Employee Morale:
Corporate Mental Health
By Rich Bayer, Ph.D.
Positive employee morale is the corporate version of
good mental health. Good mental health enhances performance for
individuals, and for organizations. Some techniques that we use to enhance
individual and family mental health can also help companies to improve
employee morale.
So what are the benefits?
When company morale is high, the task of management
becomes easy. Employees perform better when they’re satisfied with their
work and their work environment. That’s why, in most companies, one of
management’s top priorities is to maintain morale at a high level.
Many factors can influence employee morale. There are
factors relating to employees, factors relating to the workplace, and
factors relating to management.
As a manager, you have the ability to correct any
problems in these areas. Here are some methods that can help in each area:
Factors with Employees
Often, problems experienced by one worker impact the
whole team. If a worker is having problems at home, his performance at
work may suffer. This puts a strain on team members who find themselves
covering for him.
Similarly, an employee may conduct personal business
at work. It’s actually good for morale to allow employees some leeway
here. But if one employee starts abusing this, it’s unfair to the others
and it sets a bad example.
These two problems can usually be solved without much
trouble.
First, you need to gather information to find out
what’s happening. Second, you need to intervene by talking with the
employee about the problem. Third, make a plan with the employee about
what can be done to change his or her behavior. As part of the plan, set a
schedule for when you’ll reevaluate the situation.
But there’s another kind of employee problem, that
of the disruptive employee. This employee may be angry, lazy, drug or
alcohol addicted, rumor mongering, or even an overachiever who derides
fellow workers. These types of behaviors can be habitual and therefore
difficult to change.
So what can you do? First, do as you would in any
other situation: gather information, intervene, and make a plan with the
employee. The plan however may need to be tougher. Consider using language
like, “We cannot tolerate your angry comments at work.” Or “You need
to be completely sober at work; we can’t have you on site if you are
not.” You may want to recommend outside help such as psychotherapy. Also
you might have to change this employee’s job duties so he or she is not
around other employees as much. Or talk with the other employees about how
to handle the disruptive employee. Or you may have to terminate this
employee.
Factors in the Workplace
In general, any improvements you make to the work
environment helps to improve employee morale. These include things like
installing new lighting or new carpeting, applying a fresh coat of paint,
or allowing music to be played. Even doing something as simple as
spring-cleaning can lift staff spirit.
If the company is having financial difficulties,
staff are likely to be worried and on the lookout for any information to
help them understand what is going on. In this case, it helps to
provide accurate information. Tell employees the truth but frame it in a
positive way. Don’t say, “We might not be able to make payroll.”
Tell what you’re doing to correct the problem, like “We’ve developed
a new marketing plan that should boost sales,” or “We’ve found a new
buyer for our product.” Reporting only the negative to employees will
lower morale.
Factors with Management
As a manager, you can boost morale by paying
attention to employees and acknowledging good work. So be generous with
praise. It works best to praise a specific person or a specific group
rather than the whole company. Also, when you praise someone, do it
publicly. Make sure others hear it too.
Finally it’s important to offer the right set of
job benefits and job satisfactions. It’s true that money isn’t
everything. Employees want to find satisfaction with their work. In
addition to the routine benefits you offer with the job (such as paid
vacation, health insurance, and retirement fund), you could provide
specific opportunities for employees to grow and change. Here are some
examples:
- Offer
educational programs on helpful topics, such as physical fitness,
career development, or personal finances.
- Offer
some time off each week to employees who do charitable, volunteer work
for outside organizations. Or allow employees an hour each week to do
something different within the company.
- There
are some employees who experience low job satisfaction because their
jobs are defined too narrowly. What can make their jobs more
fulfilling? Often changing the focus of a job can boost satisfaction.
For instance for frontline staff such as receptionists or supermarket
checkers, request that they smile at every customer. Adding this
specific focus to a frontline job actually boosts satisfaction with
it.
Hopefully you can continue to build company morale.
Your employees will welcome it and it will pay off on the bottom line.
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Rich Bayer,
Ph.D., is the CEO of Upper Bay Counseling and Support Services, Inc. and a
practicing psychologist.
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For More Information Contact:
Upper Bay Counseling and Support Services, Inc.
200 Booth Street, Elkton, MD 21921
Tel: 410-996-5104
Toll Free: 877-587-7750
FAX: 410-996-5197
Internet: info@upperbay.org
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