Employee Recognition & Morale

1. Employee Recognition & Morale Do you have an employee morale strategy?

2. Positive Employee Morale = Good Corporate Mental Health

3. Negative effects of low employee morale • Increased absenteeism/turnover Decreased productivity Increased injuries/accidents Increased healthcare costs Increased non-productive time Increased HR issues Increased anxiety/stress levels

4. Positive effects of high employee morale • Decreased absenteeism Increased productivity Decreased injuries/accidents Decreased healthcare costs Decreased non-productive time Decreased HR issues Decreased anxiety/stress levels Management Becomes Easier

5. Necessary steps • Self analysis • Research • Notice employees • Listen • Show appreciation • Correct with kindness • Ask for feedback

6. Self analysis • Are you inspired? • Are you inspiring to others? • Do you interact or just give orders? • Can you take criticism and see it as a positive? • Do you really listen? • Do you engage your employees? • Do you seek continuous improvement? • Are your employee’s afraid of you? • Do you give up easily? • What can you control?

7. Research • With employee and management participation, to determine just what factors are at play that affect morale within the organization. • You will find this includes things that involve individual satisfaction with work roles right through to ineffective company policies and practices or lack of clear direction, poor management, etc. • Brainstorm ways in which grievances and complaints that affect morale can be turned around - put in place improved methods and let it be seen by employees and management alike that procedures are in progress that address these issues. • Openly invite and encourage honest employee feedback.

8. Notice employees • Do you know each employee’s personality? • Do you always wait for employees to come to you? • Do you only notice what is wrong? • Do you acknowledge when they do it right?

9. Listen • Listen means stop talking • Listen means stop preparing to talk • Repeat what you heard • Write it down • Little things matter • Should I take action or not?

10. Show appreciation & care • Verbal acknowledgement • Public acknowledgement • Written praise • Group appreciation • Make it fun • Show sympathy

11. Correct with kindness • There is always a kind way • Kindness does not equal weakness • Use yourself as an example • Shoot straight • Put it in writing • Follow up

12. Ask for feedback • Let employees in on morale improvement • Ask their opinion • Use their ideas • No “One time speeches” or “Flavor’s of • the month” • Learn “Non-defensive” responses • Repeat often

13. Morale improvement ideas • Include spouses in major celebrations • Employee luncheons for reaching milestones • Spot Bonus for above & beyond work • Circle Of Excellence Awards • Make safety fun (play a game) • Compete • Safe driver plaques • Books with a personal message from you

14. Circle of Excellence Awards

15. Spot Bonus & Other Awards

16. Other ideas to consider • Organizing affordable daycare facilities for children • Flexible work timetables • Gym memberships or weight loss program assistance • Counseling/EAP

17. Summary • Focus on yourself first • Research • Learn to really listen • Kindness is king • Never give up • Realize when it’s working • Repeat

18. Final thoughts • It’s the little positives that improve morale the most • It’s the little negatives that damage morale the most

19. Questions or Comments??