Business Development

How To Keep Your Employees Motivated

Employees Motivated

The ever-coveted “employee of the month” is old news. Companies have developed and adopted increasingly creative ways to recognize and reward team performance. From team-building activities to employee appreciation luncheons, businesses are investing in employee recognition programs to keep their employees motivated.

Everyone has experienced a lack of motivation at work. It can become tiresome commuting to the office (even if it’s from the bedroom to the couch), responding to boring emails, and working on the same projects. Happiness and motivation don’t just benefit the employee; they are directly related to a company’s success. One of the most important factors in employee productivity is motivation.

Employee motivation is multifaceted. Everyone has different needs and desires; that’s why employers at top companies are investing in employee recognition programs and benefits to keep their teams motivated. If your team needs motivation, consider some of these strategies:

Top 10 Ways To Keep Your Employees Motivated

1. Employee empowerment

Employees are more motivated when they feel like they have a say in how their work gets done.

Employee empowerment is the process of giving employees authority and responsibility to make decisions that affect their work. When employees are given a voice in their work, they are more likely to take ownership and be motivated to produce quality work.

It can be achieved through various methods, such as employee surveys, employee focus groups, and employee committees. By gathering feedback from staff, employers can get a better understanding of what motivates them and how they can be given more autonomy in their work.

Employers who empower their employees report higher employee satisfaction rates, increased employee productivity, and lower employee turnover rates. Allowing your team to have a say in their work leads to a more positive work environment and encourages employee creativity and innovation.

Employee empowerment

2. Flexible work arrangements

Offering employees flexible work arrangements gives them more control over their lives and can lead to a more satisfied workforce. For example, employees may appreciate the ability to telecommute occasionally or work compressed hours. Now that 16% of the global workforce works fully remotely and 62% work remotely on occasion, consider jumping on board and allowing your team to work from home. Think they’ll be less motivated at home? There are countless resources showing how to keep your remote workforce motivated.

work arrangements

3. Challenging work assignments

Giving employees challenging work assignments helps them stay engaged and motivated in their jobs. When employees are given new tasks that test their skills and abilities, they are more likely to be productive and innovative.

Challenging work assignments can also help employees learn new skills and grow their abilities. When employees feel like they are constantly learning and growing, they are more likely to be engaged in their work. Providing employees with development opportunities is a great way to show appreciation for their hard work.

Challenging work assignments

4. Employee recognition

One of the simplest and most effective ways to motivate employees is to recognize their accomplishments. Employee recognition can come in many forms, such as verbal praise, public acknowledgment, awards, and bonuses. Not only do employees feel appreciated when their work is recognized, but they are also encouraged to continue working hard while meeting or exceeding expectations.

Employee recognition programs can also create a sense of community by encouraging employees to connect with their colleagues and develop stronger relationships at the workplace. Motivation is contagious!

If it sounds daunting to launch an employee recognition program in your company, consider using one of the many online resources that already exist, like the 360 employee recognition platform from Terryberry.

Employee recognition

5. Training and development opportunities

Providing employees with training and development opportunities helps them grow professionally and stay motivated in their jobs. When employees feel like they are learning and growing, they are more likely to be happy and productive at work. Platforms that you already use, like LinkedIn, offer courses and development opportunities so maybe start there.

Training

6. Positive workplace culture

Positive workplace culture is key to employee motivation. Employees feel more motivated when they are part of a team that is friendly and supportive. Company culture can easily be overlooked, but a positive workplace also encourages employee engagement and creativity.

Positive workplace culture

7. Regular feedback

Employees crave feedback, both positive and negative. Giving employees regular feedback allows them to understand how they are doing and whether they are meeting expectations. Providing feedback also allows employees to correct any mistakes they may be making and improve their performance over time.

Regular feedback

8. Opportunities for advancement

Employees are motivated when they have goals to aspire to and opportunities for advancement within their company. Offering employees career growth opportunities shows that the company is investing in them and has faith in their abilities.

