employee engagement Archives - Lone Star Staffing Solutions

23Feb

Getting Employees Motivated
About Working from the Office

Are you trying to motivate your employees to return to the office? The pandemic has drastically changed many aspects of how we work, and returning to a normal routine can be daunting for both employers and employees. Fortunately, there are ways to motivate workers to want – not just feel obligated – to come in every day. In this blog post, we’ll share strategies that will help spark enthusiasm while increasing confidence.

These suggestions will benefit any employer ready to motivate employees toward better office attendance!

Encourage employees to take breaks and get up from their desks.

Taking breaks away from your desk and getting some physical activity can help your employees to manage stress better, improve concentration, and increase productivity. Even if it’s just a short walk around the office or a few stretches at their desk, taking regular breaks helps them re-energize and reset throughout the day. Encouraging breaks also offers employees a much-needed mental break from the computer and their work for a bit; it allows them time to get fresh air, create a sense of well-being with something enjoyable, and naturally reset any distractions before returning to their tasks.

Let employees decorate their workspaces to make them feel more like home.

Allowing employees to embellish their workspace will enable them to bring some of that missing “at-home” feeling into their jobs. It would create a warm and comfortable atmosphere that invites creativity and can help increase productivity, morale, and well-being in the office environment. Decorating with personal items is an excellent way for individuals to express themselves at work and make their workspaces cozier, reflecting their unique personalities and sense of style. Doing so can create an emotional connection with the workplace that elevates moods during working hours; plus, it also reduces anxiety related to missing the comforts of being able to work from home.

Of course, setting boundaries in advance will prevent going overboard, as you want to avoid someone showing up with their television.

When the team is feeling happy, productivity skyrockets.

Invest in your employees and watch them soar!

Host social events outside work hours so employees can get to know each other better.

Offer flexible working arrangements so employees can balance work with personal commitments.
As an employer, recognizing flexible working arrangements can help promote a more outstanding balance between employees’ work and personal commitments. This arrangement allows employees to determine their best working hours, with flexible yet agreed start and end times, while still accomplishing their work-related duties.

Employers can increase employee productivity with this flexible approach while promoting their team members’ overall quality of life. Through flexible working arrangements, you, as an employer, can help ensure your employees get the support they need to succeed in life and at work.

Implementing flexible working can reduce absenteeism, improve engagement among staff, and create an environment where individuals feel they have control over their own time.

Important Side Note: We understand how important it is to achieve a balance between life and work. We realize some positions require a physical presence in the office and cannot be carried out remotely. However, wherever possible, we strive to promote flexible working arrangements that can support employees in achieving a quality of life that works for them. We want our team members to thrive in and out of the workplace.

Try some of these tips if you’re struggling to motivate your team members to come into the office. From setting goals and increasing communication to offering incentives and fostering a collaborative environment, there are many ways to get your employees excited about coming to work. Figure out what works best for your company and implement changes today. Your employees (and your bottom line) will thank you for it!

How will you motivate your employees to work from the office?

14Apr

The Merry-Go-Round of Employee Retention

Do you feel like you’re on a merry-go-round where employees get on and off, but very few stay for long? If your retention is low, it is frustrating and can be very time-consuming and expensive as you have to retrain someone new, and the money invested is lost.

Before you make your next hire, consider focusing on areas that impact the overall employee experience.

What's in it for them?

Do your homework to determine how someone in a particular role is compensated. It’s not just about the paycheck, as benefits play a large part in decision-making. And most people don’t realize that a solid benefits package could allow for a salary short of being competitive.

There are also other ways to up the anty for them:

Hybrid work environment (split time between the office and home)
Opportunities for personal and professional growth

Be clear about expectations.

It’s amazing how many employers glaze over what the job will entail. EVERY position in the company, no matter the level, should have a clear description of what the potential employee can expect. And part of the conversation should include the culture of the company. Are you in a more corporate setting, or do you support a more laid-back environment?

There is no right or wrong here. However, it’s essential to talk about it in advance, so there isn’t a shock. If someone doesn’t feel “at home” in the office, there’s a strong chance they will leave.

Do your due diligence when hiring.

The most challenging part of seeking qualified candidates is where to start.

You can utilize the job boards, which can be overwhelming as you’re forced to sort through hundreds of resumes that may or may not have the right qualifications and experience.
Or ask people in your network for recommendations.
You could reach out to an experienced staffing firm that knows how to drill down to the most qualified candidates. And they do the upfront interviewing to assess further, and the right firm will have the experience to see the difference between factual and fluff.

These steps are especially critical when hiring for leadership roles, as lower-level employees are more apt to leave if there is poor leadership.

Perform an "Exit" interview before it happens.

If someone leaves your company, there should be an exit interview to ensure you’re not missing something that can help avoid unwanted departures in the future. In some cases, if they’re leaving because they’re not happy, you may be able to talk it through, but that’s rare as usually there’s another career opportunity waiting for them by the time they’ve given their notice.

Talk to current employees about what they like about their job and encourage them to be open about what doesn’t make them happy. Before you have the conversation, set the guidelines that this should be a structured and professional discussion for continuous improvement, and they won’t face any consequences for being honest.

You can also use the positive data to share with potential employees and any negative data to investigate further.

Everyone in the company is essentially responsible for employee retention. Set the example by remaining professional and supporting an environment of open communication.

