STRATEGIES TO KEEP EMPLOYEES HAPPY

The Greek philosopher Confucius said, choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

 The work becomes a passion. You are happy.

 Employee satisfaction is the tool to measure how happy workers are with their jobs. People should feel that they have the support, tools, and resources at hand to perform their job. They should have a positive slant towards the company, its leadership and the goals.

 

Employee satisfaction is tracked with a survey. It gauges what employees feel about their work.

 

Businesses gain from keeping high levels of employee satisfaction. Happy employees are more productive. They may stay longer. It is easy to retain them.

 

This, in turn, leads to product innovation and product quality. More expertise stays.

Lower turnover rates reduce hiring costs. It saves your hiring teams time, energy and resultant lethargy.

 

Customer relationships are enhanced by employee satisfaction. The happy worker stays engaged and goes all the way to customers.

 

Revenue, productivity, and profitability are positively impacted. It will have a cascading effect on business outcomes.

How to do it?

 

1. Improve communications  

 

The best companies keep employees and provide the necessary tools to facilitate effective and transparent communication.

 

Dissatisfaction is the result of insufficient knowledge of changes and feeling ignored.

 

• Most Americans say communication is key to instilling trust with their employers.

• They feel they are not aware of company news and information.

 

The organizational structure changes frequently. Sharing updates about them is essential. Information on company strategies spreads trust across the organization. Employees feel included and involved.

 

Newsletters, chat apps, intranets and other communications platforms can send messages to everyone.

 

2. Get feedback  

 

Every company should have a strategy to collect feedback. It should be ready to implement changes based on it.

 

Employee satisfaction is based on trust and open communication channels

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You have to get to the roots of employ experience through listening tours and surveys. They are essential to gauge the organization health.

 

You have to listen to people. They want to share their feelings. The morale of the employees can get a fillip by encouraging feedback.

 

3. Provide training   

 

Managers are important in keeping high levels of employee satisfaction. The business leaders may have raised in ranks with some skills. These skills sometimes are not enough to translate into management expertise.

 

Managers have to trust team members and delegate leadership on new projects. It will eventually lead to higher morale and less exit.

 

You train team leaders and managers on many things: handling hard conversations, providing feedback, and avoiding micromanaging – it strengthens teams and increases employee satisfaction.

Leadership classes are essential. Lessons on leadership styles and skills for developing relationships.

 

4. Recognize and reward high performers  

 

Recognize employees' accomplishments. It will add value in creating employee satisfaction.

 

You want the employees to have a sense of purpose. You need them to contribute to achieving goals. They, in turn, want acknowledgement and recognition for the unique skills that made the company succeed.

 

Sharing notes of congratulations for achieving targets or making the customer happy engages employees. They will be a model for the company and the team in retention

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Study the motivation behind the workforce. You'll be able to devise rewards systems that appeal to them. Rewards systems must align with the mission of the company and its values.

 

There is an EveryoneSocial platform to accord a warm welcome for new employees day of onboarding.

 

5. Encourage Health  

 

Wellness is a major factor that keeps employees happy. Organizations should provide sufficient resources to increase health and wellness.

 

Sessions on mental and physical health issues contribute to well-being. HR teams can set up an ergonomic workspace at home.

 

Offer gym memberships, entertainment allowances or reimburse the amount spent for fitness classes.

 

6. Support career development  

 

Employees will be happy when they know their future at a company. Support for gaining skills for professional development is proven to raise employee satisfaction.

 

Managers should inform on growth opportunities at the company.

Employees should be encouraged to set aside time for training webinars that will help them stay knowledgeable.

 

Thus they will have less reason to seek another job for professional progress.

 

7. Invest in tools  

 

You have to ensure a secure, safe work environment. It will enhance employee satisfaction, and it should be a priority.

 

You have to adopt workplace software tools if there are technical or communication issues that are affecting teams.

 

The employee advocacy platform EveryoneSocial is a nice option for employees to be active with social media.

 

It helps them to stay informed, connect with team members, and build their brand.

 

8. A brand is a culture  

 

Respondents in a survey said that company culture is more satisfying than salary.

Today's job seekers are concerned about the culture of a company. They look at the brand when applying for jobs. A brand is a culture.

 Close collaborations at work pace improve employee satisfaction by 50%.

 

9. Inform the company mission 

 

The company mission is a clear factor in employee satisfaction.

 

Before applying, the majority will consider a company's mission; They find motivation in a mission. Above 60%  attribute the mission to why they stay in the same company.

 

A dedicated mission and company values have to be highlighted. It gives meaning to the given responsibilities.

 

If that mission aligns with the values, employees will have valid reasons for satisfaction in their jobs.

 

10. Support inclusiveness  

 

Diversity and inclusivity are the driving forces of any culture.

 

It ensures that the workplace is accessible for everyone, no matter which race and culture they belong to. If inclusivity is maintained, employees will contribute and give vent to their voices. The only race in the workplace is humanity.

