According to the latest report from Jobbio, only 23% of Brits are happy in their current role. That means a whopping 77% of your team are sitting at work experiencing some level of unhappiness.
We spend most of our waking hours at work and commuting, so it's vital that our workspace is a place that brings us happiness and satisfaction. Loving what do you is a vital component of success, and candidates are always on the hunt for the job that will make us the happiest. Similarly as an employer, to recruit and retain the best staff for your team you'll need to make sure that you offer the package most likely to give you happy staff.
In a recently released report called the Happiness Index which surveyed over 4,000 people across the US and the UK, candidates were asked questions about what really makes them happy at work.
The results will surprise you.
In the UK, the single factor that makes us happiest in our jobs is work-life balance. If your team feel like they have enough time to spend outside of work with their friends and families, they're more likely to be happier in work. Happier employees are more productive, dedicated and passionate about working towards your company's vision and values, so it's worth thinking about how you can harness this to your advantage.
Do you offer flexible working schemes or allow your staff to work from home? Introducing a new policy with the aim of increasing your staff's work-life balance could be the key to retaining your best players in 2018. Promoting a good work-life balance is considered the top factor that makes a company a good employer according to 6 in 10 adults in the UK, so this is the year to start making the changes you need to recruit and retain the best staff.
When asked how they would improve their roles, the majority of UK workers would want more flexible hours and more job perks. Perks range from free tea and coffee, discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes the sky is the limit and you can be as creative with these as you like. It's important not to underestimate the effect on staff morale that these perks can have!
Interestingly in both the UK and the USA, the report revealed that positive feedback from clients and customers is a bigger motivator for employees than praise from their managers. Hearing that you've done a good job from the people you're dealing with is vital when it comes to motivating staff. Do you have a formalised process for customer feedback? Regularly highlighting praise can give your staff the boost they need to continue doing their best.
At the other end of the scale, workers in the UK rate meetings as the biggest waste of time, with a whopping 28% frustrated by them. Covering for staff absences was the second ranking frustration, and it's easy to forget the effects of having an understaffed team on your workforce.
With the skills shortage showing no sign of abating, it's crucial for employers to be able to both recruit and retain the best talent in the market, and it's not just salary that matters. Providing an environment where you support a healthy work-life balance and demonstrate the value of your team will pay dividends in the long run.
Want to know more about what candidates want from their employers? Download the Brook Street Salary Guide today for job market insights essential to succeeding in your local market.
