Five New Year’s Resolutions Every Good Employer Should Make

Happy New Year, employers! As you set your revenue targets for the coming year, don't forget about the most important people at your company - your employees. Here are five New Year's resolutions that every good employer should make to take care of their employees:

1. Communicate openly and honestly with your employees: Your employees should feel comfortable coming to you for help or advice. Make sure to give feedback regularly, check in on their progress, and prioritize transparency when it comes to changes or future plans affecting the workplace. You'll be hard-pressed to find a company that was faulted for over communicating. And remember that different people take in information in different ways; I always recommend a message be sent in three different forms (e.g. email blast, company newsletter or Slack message, and orally in team meetings).
   

2. Offer competitive wages and benefits: Taking care of your employees means providing them with the best possible compensation package. Research industry standards and make sure you’re offering competitive wages and benefits that keep up with inflation. There are a lot of products on the market that help round out a comp package, like Gradify. Do your research!
   

3. Encourage development: Retaining top talent is key to a successful business. Investing in employee development is one way to ensure that your team has access to the latest skills needed for success in their role today—and tomorrow. Talk to your employees about what they want and need, including conversations about future professional plans. In my opinion, gone are the days when professional development dollars feel wasted when an employee moves on to a new company. Today, that's part of the deal, so my advice is to embrace it and work to make the experience the best for your employees for as long as you have them.
   

4. Create a flexible work environment: Many employees today prefer to have some flexibility when it comes to their schedule, as well as the ability to work remotely. Offering employees flexible hours and options can help with motivation and productivity in the workplace. A recent Gallup article provides data companies can use in developing their hybrid workplace schedules. What stood out to me is the following, which I know many employers don't want to hear but which we see is effective time and time again in a variety of contexts: "The practice of asking team members to collaboratively craft their hybrid work policy is one of the most engaging single work practices Gallup has studied among employees who are returning to the office."
   

5. Offer team building activities (cue the groans!): It’s important to keep morale high throughout the year. Giving your employees opportunities to get together outside of work (such as team lunches or off-site activities) can be a great way to foster strong relationships and boost engagement. The key is to tailor the engagement to your company so things don't feel forced, annoying, or repetitive.

By making these five resolutions this new year, you’ll be well on your way to keeping your employees happy and engaged. Best of luck in 2023!