The relationship between employers and their employees determines employee productivity and retention. It can have a significant impact on the staff morale and workplace culture. Employees are a valuable asset to any company and employers should put in effort to create seamless communication with them. The following are a few simple tips for employers to promote good employer-employee relationships.
1. Set the Right Tone from the Start
Giving employees a good first impression is important. Employers should create a good work environment right from the start. When you have a new employee, subjecting them to lots of presentation and paperwork may not be the best way to get them excited. Instead, you should feel them feel like a valuable part of the team from the first day. Introduce them to other employees and encourage them to speak up about any of their concerns. The positive tone will remain with them for a long time.
2. Seek Employee Opinions
One of the best ways to improve your relationship with employees is seeking their input on important matters. Consult them before setting up important policies. This is especially important when the policies affect employees directly. The feeling of autonomy is one of the biggest motivations for employees to stay with your organization. Employees may help you make better decisions because they are ‘on the ground.’ They have insight that the management may lack.
3. Positive Feedback
In most evaluations, employers focus on what employees could do to improve. While it is important for employees to know what they are doing wrong, they should also know what they are doing right. Positive feedback motivates employees to keep doing well.
Employees should get a constant reminder that they add value to the company and that they are important. Say ‘thank you’ to employees who have done well. If they feel that their employers support and appreciate them, they are likely to be more engaged in their job. A simple “Thank You” card could help you build a strong employer-employee relationship.
4. Offer Career Development
Employers that take an active role in encouraging and helping employees advance in their careers are likely to maintain good relationships with them. Employees are always looking for opportunities to advance in their career and in their effort, they may acquire more skills for the job.
5. Better Communication
Communicating with employees only through emails and memos may be professional but it is impersonal. Consider using more personal communication channels to create a good relationship with employees.
If you are constantly talking to workers, they may not feel like an important part of your team. Focus on creating two-way communication. The team from Zenefits recommends that you make yourself visible to employees and let them know that they can approach you when necessary. If employees feel confident enough to approach you with their issues and concerns, they are likely to be more productive.
Schedule regular company meetings where you can all talk about important updates. Give employees the chance to ask questions and give their input.
6. Focus on the Company Mission and Values
Employees want to feel like a part of something big. They want to feel a sense of social responsibility and employers can help them. Sharing your company mission and values with the employees may improve your relationship with them. Most successful businesses have a mission that goes beyond making money at all costs. Informing employees about the main mission of your business is proof that you trust and value them. They are likely to communicate with you better if they feel like a part of something bigger.
7. Create a Healthy Work/Life Balance
It can be easy for employers to forget that their employees are regular people with personal lives. Disregard for employees’ personal and social needs may create feelings of resentment and affect employer-employee relationships. If employees invest a lot of their time and effort into the success of your business, they should feel that their employers support them. Consider offering benefits such as remote working, paid time off, and flexible work schedules.
8. Follow Through
Employers should always follow through on their commitments. Making promises and failing to deliver the right results can lead to mistrust. No matter the scenario, employers owe it to their employees to honor commitments on time.
If you are overwhelmed, you do not need to implement all of these steps at once. There are many ways to improve employer-employee relationships and you can implement them one after another. Most of the steps are simple and easy to implement.