 

Businesses that support diversity in hiring are poised to attract the best talent and keep them.

 

Why Employee Satisfaction Matters

 

Job satisfaction is a set of favorable or unfavorable emotions and feelings with which employees view their job.

 

The four benefits of employee satisfaction are:

 

1. Higher profits  

 

Keeping employees satisfied leads to lower costs, higher sales, and a stronger bottom line.

 

2. Higher productivity  

 

Satisfied employees can produce more and more efficiently.

 

3. Lower Exit 

 

Satisfied employees are likely to continue. It helps to hire better talent as talented professionals see the staying power as brand value.

 

4. Loyalty  

 

Employees see the growth path ahead for them and are satisfied. They feel the organization is with them, and they, in turn, support the organization's objectives.

 

Employees begin to wax eloquent about the rich culture of the organization, which helps spread the company's goodwill.

 

Transparency about a company's objectives is linked to job satisfaction.

Factors in Job Satisfaction

 

An IT employee may be working in isolation.  Researchers have wondered if employees value appraisals in such circumstances in comparison to other industries. They studied how performance appraisals were linked to satisfaction.

 

They found that honest, regular communications increased employee satisfaction and helped companies decrease the rate of attrition. At Starbucks, leadership strengths, rewards, and recognition is given to employees, increase job satisfaction and increase profits. Google does satisfy end-users like us when using its products. It also puts a lot of work into employees job satisfaction.

 

Satisfied employees took a big jump to 88% in 2016, rising from 81% in 2013.

The robust economy was one factor. Employers have been enabled to boost salaries, benefits, and perks. Candidates took advantage of new opportunities that suited their skills and interests.

 

A list that reveals some key job satisfaction aspects, cited by employees:

 

• Respect: Respectful treatment is the most important factor in job satisfaction.

• Trust: Workplace uncertainty prevailed in the years following the Great Recession. Now, employees feel that trust between themselves and top management is another important factor.

• Security: uncertainty in the workplace can cause a lot of anxiety. Companies can instill a sense of security through transparent and honest communication about the company's long term goals and health.

• Environment: Workplaces free from stress, harassment, and discriminatory practices create a healthy, positive environment.

• Career. Employees excel when they see an assured upward path, with the avenues to earn a better wage and take on higher responsibilities.

• Benefits: Good wages aren't the only factor in employee satisfaction. Competitive pay makes employees feel valued. It gives them less reason to exit and seek other jobs.

 

 Conclusion

 

Having the tools and policies in place to encourage higher employee satisfaction will impact your business's bottom line.

 

Employees can use EveryoneSocial's platform to implement many of the ideas listed above with the way it encourages an open and sharing culture at work.

 

You need not take much effort to make employees happy. They need trust, respect and a safe environment, with reasonable pay and avenues to advance. When your company charts a course to deliver these factors, it can satisfy employees; The result is a stable company with a stronger future.

© Ramachandran 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEART OF THE MATTER: YOUR HEART AND DIET

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The Little Prince is a book loved by all children. You loved it as a child. In it, Antoine de Saint Exupery says of the important organ in the human body: “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

Let's look at how the diet helps to keep the heart, healthy.

Diet and Heart

It also means the capability to see the secrets of the world ceases to exist when the heart is afflicted. The affliction of the heart, Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries with a heightened risk of blood clots. This condition is called arteriosclerosis. It can damage arteries in organs like the heart, brain, eyes, and kidneys. CVD is one of the main causes of death and disability, but a healthy lifestyle can often prevent it.

 

According to WHO estimates, 17.9 million died of CVDs in 2019. It represented 32% of deaths worldwide. Of these, 85% were because of strokes and heart attacks.

 

An unhealthy diet is often the cause of heart disease. People become less physically active. It means that you can prevent heart disease by eating heart-healthy food. It is because of blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammation, and other risk factors that cause heart disease.  All this, in turn, is caused by your diet. A healthy heart is supported by diets that contain fibre, fats, and antioxidants. Processed meat and sugar increase the risk. Scientific evidence supports certain foods, and you live longer by choosing them.

 

A heart-healthy diet exists 

 

There are many choices for a healthy lifestyle. Estimates reveal that 80% of stroke or heart disease risks are avoided by a healthy diet. Does a healthy diet exist? The low fat, low-cholesterol, low-fat diet was a prescription once. But it has been found that cholesterol levels have nothing to do with cholesterol foods. The cause is consuming processed and packaged foods that contain "low fat." Low fat is only a label. There are umpteen diet plans. Some groups support each plan. The so-called experts dwell in vanity. But who can be believed?

 

Intake of a measured quantity of nutritious foods from different groups is sure to boost your physical and mental health. Fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients. You can add lean poultry, fish, and whole grains to the menu. Saturated fat should be avoided altogether, with sugar and excess sodium. 

