Many supervisors are aware of giving service anniversary gifts. If money is not an issue, there
are businesses that provide catalogs that may be given to employees, who get to choose what
they want. The only problem is that sometimes there may not be something they want in it. A
bonus check is always appreciated, and it can either be invested or spent on whatever the
employee desires.
Treat employees to training and education opportunities. If they are offered in-house, there may
not be any extra expense for the company because the instructor is already being paid a salary. It
doesn't have to be technical training, either; it could be yoga, jazz classes or real estate investing.
Many speakers will come in for free as part of their organization's efforts to recruit new members
or clients. Offering these freebie classes does much to let the employees know that they are
important to the company.
Put a handwritten note in the employee's mail box. It can go a long way to encourage her. The
fact that somebody noticed her hard work and dedication will reap
plenty of benefits for the
employer in a worker who enjoys coming to work and giving it her best. If you don't feel
comfortable writing a personal note, you can do what one principal does: He uses pre-printed
"million dollar" bills and fills in the teachers' name and what they are getting the recognition for.
It could be appreciation for caring enough about the students' education to take the extra time to
arrange a field trip to an event that complements the curriculum. Whatever the employee does
that rises above normal expectations should be noted.
Offer job flexibility, a great way to support employees. Often workers don't care as much about a
little extra money in their pocket as they do about having the flexibility to be able to help out at
their child's school or take an elderly parent to the doctor. If the employer can make his staff's
lives a little easier, they will be less stressed and will perform better in their job when they are
there.
№8
Read the text and retell it:
Businesses without effective staff communication suffer from lost profits, poor productivity and
poor employee morale. In order to solve many business problems, employees need to be able to
collaborate and cooperate effectively. Good communication can encourage employees to work
harder, solve problems together and work towards a common goal. It is the job of every
supervisor, manager or boss to make sure employees are communicating effectively.
Fortunately, there are many techniques and tools for facilitating staff communication.
Evaluation
The first step in addressing employee communication problems is to identify what is
hindering the discussion. In many cases, unhappy employees express their unhappiness by
withdrawing from colleagues and decreasing productivity. According to Lab Manager, the top
ten employee concerns involve salary, benefits, favoritism, pay equity, excessive management,
inadequate communication, overwork and workplace conditions.
Suggestion Box
A suggestion box is a great way for managers to find out what
is upsetting employees
while avoiding a potentially confrontational situation. Managers can address suggestions in an
all-staff meeting so that everyone is on the same page. Effective communication starts at the top.
A manager who communicates well will set a good example for employees, and will demonstrate
techniques staff can use to communicate with each other.
Infrastructure
Maintaining a good communication infrastructure can prevent potential grievances from
escalating. You can start by utilizing the communication tools you already have in place. Most
companies have a staff handbook that communicates company policy, rules and regulations to
new employees. A staff bulletin can be a helpful tool for updating staff on company changes that
might otherwise cause confusion or upset, according to the Michigan Department of Education.
Listening
It is important for managers and employees to learn to listen to co-workers. Many people
are good at explaining what is bothering them, but many are not so good at paying attention to
what is bothering others, according to the University of Maryland Health Center. Learning to be
an active listener involves concentrating on what is being said, listening to all the facts without
interrupting, listening for key points and asking questions or commenting on those points, and
holding back personal judgment.
Team Building
Team-building exercises, whether at the office or during an employee retreat weekend,
can help to build social relationships that will strengthen the bonds between workers. Team-
building exercises should focus on achieving a common goal through verbal communication and
through physical teamwork to build morale. According to Gordy Curphy, Ph.D., a team-building
professional, simulating a shipwreck on a sandy beach and asking employees to build a shelter
can help employees delegate, communicate and achieve something together that they could not
have achieved alone.