While there are different types of business owners that have different approaches in how they interact with their employees, there is one thing that all business owners should know: when employee morale is high, you will see an increase in productivity and team work, and a decrease in absenteeism and turnover. You may be thinking, “Okay, well that’s nice, but how can I do that without breaking the bank?” We actually have a fairly simple solution for you – adding specific policies to your employee handbook. These policy additions to your business pay for themselves over time and have huge impacts on your employees’ morale; here’s how:
- Clear-cut policies make everyone’s job easier – We all know the old adage: Man’s Greatest Fear is Fear of the Unknown. Naturally, being unsure of the expectations and consequences at the workplace can compound daily anxiety, which eventually leads to low morale. This is something which specific policies seek to correct. It is important to outline certain policies for things such as: tardiness & attendance, grievance procedures, dress code, and workplace interactions. This provides clarity and consistency for your employees (and saves management countless hours of re-explaining expectations). It’s a win-win for everybody, as it lowers stress for everyone involved, while keeping morale and productivity up.
- Added perks are actually worth the added cost – You may be hesitant about adding policies concerning perks for your employees, due to the perceived costs, especially if you are a small business. However, adding small perks like a PTO policy actually improves employee enthusiasm, which in turn will save you money. Not only is morale increased, but unexpected absenteeism will be significantly reduced as well. These types of policies encourage employees to schedule their much needed vacation days, instead of calling-in sick (which we know throws a wrench in production). A simple policy outlining these types of benefits can really make a difference.
- Provide protection for you and your employees – Nowadays, most of us are aware that discriminatory and harassing behavior is no longer accepted in the workplace (or society for that matter). However, there is always “that guy” that didn’t seem to get the memo. It’s very important to protect your employees from “that guy”, and to make it clearly known that it is not acceptable under the law and certainly not acceptable at your company. Your employee handbook should have specific policies committed to anti-discrimination and anti-harassment. Having these types of policies provides security to your employees, so that they know they are safe when they come to work. These policies also help provide protection for you and your company, if “that guy” causes you to become involved in an Equal Employment Opportunity claim.
While adding these policies may have an initial cost, we hope you can now see that it is actually an investment. It is an investment that increases employee morale, increases productivity, reduces absenteeism, protects you & your employees, and improves the overall health of your company. Call our experienced attorneys today to have custom policies added to your employee handbook – it is well worth the investment.
Garcia-Martin & Martin, P.C., is a business and employment law firm located in Sugar Land, Texas. Their attorneys work with businesses and individuals in all types of business and employment matters throughout the Houston, Texas area. They can be reached at (281) 277-3066. You may also visit their website at www.mgmartinlaw.com for additional information and practice areas.