Opportunities for advancement

9. Financial incentives

Financial incentives such as bonuses, pay raises, and stock options are always motivating for employees. Offering financial incentives shows that the company values its employees’ hard work and dedication.

Financial incentives

10. Work-life balance

Allowing employees to balance their work life with their personal life is essential for employee motivation. Employees who feel they can manage their work-life balance are more likely to be productive and satisfied with their jobs.

Work-life balance

Conclusion

By implementing these employee motivation strategies, companies can ensure that their employees stay motivated, productive, and engaged in their work. With a motivated workforce, businesses can reach new heights of success.

Additional:

author-img

Sumona

Sumona is a persona, having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of her professional commitments, she carries out sharing sentient blogs by maintaining top-to-toe SEO aspects. Follow her contributions in RSLOnline and SocialMediaMagazine

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles

Office Productivity

How To Boost Office Productivity

The new year is well underway, and that means many people are reassessing their lives. This applies to a professional perspective as well as a personal one, with resignations being higher than ever at this time of year. These resignations often stem from a lack of motivation, and with a lack of motivation comes a lack of productivity. As a result, the new year is among the best times for employers to introduce productivity-boosting techniques. Productivity is essential to the well-being of your company and employees alike, making it an essential feature of running a business. Detailed below are some of the best ways of boosting office productivity. Top 5 Ways To Boost Office Productivity 1. Offer a Competitive Salary First up is offering a competitive salary. Although it’s often considered taboo to say, the reason that people seek employment is to earn money. Enjoying the job or being passionate about the company is merely a bonus. Therefore, companies need to ensure that the salaries being offered are desirable. This can be achieved via salary benchmarking, taking into account the salaries that are being offered across the industry. Once you’re offering a competitive salary, you’re halfway there to ensure your employees are being productive. After all, they’ll want to put in as much as they’re getting out of the position. 2. Maintain Simplicity It’s true that a productivity strategy is essential; however, this doesn’t mean it has to be overly complicated. After all, the purpose of a productivity strategy is to help people stay on track. The last thing you need is to make the whole strategy so complicated that it distracts people from their work as they try and wrap their heads around it. All you need is a handful of clear steps and outcomes that form a simple and focused plan. This way, everyone will be clear on their responsibilities, allowing them to pave their way to success. 3. Use Reminders Today, reminder apps and smart calendars are everywhere, allowing users to establish what needs to be completed by certain deadlines. Meanwhile, these apps can be integrated with the systems of your business for complete transparency and usability across the board. From this, teams, topics, and channels can be created to ensure that everyone is aware of everything that they need to be. This also ensures that the team is receiving the necessary notifications and alerts to complete their individual or collaborative tasks. When it comes to balancing a multitude of responsibilities, a comprehensive reminder platform is essential. 4. Evaluate Daily Goals In order to be successful, everyone should establish a set of goals each morning. Of course, it might be the case that these goals need to shift throughout the day, which is when the time comes to review and adjust these goals. Setting goals means that employees won’t be aimlessly working; instead, they’ll be working to achieve something specific. This gives their work more meaning and, in turn, results in better productivity. In some cases, daily goals may not necessarily make sense; however, regular check-ins are still essential. As a minimum, goals should be set on a weekly basis. 5. Reduce Time-Wasting Activities Things like emails and meetings are important features of running a company; however, it’s about finding the right balance to ensure that time isn’t wasted. Other forms of time-wasting activities include general procrastination, the use of social media, a lack of organization, and unnecessary conversations with colleagues. This isn’t to say that employees should be sitting in silence all day, but it’s about striking the right balance. By reducing the number of time-wasting activities, you’ll notice a marked improvement in your productivity. Additional: How To Keep Your Employees Motivated 8 Best Practices For Managing Remote Teams What To Do When Your Boss Makes You Feel Incompetent Tips to Update Your Manufacturing Business through CNC Machines

