10 ways to improve employee satisfaction

Being aware of employee satisfaction is a crucial part of running a successful business or operation. Research¹ consistently shows that happy employees are more productive and engaged in their roles. Job satisfaction is linked to more positivity and increased employee morale – but how do you ensure your workforce is satisfied so they can perform their best? 

Read on to learn the top 10 ways you can learn how to improve employee satisfaction so you have a happier, more productive workforce.

1. Recognize and award achievements regularly

Acknowledging accomplishments is a key driver in enhancing employee satisfaction. Studies suggest² that when people feel valued in their roles and recognized for their hard work, it can impact everything from maintaining a healthy culture to increasing your bottom line.‍

Tips for recognizing people and achievements:

• Create a safe space for people to express their ideas and acknowledge their peers’ efforts.
• Incorporate regular and consistent meetings.
• Provide personalized and detailed feedback to point out strengths and share areas of improvement.
• Celebrate both big and small victories.

2. Offer competitive compensation

If you’re wondering how to increase employee satisfaction and maintain happy employees, offering competitive compensation is a no-brainer. Research indicates³ that fair pay is directly linked to and significantly increases employee satisfaction.

Tips for implementing competitive pay structures:

• Stay on top of industry standards and look at what other companies in your sector are paying.
• Incorporate performance-based rewards and reviews that offer compensation above and beyond base salary.
• Regularly review compensation plans – business environments change rapidly, and you need to keep up if you want to remain relevant and able to attract top talent.

3. Provide benefits employees care about

Benefits play a pivotal role in workplace satisfaction and employee turnover. Workers are more likely to remain loyal if they feel appreciated by the benefits they receive. A strong and competitive benefits package can positively affect satisfaction rates and employee retention.

Tips for creating a great benefits package:

• Make sure that salary packages are competitive.
• Offer a comprehensive and inclusive health insurance plan that includes mental health support like online therapy for employees.
• Offer paid time off for vacation and personal needs.
• Implement and promote incentives like gym memberships or wellness programs to enhance the mind-body connection and to encourage a healthy work-life balance.

4. Invest in employee growth and development

Yet another way to increase employee satisfaction is by investing in growth opportunities so people can develop in their roles. According to research,⁴ opportunities to learn and grow through career development is a top priority for most job seekers.

Tips for enhancing career development opportunities:

• Create opportunities for skill enhancement through workshops and training sessions.
• Promote internal mobility that allows people to access employee development and career growth in your organization.
• Foster an environment that welcomes collaboration so employees feel encouraged to share their ideas and learn from one another.

5. Support work-life balance

Work-life balance has long been a focus for organizations searching for innovative ways to improve employee satisfaction. It’s become increasingly important that leadership recognizes the value of balance in the lives of their workforce if they want to ensure they have happy employees. By learning how to improve work-life balance for employees, organizational leaders not only improve the overall employee experience but can also help reduce employee dissatisfaction. ‍

How to improve work-life balance:

• Offer flexible schedules that give employees control over their routines and the ability to address things in both their personal and professional life.
• Consider remote working options to reduce commuter stress.
• Promote employee wellness ideas encouraging physical health, like setting fitness goals or organizing team sports events.
• Offer access to mental healthcare – Talkspace research found that 39% of people surveyed reported a better work-life balance after just 12 weeks of therapy. 

6. Promote work autonomy

Encouraging autonomy is a great idea for any company looking for tips on how to improve employee satisfaction. By empowering your workers, you let them take ownership of tasks and contribute meaningfully to the job they’re doing.

Tips for promoting work autonomy:

• Create clear guidelines so everyone understands what’s expected of them while still maintaining the freedom to accomplish goals in their own way.
• Foster trust and respect to show employees that you believe in their ability and judgment.
• Maintain open communication so the environment encourages people to share ideas, concerns, and needs without fear of retaliation.

7. Maintain a healthy and positive working environment

Creating a positive work environment is crucial for any company wanting to ensure its people are happy. Employees who feel good about their workplace will be more engaged and perform better. 

Mental health is as important as physical health when creating a positive environment. Some research⁵ suggests that toxic work environments increase the risk of developing depression by more than 300%.

Tips for a positive work environment:

• Promote positivity by encouraging team-building activities or initiatives that foster camaraderie.
• Design, implement, and share policies about harassment and discrimination.
• Create a safety-first atmosphere by ensuring measures are met to prevent accidents throughout the workplace.
• Address any signs of a toxic work environment proactively.

