Great Ways to Keep Employees Happy and Avoid Turnover

As business owners feel the crunch from a sagging economy, they do well to ask themselves, "What am I doing to keep the people I have working for me happy?" No doubt, it may be hard to give cash bonuses to all your employees. However, here are some fool proof ways to keep everyone happy and working in harmony.

Tell Them
People love to get compliments. If they are doing well, make sure you tell them. Be generous with compliments. Don't assume that because som01eone has been doing a great job consistently, positive feedback is not necessary. Not true. Employees do well to hear that they are doing a great job. It helps them to see themselves as an integral part of the company. They feel appreciated and will produce better results. Also, when a merit review rolls around, you won't have a hard time delivering it.

Show Them
How else can they know that you care about them? Showing them is easy. You can start with simple things. Ask them how their day is going. Sit with them in the lunch room. Try to involve yourself in projects that are going on. When a newbie comes on board, make it a point to introduce yourself if someone else does the hiring. This behavior will help with the overall turnover in business. Employees feel better knowing that they have met and can relate to the chief.

Reward Them
Yes, you heard it, reward them. It may be difficult for a small business owner to find the finances to reward employees. In my opinion, you don't have to spend lots of money to make people happy. If you've got a crew working the late night shift, offer to buy them dinner. It may total about $5.00 a person. This simple gesture can seal the deal.

How about making a Employee Wall of Fame? Go to your local office supply store and purchase some Achievement Certificates. You can customize them yourself. Hold a small ceremony to recognize great employees in small areas. It may be, "Best Phone Conversation," or "Best Customer Call Back."
Be creative with your ideas. This small investment of your time and effort can make your employees want to work harder for you.

What if you do have the funds necessary to reward them? Well, you can start my holding friendly contests to inspire competition. For example: Have a grand prize for the person who makes the most sales every hour. You can tailor the contest to suit your business needs.

Wrap Up
Yes, we all love compliments, they go a long way. Be sure to be genuine. Don't overkill on compliments. It can have the opposite effect. Remember to be an active part of your business, keeping in step with all the latest updates will show that you care. Rewarding employees can have far greater benefits than just avoiding turnover, it can help to keep costs down, reduce theft and also inspire good camaraderie. When people are happy they will tell others. It becomes a domino effect. Before you know it, these small tips can help grow your business.