Strategies for Increasing Employee Satisfaction

Customer satisfaction and employee satisfaction: the cornerstones of successful companies. After all, satisfied, motivated employees pass on their enthusiasm for the business to actual and potential customers, which in turn results in increased customer satisfaction. The company's success then becomes almost inevitable. In addition, the satisfaction of our staff has many other positive effects on business success. That is why, in this article from Shoes For Crews, we want to take a closer look at why higher employee satisfaction is worthwhile and how it can be achieved.

Why increase employee satisfaction?

The arguments for doing so are numerous. For example, in our article “From employee to brand ambassador: here's how”, we saw that happy employees can be excellent brand ambassadors. Satisfied employees also become more involved in the company, take on more responsibility and show initiative. Employee satisfaction also creates a close bond between the business and the employee, meaning employees change jobs less frequently – the turnover rightly feared by many companies does not occur.

Essentially, all the positive effects can be traced back to the following key statement: only those who are satisfied work with commitment; and only those who are committed are truly productive. This is also demonstrated by a 2019 study by the University of Oxford on the impact of employee satisfaction on productivity.

Employee satisfaction: the key factors

To determine suitable strategies for promoting employee satisfaction, it is worth taking a brief look at the theoretical foundations of employee satisfaction. Theory helps us take appropriate and effective action in practice.

According to the two-factor theory of American work psychologist Frederick Herzberg, employee satisfaction can be divided into two broad categories. He distinguishes between two types of influencing factors: hygiene factors (working conditions, employee management, interpersonal relationships, security, company policy, remuneration) and motivational factors (recognition, work tasks, promotion opportunities, achievement, self-determination, taking responsibility). They contribute differently to employee satisfaction or dissatisfaction.

In practice, this means that our strategies must find the golden mean and do justice to both factors. It is therefore similar to motivation, a topic we covered in the article “How do you motivate employees without money?”.

Increasing employee satisfaction: practical tips

Enough theory; let us turn to concrete measures for increasing employee satisfaction:

Prioritise health

By prioritising the health of your employees, you achieve several things at once. You promote productivity, prevent absences from work, increase motivation and fulfil the hygiene factors of working conditions and safety. Specific measures should include the following:

1. The right workwear: To protect against workplace accidents and musculoskeletal disorders, it is essential to invest in appropriate workwear. Especially in hospitality and retail, this includes work shoes or even safety shoes.
2. Promote physical fitness: Health risks caused by standing for long periods at work can be significantly minimised through suitable prevention. In addition to the equipment already mentioned, this includes physical fitness. By proactively encouraging sporting activities, you are taking preventive action.
3. Healthy eating: A healthy lifestyle also includes a healthy diet. Your employees' bodies are already under enough strain from standing for long periods. You should therefore ensure that their health is not put under additional strain by an unhealthy diet. Fruit baskets, healthy food in the canteen or break room … the possibilities are endless!

Encourage communication

For a pleasant working environment and increased employee satisfaction, as for so many other things in life, effective communication is equally crucial. You can draw on various measures to encourage it:

1. Organise team meetings: Regular team meetings where points of conflict as well as praise and recognition can be discussed make a significant contribution to effective communication. Proactively ask about dissatisfaction within the team to avoid future conflict situations.
2. Hold team-building events: In addition to the regular meetings already mentioned, you should also organise team-building events. This encourages open, relaxed communication outside day-to-day work and strengthens the sense of togetherness.
3. Seek one-to-one conversations: In one-to-one conversations with your employees, you can show that you are interested in their wellbeing. An atmosphere of openness and trust within the company, fostered through both team meetings and individual conversations, gives your employees a feeling of appreciation and recognition.

Ensure work/life balance

For our employees to be fully satisfied and enjoy coming to work, they need the opportunity to switch off and relax. Promoting an appropriate work/life balance is therefore also in your own interest. Rested, energetic employees have a positive effect on customer satisfaction. You should therefore: 

1. Avoid long shifts: Try to avoid excessively long shifts wherever possible. They place an undue strain on your employees and are particularly tiring.
2. Keep overtime to a minimum: The same applies to overtime. Excessive overtime has a negative effect on your employees' motivation and satisfaction because they have no opportunity to enjoy their free time and recharge their batteries.

Many more practical tips could be listed. However, equipped with the basic principles presented here, you will certainly be able to develop and implement many more strategies to promote employee satisfaction yourself. If you still have questions or would like to learn more about suitable work and safety shoes, you are welcome to contact us at any time.