Understanding The Role Of Web Design Companies In Building Brand Identity

Understanding The Role Of Web Design Companies In Building Brand Identity

Web design has emerged as a key element in creating robust brand identities in today's digital era. Businesses looking to make a mark among internet audiences require a perfect blend of aesthetics, usability, and content. With the right web design company, it's possible to craft a unique online presence that translates into a memorable brand. In essence, web design is a fine balance between aesthetics, functionality, and content. For instance, a website design company in Chicago exclusively emphasizes harmonizing these elements to enhance brand identity. Keep reading to better understand how web design companies play a significant role in building brand identities. Why Brand Identity Is Important In Business Brand identity is one tool that helps a business stand tall in the ambience of high competition. A company attains an intangible asset by providing persistent product quality and services. Brand identity is important mainly because it helps businesses retain dedicated customers and increase sales in the long run. However, we try to understand why it is a dire need for a business, irrespective of the scale. Communicating The Essence Of Business Brand identity is something that helps you stay ahead in business. With the help of it, you can communicate your passion, values, and dedication towards service to the customers. A company can easily stay competitive if it successfully establishes its brand value before the customers. Moreover, brand value establishes the companies’ seriousness in the market. Competitive Edge As we discussed, the present business ecosystem is highly competitive. If you fail to establish yourself in the competitive market, then you will not be able to stand tall in the ambience of competition. But with the help of a competitive edge, one can perform better.  The Pertinence of Web Design in Enhancing Brand Identity The influence that a website design has on the overall image of a brand cannot be understated. From the choice of colours and fonts to the user interface, each element has a role to play in rendering an image in the visitor's mind. Web design doesn't only account for attractiveness. It also involves the seamless integration of functionalities and features. Finding a Connection: Web Design and Brand Identity Companies need to understand that web design and brand identity are intrinsically linked. A brand is not merely a logo or a tagline but the entire experience that a company provides to its customers. In the digital platform, this experience is largely influenced by web design. Maintaining consistency in web design elements such as color schemes, logos, and fonts across all digital platforms establishes a clear brand identity. Consistency reinforces brand recognition and grants an element of professionalism to the business. Web design also plays a pivotal role in communicating the brand’s message. The visual elements and the overall look and feel of the website must reflect the core ideas the brand represents. This can include values like trust, innovation, quality, and so on. A well-designed website not only captures the essence of the brand but also differentiates it from its rivals. It leaves an indelible imprint on the visitors, thereby building a strong brand identity. The Strategy: Web Design Agencies Working for Your Brand Given the impact of web design on brand identity, the need for a professional and skilled web design agency becomes vital. These companies have the experience and expertise to translate the ethos of the brand into a compelling and user-friendly website. Web design companies start by understanding the essence of the brand, its mission, values, and the audience it caters to. They then use this information to create a design that accurately represents the brand. These agencies employ a multifaceted approach which includes creating a visually appealing layout, integrating user-centered design, ensuring mobile compatibility, and optimizing the website for search engines. With their detailed and holistic approach, these agencies can incorporate the subtleties of the brand into the website design, therefore aiding in building a comprehensive brand identity. Related: The Rise Of Interactive Email Strategies In Modern Brand Campaigns How Your Organization Cand Directly Benefit From Web Designing Company The web designing companies are professionals who can help you provide the best solution to your needs. They constantly work on your website and make it seo friendly. It is an important aspect to stay competitive in the market. Here, we try to understand the need for web designing companies’ services for your company. So, let us get started with the discussion. Design And Aesthetics Professional web design solutions are masters in their realm. They can work on your website and deck it with the best graphics and other aspects of aesthetics. Remember, your business website must be easy to use. It reduces the bounce rate on your website. The professionals overseeing the website development consider each and every aspect of the product.  Responsiveness Website designing is all about responsiveness and reliability. Most consumers access your website via a mobile device rather than a laptop. Therefore, the design of your website must be so organized that it provides ease to the customers. This is the job of professionals to help you out. Seo Friendly Your website must adopt new technology, and at the same time, it must be SEO-friendly. It will go on to increase the trust factor of your website. With the help of your website, you can benefit from the persistent support. Interacting with a highly professional website designing company can help you serve your needs.  Making an Impact: How Good Web Design Propels Brand Recognition An aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-navigate website is much more likely to resonate with users, which assists in boosting brand recognition. Every element of the website, from color and typography to layout and interface, contributes towards creating a brand memory in the user's mind. Good web design enables brands to communicate their unique attributes and values subtly but effectively. By imparting a superior user experience, good web design solidifies brand placement in the consumer's mind. Altogether, effective web design plays a critical role in building a strong, cohesive, and consistent brand identity. With a professional web design company on your side, you can ensure to render a remarkable online presence that resonates with your brand's mission and values. Read Also: 12 Passive Income Ideas To Get You Rich In 2023 Investing In Resilience: Building Wind-Resistant Properties In Florida What You Should Consider Before Investing In Healthcare Company Stocks

