Can Improving Employee Attitude and Morale Improve Business?
When Sears, Roebuck and Company decided to take the bull by the horns and turn around dwindling sales, the retail giant made some discoveries. One was the tremendous financial impact it realized as a result of an improvement in employee satisfaction. Any business can bet its bottom dollar that improving employee morale and attitude will also improve business.
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Production
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It's human nature for people who are feeling good to be more productive. It is no different in the workplace. When morale is high and attitudes are good, worker performance will increase. Communication and cooperation are the logical byproducts, two traits that enhance team spirit. An employee who feels good about the place where he works develops loyalty to his employer. A loyal employee is motivated to work harder. Improved attitude and increased morale also translate into lowered absenteeism rates. When a business is functioning at optimal staff levels, production levels can maintain consistency.
Customer Service
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When employee attitude and morale are high, customers often reap the benefits. Customers greeted with a smile, a vibrant welcome and an energetic and helpful company representative will have a pleasant, perhaps even memorable, customer experience. A good experience typically translates into an initial sale and repeat business. Customers impressed with the employee attitude at a business will also want to share the finding with others. A satisfied customer will recommend the company to others.
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Retention
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Employee turnover can wreak havoc on a company's financial bottom line. Each time an employee departs, costs begin to accrue to find a replacement. Recruiters, want ads and the time devoted to interviewing are all expenses the business incurs. Once an employee is hired, there is a training period to be completed before the new employee actually becomes productive.
An employee who finds satisfaction in his work environment tends to remain on the job long-term. A company that makes efforts to improve employee attitude and morale will benefit in the long run as turnover decreases. Add training opportunities, promotion from within and recognition for a job well done and a company will build a strong, cohesive work force that is productive and loyal.
Monitoring
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Gauging employee satisfaction is not really tricky. Management knows the difference between employees working together like a well-oiled machine and undercurrents of dissatisfaction in the workplace. The most efficient way to stay abreast of employee morale levels is to use specific monitoring methods.
Employee surveys are an effective tool for measuring benchmarks. When administered properly, these surveys can gather valuable information on causes for low morale or poor attitudes. Recognizing the problem is the first step toward implementing plans to counteract it.
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