Managing an office and keeping employees happy is no small task. The truth is, sometimes no matter what you do it’s nearly impossible to make everyone happy at the same time. The key to minimizing employee turnover rate is to make people feel acknowledged and appreciated. As mentioned on Deputy’s blog, being an effective manager is all about communication. Related: 5 Ways To Attract (And Keep!) The Best Employees If employees feel like their company invests in them, they will invest in the company. As a manager, there are some tips and tricks for making a work environment more successful and welcoming. It’s the manager’s job to make employees feel like their jobs have meaning. People want to feel like they are doing more than just working for a paycheck. Here are some modern tips for keeping your employees happy.

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1. Invest in employee salaries

Results from a Salary.com survey shows that inadequate compensation is by far the number one reason that dissatisfied employees who want to leave their job. You get what you pay for, so give the best offer you can. Offering employees slightly higher salaries than the competition benefits everyone. This should be based on education and experience. A lot of times, employees are just happy to land a new job. Many companies do the best they can to negotiate salaries for the best talent as cheap as they can get them. If you underpay your employees, they will feel undervalued. Studies show people will leave their jobs for as little as a 5% pay increase. When people feel like they are being paid what they are worth, it makes them more productive and more difficult to leave the company. They also feel a better sense of appreciation for their company, which makes them more invested. It’s a simple fact that people work harder when they feel appreciated.

2. Have fun together

Many offices have employee sports teams. Sports teams are a pretty typical occurrence because they encourage team bonding and promote health. Employees playing sports together is also linked to more office productivity. However, sometimes employees dread these events and associate them with work. Recently, more amateur sports organizations have been including old school games like dodge ball and kickball. Getting your employees together to play one of these light-hearted games is a great way to differ from the typical boring office sports team. Allowing your employees feel like kids again is a great way and easy way to help them bond.

3. Offer comfortable workstation options

Back pain is commonly associated with work desks. Ergonomic workstations are all the rage in the business world and many offices are offering employees free consultations. The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries reviewed 250 ergonomics case studies and found that ergonomics reduce workers compensation, health care costs and increase productivity. Have a few sitting and standing options for your employees while they’re working at their desks. Some options include exercise balls, which allow employees to work out while sitting at a computer. Always make sure your office chairs are comfortable and offer lumbar support. Standing desks are another great option.

4. Consider telecommuting

Employees calling in sick too often? Offering telecommuting is a great way to increase productivity. A research study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee found, "Employees who telecommute the majority of the work week are more satisfied with their jobs compared to those working mostly in the office because working remotely alleviates more stress than it creates." Instead of having to take a day off, employees have the option to work from home. A lot of offices are now giving employees the option to telecommute on Fridays in order to reduce their energy footprint. Giving employees this option is another way to make them feel appreciated, trusted and valued.

5. ...And flexi-time

Another trend happening in the office world is offering employees the option to work an extra hour each day and give them every other Friday off. This also helps reduce the amount of PTO and sick days employees use. Many employees feel an imbalance between their personal and professional lives. Though many companies promote the importance of a work/life balance, they do little to actually help employees practice it. If employees feel like their work life is interfering with their personal life, it decreases the quality of both.

6. Provide incentives for good financial behavior

People love extra cash. A great way to encourage employees to double check budget numbers is to offer a monthly cash prize for saving the company money. Many times companies go over budget or lose money because employees don’t care to give budget sheets a second glance. Encourage employees to triple check numbers and search for financial discrepancies. Small cash incentives can end up saving the company thousands of dollars in the long run. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Photo Credit: Shutterstock