Retaining talent takes more than matching the right person with the right position and offering an attractive compensation package. Finding the most effective ways to keep employees engaged is a serious concern for HR professionals. Lack of engagement may lead workers to feel unsatisfied, and as such, they may start to look elsewhere. But what can HR do to ensure employees are motivated and enthusiastic?
It is well known that maintaining employee engagement has been a continuing struggle for many American businesses. However, there is one simple factor that can help with this issue — friendship. According to the Harvard Business Review, research shows that when employees have friendships in the workplace, they are likely to be happier and more engaged.
The Harvard Business Review points to the example of Zappos.com, which “embraces” certain values to help create an environment that fosters employee happiness. Zappos promotes a fun environment that also carries a “positive team spirit.” Additionally, the article points to a statistic from a Gallup Poll, which found that when employees experience close friendships in the workplace, it has the potential to increase their level of satisfaction by as much as 50 percent.
However, friendship is not the only factor involved in helping to promote employee happiness. According to a report from Globoforce, 94 percent of employees surveyed said that they liked being recognized for accomplishments in the workplace. The Workforce Mood Tracker Report also found that 89 percent of those surveyed reported that workplace relationships mattered to their “overall quality of life.”
HR professionals looking to improve employee satisfaction and happiness may want to consider the effects of recognition and workplace relationships. An HR software solution can help manage the details involved with creating a strong company culture.