Having great employer and employee relationships is a vital part of running a successful business. But building this positive relationship doesn’t have to be difficult. Technology provides many unique options to increase employee productivity and make both the employer and employees love coming to work every day.
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Replace Email with Skype
Simply sending emails can become pretty impersonal. While the email system should not be scrapped altogether, employers can also use alternative ways of communicating such as Skype. Sometimes the tone of emails could be misinterpreted, leading to unnecessary anger or resentment between employers and employees. Speaking face-to-face over video helps to make instructions and feedback more clear, reducing the chances of misinterpretation.
Employers should not be the only ones reaching out via Skype to communicate. Make it clear that employees can contact their employer at any time during the workday for questions or concerns about their tasks. By opening this communication door, the employees will feel more comfortable with their employer relationship.
Implement Virtual Meetings
Face-to-face meetings are a bonding experience between employers and employees. Yet meetings sometimes are too formal and worrisome for employees. Make some required meetings virtual. If you meet with employees while they are sitting in their own offices or workspaces, they will be more comfortable. When employees are comfortable, they are more willing to communicate with their employers. Communication increase a positive employer-employee relationship.
Make a Company Internal Website
Most every company has a website for the public detailing what services they offer. This is not very useful for the employees of the company. Additionally, companies should create an internal website for all employees. Each employee would be given a username and password to log on the private website. The main page for each account is personalized for the employee and allow them permission to personalize it themselves. This would give employees some creative freedom and build positive morale.
The internal website’s focus should be on communication. News alerts and memos are posted on the employee’s main page. There should also be a forum section where employees can communicate with each other about problems they are having with their tasks, or give advice. When choosing to install a forum, make sure each employee receives clear guidelines on what is proper to post.
Create a Daily Feedback Form
Workplace Insights says feedback is a vital part of improving employer-employee relationships. Part of the internal website should include a feedback form to send daily. This would be something employees fill out at the end of their work day before shutting down their computers. They could talk about difficulties they met, things they enjoyed and did well, or suggestions for how to do these things differently. Like the forums in the website, clear guidelines should be set up. The feedback form is not used to complain or gossip about coworkers or supervisors.
Start Weekly Email Newsletters
Instead of sending memos out, have a weekly newsletter emailed out on Mondays. This would include all news and updates about the company. Allow employees to reply to the newsletter with questions, comments, or plans for upcoming events covered. To increase communication, allow a different employee to write it each week. By doing this, all employees would be required to communicate and stay up-to-date with their employer.
Begin a Goal Ladder with Incentives
Incentives are a great way to boost morale and improve all relationships in the workplace. By creating a goal ladder, employers can give employees a path to follow to become better at their job and earn rewards. Make the goals communication-based and have employees log their accomplishments on the ladder through the internal website, or a separate program.