Things To Know Before Choosing The Right VoIP Provider For Your Business

People love talking over the phone, and doing business over the phone always seems more professional. Now, while the service is in demand, the traditional way of installing conventional phone lines and dealing with phone companies is not ideal. Fortunately, in the modern day and age, there’s a much better alternative in the form of VoIP (voice-over internet protocol). The number of these services is growing, so you might soon face a paradox of choice - the difficulty of telling different offers apart and choosing the best. Here are a few things you need to know and questions you need to ask to figure it out. Business Requirements Before you even start looking for VoIP providers, you need to determine the requirements of your own business. How Many Lines? The first question you want to ask is how many lines you will get. This is probably the single most important question when making this choice, and if the number is too low, there’s no need to ask any subsequent questions. Before you ask it, however, you need to know how many lines your business needs. How Many People Are In The Office? If your team is in an office, you will probably prefer to look for a local provider. For instance, if you’re from Wisconsin, looking for hosted VoIP in Wisconsin makes more sense than in Florida, right? However, one of the reasons you’re getting VoIP is that it’s great for remote work. This way, even remote workers get access, giving you much flexibility. What Is Your Average Call Volume? Some providers will charge you per call volume. In some scenarios, you’ll pay a fixed fee for a specific number of hours and pay extra every time your team oversteps it. Then again, in some scenarios, the connection quality may fall from overuse. You need to understand the capacities of your business before you ask the provider if they can handle it. Reliability And Uptime If you’re paying for an essential service, you want it to be available for as long as your business is running. With that in mind, you need to pay special attention to uptime. This is especially important for your employees living abroad since downtime will make them unavailable. What’s Uptime? The simplest definition is that uptime is the percentage of time a system or a service is available for use during a given period. If a service is available for ⅘ days, its uptime is 80%. This is quite a simple equation, and it can help you see how much you’re getting for your money. How Do You Calculate Uptime? Now, the example we’ve used for the previous question is instructive, but it’s not very relevant or faithful to the argument. You’ll rarely see a figure as low as 80% when looking for uptime. Instead, you’re looking at decimals like 99.9% or 99.99%. Ideally, you want 99.99% and better (like 99.999%). What’s The Track Record And Reputation Of The Provider? When you ask about the uptime, every provider will promise you the world. This is why it’s so important that you ask around a bit. Every provider has a reputation that’s nearly impossible to hide. If they don’t deliver on the promised uptime, you shouldn’t have too much trouble uncovering this. Scalability One of the questions that every entrepreneur has to ask is - what happens if my business grows or shrinks? Can I change the package and get more? What if my business stops doing so well? Can I downscale a package and save money this way? What Is Scalability, And What If I Need More? Scalability is the potential to increase the scope of the service and pay more or downscale it and pay less. Since you never know how well your business will do in the future (despite all the forecasting and your optimism), it’s a smart business practice to retain this option. What’s The Compatibility With Existing Hardware? If the technology is not compatible with the existing hardware, every upscaling will be incredibly expensive. You’ll have to get a new device for every additional line, which means that you’ll constantly face higher costs than you would have if you just checked this at the start. What About The Software Integrations? VoIP can be integrated with the majority of platforms that you’re using, regardless if these are conventional communication platforms, project management tools, etc. The thing is that this can make it much easier to keep track of the progress and performance of your staff members, which is something that you should never underestimate. Cost And Cost Structures Whenever you’re choosing a service, you need to understand how much it will cost you. Sometimes, the answer will not be as simple as you would like it to be. How Do They Charge? Not all providers will charge you the same. This is why you need to figure out their pricing structure. Namely, depending on the pricing model, you may be charged per user. Then, there could be some fees regarding special features and extra expenses to remember. Either way, you must understand how they charge before, not after. How Much Will It Cost In Total? Once you understand your business's pricing structure and requirements, you’ll be able to calculate the total cost. This is the only thing your accounting team and your budget are concerned with. Can you, under current circumstances, afford the total cost? If not, what can you afford? What Additional Fees Are There As for the fees in question, you may have to face activation or setup fees, pay for the new hardware, face international calling rates, and much, much more. In general, some providers have limitations on the number of minutes of data that can be used, and overstepping this will cost you extra. You need to know this in advance. Wrap Up As you can see, what you’re aiming for is a reliable and scalable VoIP service that you can afford. You need to start by figuring out what you need; this way, you’ll know more than just which questions to ask - you’ll also know how to respond to the answer that you receive. Read Also: What Is An Operating Agreement: Does Your Business Need One? 11 Tips For Saving On Business Insurance Profitable Business Ideas To Start In UAE

