What Is the Meaning of Employee Morale?

High employee morale can make your team work harder.

When it comes to morale and the workplace, your company's success depends largely on how willing your staff is to help you succeed. Positive morale is the driving force behind every productive employee. However, poor morale can be obstructive and idling.

Definition

The Leading Edge says morale is the spirit of your employees. It is the emotional force that impacts how they behave and what they accomplish in the workplace.

Productivity

Employees with high morale are eager to accomplish goals and do a top-notch job in the workplace. Low morale causes employees to lose motivation, which leads to a reduction in productivity. According to the INC website, a survey done by America Online and Salary.com reports that U.S. employers lose an estimated $544 billion in productivity time every year.

Absenteeism

Low morale causes employees to be disengaged from their work, and that results in higher rates of absenteeism. According to the Gallup Organization, when employees are disengaged, they are more inclined to take sick days or use up their paid time off. Gallup also found that in 2002, 16 percent of employees in the U.S. were disengaged from their work.

Health

Morale impacts the health of an organization. According to BNET, low morale is contagious and can spread across the workforce. When morale is high, however, it keeps employees positive and motivated.

Causes

There are many causes for high or low morale. Good morale could be related to positive events in the workplace, such as promotions, raises or bonuses. Poor morale could be linked to negative changes, like layoffs, demotions, budget cuts and decreased benefits.

References

• The Leading Edge: The High Cost of Low Morale
• Gallup Organization; Healthcare Shortage: The Cost of Lost Workdays
• INC: Price Tag for Lost Productivity: $544 Billion
• BNET: Tackling Low Employee Morale