It is no secret that a happy employee or sales person is a motivated one. But what are the things that make your staffers happy? OfficeTeam, a Menlo Park, Calif.-based temporary staffing placement firm conducted a survey which asked outside of compensation, what aspect of your job is most tied to your satisfaction?
The winner, by a scant one percentage point is work/life balance, cited by 28% of the respondents. Next, at 27%, is providing opportunities to learn and grow. The ability to accomplish goals was next with 20%, followed by camaraderie with co-workers and a good relationship with the boss.
By age group, there was a split; a strong plurality, 46%, of those between the ages 35 and 44—and thus more likely to have young children in their household—were more concerned about the work/life balance. In the 18 to 34 year old age group, those just starting their careers, 37% of them said they wanted opportunities to learn and grow.
"Professional priorities change over time," said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Because there's no one-size-fits-all formula for encouraging job satisfaction, supervisors should get to know their team members individually to better understand what motivates and inspires each of them."
OfficeTeam offered five tips managers could use to help their teams achieve work/life balance:
1. Be flexible. If it's practical for your business, offer alternative work arrangements such as modified schedules or job sharing.
2. Reduce their commute. Give personnel whose jobs can be done remotely the option of working from home one or more days a week.
3. Watch the clock. Avoid contacting staff outside of office hours unless the matter is urgent and cannot wait until the next business day.
4. Take a breather. Remind workers to take breaks and vacations. Set a good example by doing so yourself.
5. Bring in reinforcements. Encourage employees to seek help when they are overwhelmed with projects. Use temporary professionals, when necessary, to alleviate workloads.
