How to Provide Meaningful Work as an Employer
Nowadays, people don’t work solely for a paycheck. While that is most certainly the biggest driver of why people have jobs; when people go to work every day, they want to feel like there is more meaning behind what they do than just making a living.
As we are currently in a candidate market, and people currently have the option to be particular about where they work, it is important that companies provide a meaningful work experience to their employees.
When in search of a new job, people no longer simply choose the one offering the highest pay, the one closest to home, or the one that is the most relevant to what they went to college or trade school for. They search the companies that want to interview them via their website and social media pages to see if there is something they stand for.
It’s very important that companies not only advertise a meaningful workplace to get people through the door, but also demonstrate and maintain that meaning so that employees choose to stay with the company in the long run.
Here are 5 ways employers can create meaningful work for their employees:
1. Give Employees the Chance to Contribute
In today’s world, it is more important than ever for people to know that they are giving back; especially to the local community. By making service and/or charity a part of your business model, employees will take pride in where they work. This shows that the company values things other than revenue generation and publicity and that the organization cares.
It is important to note, that any charity or service project that the company hosts should take place during work hours. This enables all team members to participate and shows that you know that your employees have a life outside of work.
2. Take Action on Feedback
If an employee comes to you with constructive feedback that you know could benefit the company, find a way to implement their suggestion and recognize them publicly for it. This will show them that they are listened to and that their input is considered and valued. Be sure to give the employee credit when you announce the implementation to the rest of the team. This will encourage others to speak up about processes that can be improved and will show the employee that they are seen for who they are and not just a number in the company.
3. Find Evidence-Based Ways to Live Out Your Company Values
Nearly every company has a set of core values, but very rarely do they get put into practice. Many companies have a core value of fairness, but almost all the time, favoritism is seen and felt in the office. Appreciation may be listed in the employee handbook, but appreciation goes far beyond thanking someone for that little extra they did. If your company values communication, than the proper channels, such as: slack, regular meetings, and timely email responses must be provided and enforced.
If your company runs off of certain systems such as EOS, you must have weekly team L10 meetings and set rocks every quarter. As the saying goes, practice what you preach.
4. Provide a Social Space and Host Social Events
Everyone wants to feel comfortable with the people they work with, since there is so much time being spent together. Work will also feel more meaningful if there is a strong component of both teamwork and support. People will be much more excited to come in every day if they enjoy their colleagues. By designating a certain area for employees to socialize whether during lunch or just in between meetings, they will have the opportunity to interact more often. This can look like a lounge area, a game room, a break room, etc. It’s also beneficial to host company outings every so often whether they are after-work happy hours or team lunches.
If your company is in need of employees, we at Award Staffing are here to help. Contact us here with your staffing needs.