The Making of a Satisfied Employee

​What do employees deem essential in workplace benefits today? Surprisingly employee satisfaction doesn’t wholly rely on salary. Money is a key factor to employees and candidates. 

However, it’s not the only consideration a candidate or a current employee uses to make a move to another organization.
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Employee engagement and retention are two of the factors most employers hone in on when they determine the satisfaction of their workforce. What are the elements that influence and move employees on a daily basis?

​Besides monetary compensation, employees seek these elements when considering employment:

• A Robust Wellness Plan
• Company Culture and Values
• Advancement Opportunities
• Work Flexibility and Life Balance

A Robust Wellness Plan

​​Most employers recognize the fact that employees are more engaged, valuable and creative when they are healthy and their well-being maintained. Healthy employees are a primary factor in a company keeping lower healthcare costs. However, the real surprise is that the majority of employees today have minimal or no employer-provided wellness benefits.
 
Many employers offer the wellness plan provided in the healthcare plan which is not necessarily what employees desire and likely they will not utilize those services. Employees are looking for solutions and in large part are depending on their employer to provide the wellness plan to meet that demand. Most employees want to take care of themselves, practice good physical health and well-being and believe they can achieve through nutrition (eating right), physical conditioning, weight loss, and mental, emotional well-being.
 
Employees want to participate in their maintenance but feel their employer should play a role in providing the tools and support to ensure employee engagement and success. Such things like workplace wellness challenges, lower healthcare cost incentives for participation, wellness tracking and technology support (Fitbit, online resources, and personal dashboard), health risk assessments (HRA) and biometric screenings, just to name a few. Employers that support and build a wellness program where all levels of the company are engaged and participate will ensure the success and lower health care cost not only for the company but the entire workforce.
 
NFP CORE WellWorks (for NFP offices) and Benefits Partners WellStrides (for member firms) has the plan that’s right for your organization.

Company Culture and Values
 
Individuals are looking for a company with a strong culture with principles and values that line up to theirs. Company culture needs to:

1. Promote a positive workplace
2. Maintain integrity at all levels
3. Practice employee trust and fair practices
4. Encourage open communication
5. Provide diligent oversight of policies and procedures
6. And, most importantly live the culture and workplace they promote to their workforce

With technology so prevalent in the workplace, it’s a great way to ensure employees understand and stay up-to-date on the company activities are to have an internal website for employees to access everything from their annual review to their current healthcare benefits. Including internal and external company news. Employers should work alongside employees to ensure satisfaction, handle issues promptly and maintain open lines of communication to ensure and preserve a well-balanced culture.

Advancement Opportunities

Today, most employees see the opportunity to advance and develop their skills within a company as a key benefit. They may even want to work in an area or position that is outside their original position or vertical that brought them to the company. Millennials are the primary group that might expect to move or advance more quickly or change jobs, even if lateral, more frequently.

In a recent Gallup report that focuses on features and benefits for employees states over 85 percent of respondents said development opportunities are an essential job feature. However, in most instances, employees were not as focused on salary increase and pay as they were with ensuring their presence and position in the organization.
 
Employee recognition and the opportunity to receive company supported continued education, including training for new technology and transferable skills are equally as important. Employees feel respected and content when the company invests in their future and advancement.

Work Flexibility and Life Balance

 ‘Work-life balance’ is a well-known term throughout the employment and recruitment industries. Many people consider it to be a critical feature of their job; they are in pursuit of not only job satisfaction, but they also take into consideration the balance with their life that can include spouse, children, parents or other loved ones needing their attention. 

Many companies understand the changing workforce and that employees seek a more flexible schedule which includes:

1. Opportunity to work remotely
2. Earlier or later start time
3. A compressed work schedule
4. Ability to create a flexible work schedule
5. Company provided portable technology

A company needs to be mindful - those who seek a more balanced plan or adjusted/flexible schedule does not mean they will not take their job seriously or slack on the responsibility of their position. They will likely be a more diligent, focused worker since they have the capability and trust from their employer to maintain their work responsibilities while balancing the other factors in their life.

So, it’s easy to see the ‘making of a satisfied employee’ and what employees deem as essential in their workplace today. These factors will likely attract potential candidates and retain your current workforce. These components can maintain employee engagement and ensure employee satisfaction
 
Let NFP CORE WellWorks (for NFP offices) and Benefits Partners WellStrides (for member firms) assist you in devising a ‘robust’ wellness platform to enhance your employees benefits.