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If there’s ever been a time to focus on workplace culture, it’s now. There’s a shortage of employees in several sectors, people are considering leaving their positions at alarming rates, and all eyes are on management. Of course, factors such as salary, benefits and scheduling are top priorities, but when it comes to talent acquisition and retention, culture simply cannot be ignored. Here are best practices that HR teams and senior executives can adopt to instill positive change within their organizations.

Optimize Your Onboarding Practices

Starting a position can be exciting yet nerve-racking for most. A great way to break the ice and make new employees feel at home is to celebrate them from the get-go. Instead of the traditional tour around the workplace and formal introductions to colleagues, make the first impression count. Host a casual meet-and-greet with coffee and treats, express how delighted you are to onboard this recruit, and spoil them with a gift card. If working remotely, send them a care package! This kind and meaningful gesture will leave a lasting effect on your staff and will boost company culture from the start.

Reward Pro-Social Behaviours With Gift Cards

Instead of focusing exclusively on performance, recompense pro-social behaviours such as leadership, innovation and peer appreciation. Typically, millennials and Gen Z employees react best in such environments. To refine these concepts and get buy-in, brainstorm these markers with your staff directly. Not only will this ignite useful discussions about your organization’s values, but it’ll also make people feel heard. Once you define what matters, develop clear milestones, and craft your tailored gift card reward program.

Encourage Innovation and Creativity

To get the most out of each employee, foster a climate of trust and guide people to use their natural strengths. Avoid micromanaging, empower your team leaders, and allow your staff to exchange openly and frequently. The more people connect, the more they learn and create. When facing performance issues, consider job shadowing opportunities and cross-training. Those needing extra know-how will gain from this, and your born leaders will grow even more.

Promote Work-Life Balance

Nowadays, focus on work-life balance is huge. Employees expect companies to understand the importance of juggling priorities, including health and wellness. This concept is two-fold. See how you can develop in-house initiatives such as fitness classes in the workplace (or subsidized gym memberships), access to nutritious food, and seminars on various themes such as meditation. Furthermore, be human when it comes to sick days, staff dealing with personal life issues, and scheduling accommodations. Again, brainstorm with your employees, note what their desires and concerns are, then work with your HR and management teams to make it happen to the best of your abilities.

Be Flexible

The ongoing global pandemic has redefined the workplace as we knew it. Employers who adapt to this reality have better retention rates and higher happiness index scores among their staff. Now that many have worked remotely for over a year, there’s an expectation for companies to offer what is coined as hybrid workplaces. In sum, people want to work from home most of the time, yet physically go to the office occasionally for meetings and to connect with colleagues. Flexible schedules are also popular if operational needs are attained. Since every work environment is different, see how you can accommodate your employees while maintaining your output levels. Content teams produce more and better, so it’s worthwhile.

You employees are your strongest assets, so truly nurture that relationship. Investing in your staff’s happiness and satisfaction in the workplace is a sound choice to attract and keep the best people. For all of you gift card needs, contact us. With our extensive list of retailers, everyone will feel valued and appreciated.