We made it through the longest month of the year!

We’ve made it!

Didn’t January feel about 23,274 days long? Well, we’ve made it through, and somehow February always feels so much shorter.?There’s a lot happening this month, though, so buckle up and settle down with your cuppa as we dive into topics such as how to retain the staff you have, why recognition at work matters, legislative wage changes and what’s happening in the news.

How to retain your staff

It’s time to get creative when it comes to retaining talent, especially in difficult economic times. The bottom line is that people stay where they feel appreciated and supported.?We’ll take a deeper look at recognition in the next section, but appreciation and support are just as vital in creating a happy working environment.

Here are 5 tips for employers on how to show their staff that they truly care:?

1. Offer meaningful recognition - Recognise your employees' hard work with rewards, bonuses, and other forms of recognition. Doing so can be both rewarding and motivating. See the next section!?

2. Provide opportunities for learning and growth - Invest in training programs and give your employees the opportunity to take on new projects or roles within the organisation. This will help them gain new skills and advance their careers.?

3. Listen to employee feedback - Ask your employees for their input on how the company can improve and listen to their answers. Consider implementing suggestions they have. Showing your staff that their voices matter will go a long way in making them feel valued by the organisation.?

4. Host team-building activities - Get your team out of the office and have some fun together! Host activities where everyone can learn from each other, build relationships, and relax away from work for a bit. It can do wonders for morale. Organised fun may well conjure up images of enforced paintballing and so forth, so do make sure to ASK your team what they would like to do!

5. Make sure working conditions are comfortable - Ensure that your office is well-equipped and comfortable for everyone who works there, from the furniture to the snacks in the breakroom. It's important for employees to have a good physical environment in order to remain productive at work. This also includes being fully accessible for the different needs of your employees and having a rest area where they can talk freely and step away from their desks.?

Recognition in the workplace and why it matters

Do you ever feel your work, or even you as a person, doesn't get the recognition both it and you deserve??

Well, you’re not alone. Recognition in the workplace is a game changer and an important factor to consider when creating an engaging and productive environment. We know that a lot of employers think that money is an effective motivator, but studies show that recognition can be even more powerful.

It's about letting people know that their hard work matters and that it's appreciated. It can be anything from a simple “thank you” or a more formal reward system such as rewards points, bonuses or other incentives.?

Try and give it in the moment, too; a quick email to acknowledge how much someone has done on a project will always be welcomed. A note to say that you’re impressed by someone’s work ethic, even when they are facing a tough time outside of work, can foster a great sense of belonging.

The key here is to show employees that their efforts are valued, which can motivate them to work even harder. It also helps foster a sense of loyalty and trust between employer and employee, which is essential for any successful business. But people are more than just their output. It should go without saying that at the forefront of any recognition should be the person themselves. Put the person first and their output second, and you will never create a feeling of resentment.?

Recognition in the workplace should also be used as an opportunity for growth - both for employers and employees. Employees have the chance to learn more about their industry, become better at their jobs, further develop their skills and ultimately become more valuable assets to the company. Employers benefit from having an engaged workforce with higher levels of productivity and job satisfaction, as well as gaining access to more valuable talent in the future.?

Some ideas for achieving this are:

• Regularly tell your team members they’re doing a great job.?
• Make sure they understand their contribution is appreciated and significant, even if it was only a small contribution.
• Share people’s success stories with the team
• Ask for their feedback on projects they’ve worked on
• Give them the autonomy to be creative and try new things. This encourages self-growth, which leads to staff satisfaction
• Ask staff to vote for employee of the month/quarter and let the winner know some of the nice things colleagues have said when voting for them

The bottom line??

When people are valued and respected in the workplace, they’ll stay longer and do better work. Acknowledgement, respect and support help create a positive environment where everyone feels empowered to succeed.

In the news

On April 1st, the National Living/Minimum Wage is set to increase, so get ahead of the game and make sure you are advertising the correct rates. Attention to detail really matters when it comes down to wages, both for your staff and your accounts department. For those looking for a new position, seeing that a potential employer is aware of and implementing changes is a good sign and will promote trust and confidence.?

• Workers aged 21-22: ￡10.18 an hour
• Development rate for workers aged 18-20: ￡7.49 an hour
• Young workers rate for workers aged 16-17: ￡5.28 an hour
• Apprentice rate: ￡5.28 an hour

In other news; technology and marketing are still very much a marriage made in Heaven, but do you know the ten biggest tech trends for the sales and marketing industry? If not, have a look here https://bit.ly/2AqhiQ6 ?

Rolls-Royce Power Systems has conducted successful tests of a 12-cylinder gas variant MTU Series 4000 L64 engine running on hydrogen. The tests – which are said to have demonstrated very good characteristics in terms of efficiency, performance, emissions and combustion – are another milestone towards commercialising hydrogen solutions to meet customer demand for more sustainable energy. The drive in manufacturing is consistently now geared (no pun intended) towards a more sustainable future. Will other industries follow? Find out more here https://bit.ly/3IW6Js4 ?

Need a new role?

Your skills and talents as an employee are part, but not all, of what brought the employer to hire you, so open communication is always a great way to ensure both sides are content.?

If you want a new role then know that we love to chat, so even during your first week we’ll be chatting to you a lot, making sure you are supported and happy.

Your next role is just a phone call away, so feel free to reach out. We promise to look after you!

That’s all, folks, for this month!?If a friend or colleague would benefit from receiving our newsletter, then please forward it to them so they can subscribe for future issues.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and successful February!