8. Foster open communication

Creating a space where people feel safe and comfortable sharing their thoughts, ideas, concerns, or issues — without fear of backlash — is critical in fostering open communication to improve employee satisfaction. 

A recent survey found that 80% of workers today are stressed due to ineffective communication.⁶ A Gallup report⁷ found that companies with high employee engagement see numerous benefits, including job satisfaction, which can result in greater retention, higher employee productivity rates, and increased profitability. 

Tips to improve communication in your workplace:

• Implement open-door policies with leadership. 
• Promote the use of constructive feedback. 
• Schedule (and stick to) regular meetings for direct one-on-one discussions between staff and employees. 

9. Strengthen the company culture

The values, mission, and methods you establish as a company represent your business culture. A strong culture is associated with increased employee satisfaction and engagement. Fostering a positive environment means ensuring every team member aligns with the company’s mission and is engaged in creating something bigger than “just” their current job. 

Tips to strengthen company culture:

• Promote shared values where ideas flow freely. 
• Create growth opportunities through training programs.
• Maintain communication about company goals and vision.

10. Make employee wellness a priority

Your employees are your greatest asset – without them, your company likely won’t be successful. 

Focusing on wellness is one of the best ways to improve employee satisfaction. By showing that physical and mental health is a recognized and dedicated priority, you can improve happiness, health, and employee job satisfaction company-wide. ‍

Tips for improving employee wellness

• Promote physical health initiatives that encourage people to take care of themselves. 
• Stock the break room with healthy options and fresh foods. 
• Remember that mental health is a critical piece of the puzzle – offer EAPs or collaborate with Talkspace to provide online therapy for employees
• Talk about the importance of mental health in the workplace.

Create a happier workforce with Talkspace

There are so many ways that you can improve employee satisfaction in your organization. Simple actions, like focusing on positivity and healthy communication, can be instrumental. Whether you just want to enhance an already-healthy work culture to ensure people remain content, or you’re tackling a bigger problem head-on, like improving work-life balance or offering better benefits and compensation, addressing mental health needs can be the first step you take.

Talkspace is an online therapy platform that makes accessing mental healthcare easy and convenient. People can connect with licensed mental health professionals who can help them learn to manage any condition or stress in their life, all from the comfort of their own home.

Learn why so many companies work with Talkspace by reaching out today. 

Sources:

1. Bhakat, Akash, and Remya Lathabhavan. “A Study on the Effect of Materials Benefits on Job Satisfaction, 2020.” https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342094875_A_study_on_the_Effect_of_Materials_Benefits_on_Job_Satisfaction/citation/download. 
2. Mann, Annamarie, and Nate Dvorak. “Employee Recognition: Low Cost, High Impact.” Gallup.com. Gallup, June 28, 2016. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/236441/employee-recognition-low-cost-high-impact.aspx. 
3. Miller, Stephen. “Better Pay and Benefits Loom Large in Job Satisfaction.” SHRM. SHRM. Accessed July 18, 2023. https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/compensation/pages/pay-benefits-satisfaction.aspx.  
4.  Adkins, Amy, and Brandon Rigoni. “Millennials Want Jobs to Be Development Opportunities.” Gallup.com. Gallup, June 30, 2016. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/236438/millennials-jobs-development-opportunities.aspx. 
5. DellaCrosse, Meghan, Kush Mahan, and Thomas D. Hull. “The Effect of Messaging Therapy for Depression and Anxiety on Employee Productivity.” Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science 4, no. 1 (2018): 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-018-0064-4. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41347-018-0064-4. 
6. Zadow, Amy Jane, Maureen F Dollard, Christian Dormann, and Paul Landsbergis. “Predicting New Major Depression Symptoms from Long Working Hours, Psychosocial Safety Climate and Work Engagement: A Population-Based Cohort Study.” BMJ Open 11, no. 6 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044133. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/6/e044133.info. 
7. Tobin, Ben. “It’s Not Just You: 4 in 5 Americans Stressed out from Poor Office Communication.” USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, March 20, 2019. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/03/20/office-communication/3210831002/.  

Gallup, Inc. “State of the American Workplace.” Gallup.com. Gallup, September 22, 2022. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/238085/state-american-workplace-report-2017.aspx.