09Feb

Show Your Employees You Care

Valentine’s Day is the perfect holiday to show your employees a little extra care. While chocolate and flowers may be the conventional options, there are other, more meaningful ways you can show them how much their work is valued.

Don’t wait until the last minute, and start preparing with one of these employee-focused plans today.

Host An Employee Appreciation Party

You may not have a large budget for employee appreciation, but if you’re looking for a way to show your team that you care, hosting a special party is a grand gesture. From a fancy catered night out to a lunchtime pizza party – a gathering gives employees a chance to relax and recharge. Consider providing complimentary food and drink, or expand to include activities, entertainment, or even fun prizes.

You could even begin a tradition with an annual gathering as a company-wide gift. This will give everyone something to look forward to and may even become a favorite employee perk.

Be sure to send out party details and information in advance so that employees can make schedule changes to prioritize attendance.

Holding it during regular office hours guarantees much more participation as you need to consider those who have outside commitments off-hours.

Note: If you plan on including alcohol, it is your responsibility to ensure everyone has a safe way to return home.

Publicly Recognize Hard Work

It can be easy to focus on the faces in front of the projects but don’t forget the people behind the scenes who help make it all happen. Depending on the size of your company, employees may feel overworked and underappreciated.

Give everyone a chance to shine by publicly acknowledging each employee’s work and dedication. You can do this through a company-wide email, including a personalized thank you on your business social media, or creating a printed kudos list to post in the break room. Be sure to use the names of each person and include quotes from managers or coworkers about the impact of their contribution to the work environment.

Taking the time to celebrate little wins can go a long way towards making employees feel valued and respected.

And, of course, publicly thanking them throughout the year goes a long way.

Send Your Staff a Gift

A personalized gift is a great way to make each employee feel special. Not every option has to be expensive to be impactful. A simple thank you card with a $5 gift certificate to a local coffee shop would bring a smile to any face! Try something more elaborate, like a personalized coffee mug or mouse pad if you have more time and budget.

You could even have a fruit or snack basket delivered to their home address if you’re able to go the extra mile.

A lot of it depends on the size of your company as it can get pricey. For instance, a smaller company has more flexibility, but there are ways to make it happen even with many employees.

The key is to find something meaningful, memorable, and even better if it’s useful. These types of gifts express gratitude while also reinforcing positive company culture. To follow are some ideas to consider:

Coffee mug (not the typical company mug with a logo, but something that says they’re appreciated)
Desk toy (preferably not a noisy option)
Gift certificate for an additional hour at lunch or a “show up an hour late to work” hall pass

Get creative as not all gifts have to cost money.

When you treat your employees well, they return the favor with better attitudes and a higher level of productivity.

At Lone Star Staffing Solutions, we love celebrating the needs of employees and employers every day! Let us manage all the details by providing you with the best cost-effective staffing solution for your unique needs.

20Jul

Employee Comfort = Increased Productivity

When employees think of work, they don’t necessarily associate that thought with comfort. That’s a shame as there are several ways to ensure physical comfort in the workplace or whenever we call our “office.” Whether it’s the furniture they sit on, their location within the office, or how the computer is situated.

If your staff is comfortable, it could make all the difference in attitude and productivity.

Comfort comes in many forms, and there are a few strategies to help you demonstrate that the well-being of your employees is a priority. Some will require a bit of effort and possibly a monetary investment, but many approaches are no/low-cost.

Desk & Chair

The desk is essential, but the office chair can be one of the biggest game-changers for comfort. A poorly made chair can be uncomfortable, and as the day continues, the employee could experience back neck and shoulder pain, in addition to other stressors, which can easily lead to decreased concentration and fatigue. Many supply stores will work with you to choose an ergonomically built office chair at reduced costs, especially if you purchase more than one.

Show Your Support for Keeping Work & Personal Time Separate

This may not always be possible as in these virtual times, and with hybrid work environments, the way we work is different. However, whenever possible, allow, and encourage your employees to take a break and take time to have a personal life. When they feel you support their time away from the “office” as their own, they will come back with clearer heads and a deeper appreciation for the company.

Break Up the Day

The following suggestions are something that will make you look great to your team, and at the same time, increase productivity as it will allow them to take super quick mini-breaks every hour. And, it could also turn into a team exercise where everyone comes up with ideas on how to accomplish these activities. To follow are some suggestions you could introduce. They can be performed on an individual basis or as a fun few seconds/minutes simultaneously.

Get Out Of Your Chair

Sitting in their chair for hours on end is detrimental and reduces focus. Perform an unrelated work activity every hour for just a few minutes.

Stretch or do jumping jacks in place
Walk to a window and look out, focusing on the shape of a cloud. Is it a dog? Or is it a fairy princess? Use your imagination.
Walk around the office. Do you wear a monitoring device such as a Fitbit? Get your steps in but take care not to disrupt the rest of the office unless you're doing this as a group exercise.

If given longer breaks throughout the day, 5-10 minutes of walking outside can do wonders. Responsible staff won't abuse these opportunities, but to ensure work is still performed, include the break guidelines in the employee manual. Most employers loosen the reins if they see an increase in production or creative thinking.

Meditation

This exercise is something that can be accomplished at their desk and done throughout the day. There are many apps or if someone in the office has experience meditating, ask them to show others how to do it. Or bring in a third-party vendor to show them exercises they can do on their own. It takes practice, but if they can clear their head for a few minutes each hour, it helps restore focus.