7 ways to improve employee job satisfaction.

Empirical data indicates that employee job satisfaction has a direct correlation with productivity.  But the reality is organizations do not focus enough on employee job satisfaction. Insights from a recent survey show that eight in 10 working professionals are dissatisfied with their jobs. For about 75% of employees, the introduction of new technology at the workplace was one of the factors contributing to their dissatisfaction. Other causes of dissatisfaction included poor workplace ethics and poor work-life balance. Interestingly, the research also highlighted the fact that salary and benefits are no longer the only influencers of job satisfaction, with career optimization and work-life balance rapidly inching closer them. 

The data clearly reflects the need for targeted measures to improve the ‘happiness at work’ index of employees. Here are 10 strategies to instil a higher sense of job satisfaction in the work force.

1. Maintain organizational work ethic

Work ethic matters a great deal to employees, especially the millennials. 15% of respondents in the survey said that the reason for their dissatisfaction was poor ethics.  Employees look up to the values of their organization and tend to feel a sense of stability in the consistency of those values. For instance, employees expect organizations to stick to ethics such as honesty and integrity towards customers even when the economy turns unfavorable. 

2. Consider civility policy/training 

Treating employees with respect is a highly valued cultural trait among employees. In a research on employee job satisfaction, about 65% of the respondents gave very high importance to respectful treatment of employees at all levels. They voted for this as one of the highest contributors of their job satisfaction at work. Hence, instituting  policies to promote a culture of mutual respect is highly recommended. 

3. Establish an open-door policy 

About 80% of the dissatisfied employees belong to the junior level. Creating a culture where ideas, feedback and grievances are openly heard is instrumental in increasing job satisfaction among employees. Open communication practices such as 360 degree feedback make employees feel more included and valued at the workplace.

4. Pave the path for career development 

An extension of new training and development is the opportunity to either expand the current role or transition into a new job role. In a SHRM survey, 88% of millennial respondents give higher importance to career development opportunities as compared to 76% of Baby Boomers. Clearly, the newer generation of employees is more focused on growth and development than being in the same role for a longer duration.

 

5. Instill a culture of collaboration

While achieving profitable results might be the ultimate goal of business, it is also necessary that teamwork and collaboration is encouraged along the way. It is important for employees to feel a sense of belonging in their workplace, thereby increasing job engagement. 40% of respondents said that a good relationship with colleagues was the top contributor to their job satisfaction.

6. Give employees an opportunity to showcase skills 

Job empowerment is directly proportional to employee job satisfaction. Considering that retention of key performers is critical to an organization’s profitability, it is important to delegate ownership to such employees. Executives who are given the opportunity to exhibit their skills and knowledge tend to be more satisfied with their jobs. 

Bottom line.

Encouraging employees to grow on both personal as well as professional levels is critical to keeping employees engaged and satisfied. Employees, for their part, tend to exhibit higher loyalty and efficiency in organizations that identify their potential and nurture them.