Did you know that 85% of employees didn’t feel actively engaged at work this year? As the year comes to an end, employee engagement continues to waver. The typical holiday distractions combined with a year of prolonged stress can ultimately lead to exhausted and disengaged employees.
But business owners and HR managers shouldn’t lose hope; there are a ton of ways to keep your employees engaged this time of year! Get ahead of this year’s holiday slump with these helpful tips to boost employee productivity at the end of 2022 — and into 2023!
Maintain clear communication with your employees.
Good communication in the workplace can improve employee productivity and team collaboration. Company leaders should stay connected with employees on a regular basis to help manage projects and offer extra support when and where it’s needed, especially during what can be the busiest time of year. This additional support ensures that everyone fully understands the project and the responsibilities at hand. Effective communication can also foster strong employee and client relationships.
In fact, one report found 71% of employees said they feel more productive because they are well-connected to their colleagues. Therefore, maintaining open communication with your team will make them feel heard and understood, and ultimately foster a more productive work environment. As an effective business owner, good communication should always be a top priority, especially if you want to bolster employee engagement.
Review your 2022 achievements.
This time of year is great to reflect back on what your team achieved in the months before and determine what has worked well and what needs to be improved within your organization.
Take time to revisit your business’s and your employees’ annual goals that were set in January and throughout the year. Encouraging each employee to achieve their own career and personal goals will have a positive impact on their overall motivation and productivity. Bonus points if you can announce accomplishments like promotions or new contracts won in a company-wide memo, such as an email newsletter or all-hands meeting!
At 20/20 Onsite, we utilize our “Team Wins” Slack channel to make exciting team announcements, like we did for VP of Life Sciences Jess Mays’s three-year work anniversary:
Start planning for 2023.
Come December, we can be quick to criticize ourselves for not reaching the annual goals that we set out to achieve. Luckily, it’s never too late to work towards our goals, and set some new ones, too!
Encouraging employees to set their own career and personal goals has a positive impact on their engagement and motivation. Goals should aim high while still being realistic, so your team is motivated to reach them. Creating both short-term and long-term goals can give employees something to work for all year long. And remember to be sure to write goals down: individuals are 42% more likely to achieve goals when they are physically recorded.
Always remember to say “thank you.”
November and December can get overwhelming for employees working hard to meet their end-of-the-year deadlines while planning for the year ahead. Show your employees that your company is grateful for a job well done — a simple “thank you” goes a long way!
Recognizing your employees' hard work, even the little victories, plays a vital role in your team’s performance and in building a positive work environment. According to a Gallop study, recognition leaves employees feeling 44% more likely to thrive and 4x more engaged in the workplace. Throwing a holiday party is a great way to show your gratitude, boost morale, and encourage team bonding. To be respectful of your employees' work-life balance during the holiday season, consider being flexible with project deadlines or allowing them to work on projects outside of normal business hours. Better yet, offer some vacation time so your employees are fresh and ready to enter the new year.
The holiday season doesn’t have to be the only time you celebrate your employees. Thanking employees and co-workers should be a regular practice in any workplace if you want to keep employees happy and keep up morale.
Stress the importance of employee health and wellness benefits.
61% of employees say they feel burnt out at work which significantly decreases company-wide productivity. As an employer, it’s your duty to provide workers with the necessary benefits, tools, and support they need to perform at their best. According to Gallop, employee engagement is considerably higher when leadership is focused on the mental and physical health of their employees.
Remember that a healthy employee is a happy (and productive) employee. Employee health has a direct connection to the success of companies and organizations. When employees feel good – physically, mentally, and emotionally – they are more likely to perform better.
New benefits are always an excellent way to keep employees engaged and motivated. As we head into the new year, enhance your employee benefits with on-site vision care. 20/20 Onsite is convenient and easy to book for employers and employees. If your office is located in the Greater Boston area, schedule an on-site visit for your company today!