4 Ways to Show Your Employees You Care

Running a business can be tough, there are so many elements to keeping everything running smoothly. One aspect of being a small business owner that is often overlooked, is how to keep your employees happy. Happy employees will work hard, be productive, and can be what makes or breaks your business. If you’re wanting to give back to your staff, then you’ll be interested in these four ways to show your employees that you care about them.

1. Remember Special Occasions
Take the time to remember special occasions such as birthdays and wedding anniversaries. If you struggle to remember dates, why not add this information into your personal calendar when onboarding a new employee. At the very least you can send them a quick email to wish them a happy birthday. If you’d like to go a step further, you can gift your employees something for their birthdays, such as a spa voucher, or a restaurant voucher. This gesture can make a real difference to how important your employee feels and their overall attitude towards their work.

2. Host Fun Events
When I worked for the last company I was an employee at, I loved their Christmas parties. They’d do raffle prizes where you could win great things like a short crossbow or outdoor lounge chairs. It was such a great opportunity to socialize with my workmates, while enjoying a fun night out. Your company might prefer other types of events, such as going to Laser Tag, bowling, or even just a lovely meal out together. Hosting fun activities for your staff is an excellent way to increase morale and bonding, which can have positive effects on staff retention and overall productivity.

3. Invest in Trainings
Have meetings with your staff and ask to see whether anyone is interested in learning something new. If there are any trainings or conventions coming up in your industry, why not ask if anyone is interested. You can invest in training tracking software which can be a great way to create company specific training. In my experience when you feel like you’re growing in a company and a position, you’re much happier with your work and more inclined to want to keep growing.

4. Take the Time to Chat to Them
Life is busy, especially when you’re busy running a company and juggling your personal life. Take time each week to socialize with your employees, whether it’s a quick chat in the lunchroom, or an email to ask how everything’s going. Taking the time to really get to know the people you work with is an important part of running a company. You may be surprised by how much of a difference this can make in terms of your company’s success and output. If this is something you struggle with, schedule it into your calendar each week and make it a priority. 

Showing your employees you care is an important part of managing or running a business. Hopefully these tips inspire you to add a little more of it into your workplace.

Brett Sartorial
 

Brett is a business journalist with a focus on corporate strategy and leadership. With over 15 years of experience covering the corporate world, Brett has a reputation for being a knowledgeable, analytical and insightful journalist. He has a deep understanding of the business strategies and leadership principles that drive the world's most successful companies, and is able to explain them in a clear and compelling way. Throughout his career, Brett has interviewed some of the most influential business leaders and has covered major business events such as the World Economic Forum and the Davos. He is also a regular contributor to leading business publications and has won several awards for his work.