Morale high among most office workers: Survey

Just one-fifth say it is poor

The mood of office workers generally positive, according to an Accountemps survey.

More than one-half (54 per cent) of workers described the morale at their companies as somewhat good while 28 per cent said morale is very good, found the survey of 276 office employees.

Just 15 per cent said morale is somewhat poor and four per cent said it is very poor.

"People ultimately want work they are proud of, colleagues they respect and an environment where their contributions are valued," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps. "Employers who foster this type of culture are rewarded with higher employee morale and productivity."

But managers should avoid taking employee job satisfaction for granted, as workplace dynamics change constantly, he said.

"Companies should keep a pulse on staff engagement, particularly as business conditions change or new managers are appointed."

Accountemps provided four methods to help managers gauge the morale of their teams:

Talk to staff: Check in with employees on a regular basis, from a quick chat at the water cooler to stopping by someone's desk. Ask about any challenges the team faces and how employees feel about work.

Observe behaviour and performance changes: When employees who were once highly engaged don't speak up in meetings or fail to participate in group activities, it could be a sign they no longer feel connected to the company's mission or to fellow team members.

Survey employees: Periodically collect feedback from staff members on subjects ranging from whether employees feel they have the necessary tools to do their jobs well and adequate management support to how the company can improve the work environment. The survey process alone can be a morale booster because it shows people their opinions are valued.

Conduct exit interviews: Ask departing employees how they'd improve morale and the work environment..

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