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The importance of workplace morale is often overlooked by employers, particularly at times when - as now - the financial outlook is uncertain and prospects for robust economic growth look slim. This is quite perverse as workplace morale is at particular risk during economic downturns, when employers freeze wages and pile additional duties on their workforce. Employers must remember that the happier a workplace is, the more productive it is likely to be - so efforts to keep the workforce happy are absolutely essential. Discipline will no doubt be required from time to time, but there's far more to managing a workplace than just cracking the whip. Perhaps the most important aspect of maintaining employee morale involves effective communication between different parts of the workplace hierarchy. Employees have to feel engaged with their employer's aims, and that they're part of an organisation which values their input. It's worth engaging with workers on a regular basis - these are the people who are, so to speak, at the coal face, and so they're likely to be able to provide useful insights and ideas. There's a balance to be struck between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction, but you shouldn't necessarily assume that the two goals are opposed to one another. Employees who go the extra mile - who take on more work, or who work long hours - should be recognised for their efforts. One phenomenon which has emerged clearly over the last few years is unpaid overtime. More and more workers are finding themselves staying ever later at their workplace, and this in effect provides a significant amount of unpaid labour to employers. Businesses, for their part, should recognise the sacrifices being made by workers. There's nothing more dispiriting than really making the effort on behalf of your employer, only for your hard work to effectively go unrecognised. It is true that wage increases are often not a realistic option for employers - again, considering the current financial climate, it's not hard to see why. Nevertheless, many workers are feeling the pinch at the moment, with household incomes being squeezed by a combination of wage restraint and rising living costs. Employee rewards can help to ease some of this burden without imposing onerous costs on employers. There are a number of different incentives which employers can choose to deploy, including childcare vouchers. It's worth discussing with your employees which incentives are likely to prove most effective for them, and then tailor your reward scheme accordingly. Search online to find out more about Edenred staff rewards and employee savings.
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employee savings, Edenred staff rewards,
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