 

Heart-healthy Menu 

 

Maybe you want to improve your heart health after you have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Maybe you have high BP or high cholesterol. The following heart-healthy diet pattern will help you lower the risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Enjoying a variety of unprocessed fresh food is recommended.

Natural foods are low in salt, unhealthy fats, added sugar, rich in fibre, whole grains, minerals, vitamins, and healthy fats. Here are six rules to achieve a heart-healthy eating balance.

1. Lower LDL cholesterol foods

 

According to a 2020 report, high LDL cholesterol was the fifth high-risk factor causing 4. 3 million death accounting for 4.3 million deaths in 2017. LDL cholesterol develops fatty deposits in blood vessels. It obstructs arteries, forming plaques in arteries going to your heart. To avoid LDL cholesterol, the adoption of a heart-healthy lifestyle is a must.

 

• Avocados have heart-healthy rich nutrients. It improves heart disease risk it lowers LDL cholesterol.

• Eat barley and oats. Beta-glucan, the fibre found in them, lowers LDL cholesterol.

• Eat Soy protein. It reduces LDL cholesterol. According to estimates, around 3–4% in adults.

• Take Green tea. It reduces LDL and cholesterol levels.

• Eat nuts. They are rich in unsaturated fats that lower LDL levels.

Avoid pork and lamb fatty meat, cream and butter, dairy products, and fried foods.

 

2. Good fats food recommended

 

Studies have revealed the existence of healthy fats or unsaturated fats in some foods. They are High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. They clear LDL from the blood. It is taken back to break down in the liver. Good fat helps in several biological processes like vitamin transport, cell membrane building, muscle movement, and blood clotting. It's essential to intake healthy fats.

 

Unsaturated fats are contained in Avocados, Safflower oil, and Olive oil. It could include Avocados, Walnuts, and Olives in the diet. Meat is the primary protein source for many people. Many of their favourites, like steaks, burgers, and bacon, contain saturated fat. If you change to heart health proteins, it will reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases.

 3. Avoid  processed foods

 

While away from home, people eat ultra-processed foods. These include sugary cereals, packaged snacks, chicken nuggets, drinks, and instant soup. They may satisfy your taste buds but may make you prone to heart ailments and cause early death. Two studies suggest this danger. Ultra-processed food is the ones that are manufactured food with high added sugar content. Refined grains and High sugar corn syrup are examples. White rice or white flour are refined grains. These often consist of ingredients in the form of chemicals and preservatives.

 

Ultra-processed foods contain sugar, fat, calories, and salt. They have low vitamins, fibre, and minerals content that help reduce heart disease. Ultra-processed foods are common in dishes globally. To make the diet healthy or rebalance it, you can replace whole foods, like seeds, nuts, grains, fruits, lean meats, legumes, and vegetables.

 

4. Eat more vegetables, fruits

 

Fruits and Vegetables are rich in minerals and vitamins. Fruits and vegetables are rich in fibre but low in calories. They are similar to other plants and plant-based foods. They contain ingredients that help prevent heart disease. Include more vegetables and fruits on your menu. It will help you cut high-calorie foods- meat, snacks, and cheese have high calories.

 ➤ Vegetables and fruits to choose from Fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, canned l vegetables with low sodium, and canned fruit in water or juice.

➤ Vegetables and fruits to limit: Creamy sauce vegetables, coconut, breaded or fried vegetables, frozen fruit with added sugar, and canned fruit in heavy syrup.

 

If you start consuming healthy food too much, it will not be a heart-warming experience in the longer run. It is definite to break your heart. Eat mindfully and slowly. Get your meals served on smaller plates. These are time-tested strategies to lower the amount of your intake.

 

5. Avoid salt

 

Too much sodium in the bloodstream can increase water retention in blood vessels and increase blood pressure. Over time, high blood pressure puts a greater strain on the heart and can contribute to plaque build-up that blocks blood flow. Additionally, a high-sodium diet can also lead to bloating, puffiness, and weight gain. Passing on the saltshaker is a good start, but reducing sodium takes a bit more effort and attention. Check the labels on foods you buy at the store; they are required by law to include sodium in the product.

 

6. Plan ahead: create a daily menu

 

The menu is ready, and you know the heart of the matter-how to limit and what to intake. Now have an action plan. Have daily menus with the strategies we have already listed. When consuming foods for snacks and meals, emphasis should be on fruits, whole grains, and vegetables. Choose healthy fats and lean protein foods and limit that are salty. Limit the quantity of intake with a variety of choices. It will not harm you if you indulge quite often.  Chips and a candy bar are not going to derail the heart-healthy menu.

Bottom Line

 

A healthy diet is a foundation for nursing the heart. A healthy menu helps you keep healthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure and reduces the risk for diabetes and obesity. It's important to stop smoking, regular exercise, and reduce stress to keep your heart healthy. 

© Ramachandran