There needs to be a dedicated effort on your part. You will find that you and your coworkers have a lot more in common than you think. But the only way to find out is by initiating a conversation.
Employee Satisfaction: What Does It Mean in 2023?
In 2023, employee satisfaction is going to take center stage. As millennials and Gen Z exit their 9 to 5’s to look for better options, companies must up their game to keep employees. The strategies listed above can prove to be highly rewarding if employed. If you want skilled professionals to keep working for you and for your company to have a positive image, then you must work on your employee satisfaction scores.
In the upcoming year, companies will be expected to incorporate these strategies into their company charters. This will be their best chance at retaining employees. The Gen Z workforce is making waves in the corporate world with their demands, and rightfully so. This is why employers should focus on reforming their organizational culture this year.
The Relevance of Employee Satisfaction
The relevance of employee satisfaction is evident on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram where employees are using these platforms as outlets to vent about corporate culture. It is high time that employers make the workplace a more enabling place for their employees. There are a number of ways to go about this, and you can even get creative with your strategies. You should, however, not lose sight of the ultimate goal.
Feel free to share ideas on how employers can improve employee satisfaction down below!
Featured Image: Achievers
