Team Management

The Fundamentals of Employee Satisfaction

BY
March 28, 2023
4
minute read

Frederick Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory suggests that civil working conditions and a decent wage are merely hygiene factors that keep employees from feeling dissatisfied at their jobs.  

While they are important for employee satisfaction, they aren’t exactly enough to spark motivation. With this in mind, employers must build motivational factors alongside hygiene factors to improve employee experience.  

Herzberg’s theory provides insight for business owners interested in strengthening their company’s offerings. To do so effectively, they have to understand the factors that motivate their team.

There’s a set of fundamentals that business owners should focus on in order to obtain employee satisfaction long term.  

What is Employee Satisfaction?

Employee satisfaction, or job satisfaction, is a measure of an employee’s contentedness with their job, whether they favor the individual aspects of the job, or their responsibilities. Job satisfaction can be measured in the following components:

  • Affective  
  • Cognitive
  • Behavioral

Observe the few fundamentals that serve as the driving force behind an organization’s employees.  

1. Motivating Factors

To have a willingness to do anything, you must have the motivation, first. What employees do at work is fueled by deeper motivating factors. Business owners have to familiarize themselves with these motivating factors.  

That way, they can make it clear that they’re working to meet those wants and needs to help their team feel valued, ultimately saving them from employee burnout.  

  • Recognize your employee’s accomplishments: don’t neglect your team’s triumphs and victories, regardless of their size. This helps to make them feel valued and appreciated.

  • Communicate effectively: Clear and frequent communication goes a long way in the office. If everyone on your team understands how they contribute to the organization they work for, they’ll find more satisfaction with their job.  

2. Put the Right People in the Right Seats

In other words, your employees should be in a position that suits them and their strengths. Align your employees’ unique skills with the right role so that they can thrive. Focus on two areas during the hiring process to ensure that their role in your company is the right fit.  

This will benefit both your organization and your employees.  

3. Interpersonal Relationships in the Office

While it’s impossible to manage every interpersonal relationship at your company, they can certainly influence who you hire. Potential candidates can benefit from meeting the team they’ll be working with.

When interviewing candidates, connect them with your employees. Give a company tour and allow them to interact with a group of employees in the office. Start by introducing the candidate, then leave the chat unsupervised.  

This gives the candidate a chance to meet the people they may be working with in the future. In addition, this exhibits faith in your company and its culture.  

4. Performance Evaluation

To establish the look of success at your company, your team needs to understand how their performance is being evaluated. That said, it’s important for business owners to provide feedback as much as possible.

Peer feedback: While manager feedback is crucial, peer communication is just as important. Hearing and providing constructive feedback from coworkers help them build confidence and additional skills.  

5. Growth and Gratification

Conquering new challenges provokes a more meaningful, lasting sense of satisfaction than a reward earned without protest. Companies can harness this form of satisfaction by forging a path for employees to accomplish their professional goals.

 

After all, satisfied employees will remain at their company longer and do better work.  

Happy Team, Happy Life ;)

To avoid a large turnover rate, prioritize employee satisfaction. As discussed in this blog, there are a variety of ways to do so. At the end of the day, your team is what keeps your organization afloat.  

FRIDAY’s blog always encourages small business owners to improve their organization from the inside out, and it starts with them.  

FRIDAY Helps Small Business Manage and Pay Their Team  

When it comes to managing, tracking, and paying your employees, additional help goes a long way. FRIDAY is the simplest software created to help small businesses manage, track, and pay their team without any paperwork involved.

 

FRIDAY is an easy to use, yet powerful payroll and team management solution. Stay up to date on our blog, where we frequently post educative and informative articles for small business owners.