3 Simple Ways to Improve Company Culture and Increase Employee Satisfaction

Jun 25, 2015 - Joe Matar
As Gen Y and Millennials enter the workplace, they bring different priorities for work-life balance than their predecessors. They watched their parents put all their effort and time into their job, to make money and be able to retire in their mid-60s, but don’t necessarily want to follow that path themselves. In fact, some are claiming that Millennials want to skip the career ladder and would rather climb the corporate ranks with an elevator approach. Work-life balance and social responsibility are big factors in Millennials’ overall happiness with their jobs. When picking a workplace, they search for positions that will fulfill them both in and out of the office. They want flexible working hours, with time time for traveling, for charity work and for friends and family. They are prepared to give 100 percent at the office as long as they have ample time to devote to projects related to their passions, and to spend time with the people who matter to them. They want to feel like they are making an impact within their community and company. Most importantly, they want to do all these things for a company whose ideals they can identify with. A feel-good manager’s role is to give employees the respect, credit and acceptance they deserve while promoting an open and tolerant company culture. Overall, the position is one of a networker. It requires constant communication with colleagues in order to know what’s going on with each team, what potential problems or challenges might occur and what the company can do to keep everyone happy and motivated. Internal surveys at Spreadshirt confirm that it’s the small things that keep employees happy. While extravagant parties are always fun, employees appreciate the everyday little things that make them feel valued. Feel-good management is not about fluffy stuff like mere entertainment; rather, it’s all about building and creating a unique workplace culture and strong internal branding. [clickToTweet tweet="It is important to make each employee feel important. #CompanyCulture" quote="It is important to make each employee feel like they are vital component to the success of the entire enterprise by providing numerous opportunities to meet, interact, and connect as a company."] These simple techniques can improve morale and loyalty while retaining key talent. Since implementing feel-good management, our surveys have shown that 96 percent of employees think our company is a better place to work than our competitors. Here are three simple things you can do today to improve company culture -- without breaking the bank. (Click here to tweet these tips.)

1. Start from the Beginning

Onboarding a new employee can be stressful, so making them feel welcome from the get-go is crucial. Prepare a small welcome package along with information they might need in the first couple days. Get rid of the awkward first-day jitters by introducing them around the office.

2. Build Community

Take the time to chat with each employee and ask how they are, or invite their friends and family to company events to learn more about the important people in their lives. The simple act of asking about their kids or upcoming vacation can help employees feel like they’re a part of a community at work.

3. Create a Social Environment

Plan meetings off-site to celebrate a birthday or host a potluck lunch at the office. Providing food always brings people together and allows opportunities for employees to socialize with people outside their department and promotes loyalty and motivation. These strategies have helped me to retain great millennial talent and raise employee happiness overall. The payoff for making employees feel good is that as a mid-sized enterprise we are able to compete for very in demand global talent against tech giants like Google and Amazon. Since Millennials are the largest group in the current workforce, it is super-important to pay attention to what motivates them. Their wants and needs are the biggest influence in shaping the current and future workplace culture. Stefanie Haussler is the first Feel Good Manager at Spreadshirt, a global platform for personalized clothing and accessories. There, she has pioneered a new role in employee engagement, helping integrate new employees into their company culture.