tax credits

Seven Potential Tax Credits Available To Small Businesses In 2023

During this year's tax filing season, owners of small businesses have access to a wide selection of refundable tax incentives. You should be able to achieve success in business if you are willing to put in the effort to do things properly from the very beginning, remain on top of things, and have access to knowledgeable specialists. In addition to reading this blog, you should go to an accountant if you need help claiming one of these tax credits. They will be able to guide you through the process. In addition, make sure you don't overlook the possibility that you could qualify for tax breaks at the state or municipal level. By the way, the choices that we have outlined here are not your only available alternatives. The following are seven potential tax reductions that could be available to small businesses in 2023. Work Opportunity Tax Credit The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is going to be the first case that we look at. Form 8850 must be finished in its entirety. There is a possibility that you could be eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit if you recruit people from certain underrepresented groups. Businesses that hire individuals who "consistently confront hurdles to work" (to quote the United States Department of Labor) may be eligible for a tax credit if they meet the requirements for the credit. The following types of people, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), represent a group that warrants special attention: Individuals Eligible to Receive Long-Term Unemployment Benefits Individuals Eligible for the IV-A Program Qualified Wartime Veterans Ex-Felons Certified Local Residents Career Counseling and Placement Student Workers During the Summer Members of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Persons Receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Recipients of Family Assistance for an Extended Period of Time It is possible to file for a credit of $2400, which is equivalent to 40% of the first $6000 of salary earned by the employee in their first year of employment. Companies that recruit people who have served their country in the armed forces or who are in receipt of long-term family assistance may be eligible for additional tax credits. Credit For Retaining And Recruiting Employees Employers who are successful in retaining important staff are eligible for a tax credit under the CARES Act. This tax benefit is designed to encourage businesses to retain their employees by giving them the incentive to do so. W2 employees have the potential to get up to $26,000 in benefits. Check out this blog if you want additional information on ERC. If you need assistance with the Employee Retention Tax Credit, we strongly suggest getting in touch with Stenson Tamaddon. For Making A Significant Impact On The Rapidly Advancing Pace Of Research (R&D Credits) Did it occur to you that performing the study may potentially give you tax savings for your small business? If your company is involved in sanctioned research, there is a possibility that you could be entitled to a tax credit. You could qualify for this tax credit if you take these actions: The development of a new prototype is now underway. Enhancing the efficiency of products or existing company procedures Increasing the bar for your company's quality assurance practices Certification and/or environmental testing Inventing a new method of production or trade Creating new, original goods and then trying to sell them Raising the bar on your company's quality assurance practices Raising the bar on your company's quality assurance practices There is a tax credit available for eligible research and development expenses of up to 10%. Your company must be privately held and cannot have generated more than $50 million in total revenues in the three years prior to this point for it to be considered eligible. When it comes to claiming this tax credit, our number one piece of advice is to keep meticulous records of all of the research and development work that your company has done. This includes items like process flowcharts, lab results, and project notes, among other things. Financial Aid For People With Disabilities How many of the customers that your service is unable to work? Is there any way to find out how many people relying on wheelchairs or other assistive devices use your website? It is essential that you are aware of this in order to ensure that the needs of the disabled population are being fulfilled, and it is your responsibility to do so. The Disability Access Credit is one way that the federal government encourages businesses to make their locations accessible to individuals of all abilities. Because it was only in 1990 that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law; consequently, it is vital that you are aware of it. The process of making your business accessible could be expensive; but, if you are eligible for the Disabled Access Credit, you may be eligible for some financial relief. To put it another way, if your firm has yearly sales of less than $1 million or if it employs 29 full-time workers or fewer, it may be qualified for this benefit. This credit can be used to pay for up to fifty percent of your annual expenses that range from 250 dollars to 10,000 dollars. Read Also: Business Deductions And Tax Planning: Two Critical Steps To Save Money A Tax Break For Employers Who Provide Daycare For Their Employees This tax credit is available to businesses that offer their employees perks like child care and maternity leave. A reason to encourage you to hire workers and provide them with perks. The following are examples of expenses that fall under the category of Employer-Provided Child Care Facilities and Services: Financial assistance for the development, refurbishment, or extension of childcare facilities At an established daycare center, money is spent on things like salaries for the employees working there. Money that is given to a daycare center that has been vetted in order to pay for the provision of services and referrals If your business is eligible, you might receive a tax credit equal to up to 25 percent of your daycare expenses. Childcare expenses account for 10 percent of the total budget or recommendations. In any particular tax year, you are only allowed to get up to a maximum of $150,000. In every structure, there must be a minimum of one "certified childcare facility." Contribution Cost-Sharing Arrangements For New Employees In Pension Plans For Small Companies This tax advantage makes it more feasible for you to set up a retirement plan for your employees by lowering the overall cost. This tax incentive is only available to businesses that maintain 100 or fewer employees during the entire tax year in order to qualify. The annual pay that each of these workers should receive should be at least $5000. In addition to this, the same group of workers at the company must have been offered a pension during the previous three years by the employer. This tax reduction is applicable to a wide variety of traditional retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, among others. A credit of up to $500 can be claimed for administrative costs incurred by an employer in the course of educating employees about the benefits and choices available to them under the terms of this plan. Tax Credit For Emerging Markets The New Markets Tax Credit is available to companies that make investments in community development financial institutions and community development enterprises (CDEs and CDFIs) (CDFIs). The latter is extremely important since it helps make financial resources accessible to disadvantaged communities, which is one of the most important steps in providing assistance to underserved populations. A greater number of people from underserved communities will have the opportunity to enroll in the Paycheck Protection Program as a result of the SBA's participation. Those who make purchases, carry out repairs, or construct new construction in communities with low median incomes are eligible for this credit. In addition, if your project includes the construction of a new school or the rehabilitation of an existing community center, you may be eligible for financial assistance. If you own a business that focuses on the renovation and sale of single-family homes, you might also be eligible for this program. It is wonderful if the projects make disadvantaged groups like women and girls their primary focus. Conclusion Get in touch with people who specialize in taxes if you need assistance claiming the deductions and credits that are available to your company. Please make the effort to educate yourself further about these credits, as you may be able to make use of them to increase your fortune and leave behind a legacy. Take into consideration that the aforementioned list is in no way complete since this is merely an illustrative example. In addition to the tax credits that are provided by the federal government, you may be eligible for additional tax credits that are provided by your state or local government. Read Also: Why  Create A Powerful Business Continuity Plan? What Is Network Marketing And How To Do It In 2021 How To Start A Business In 2021 – Best Business Strategies