No one wants to work in a workplace where morale is low. Low morale can be a symptom of poor culture, teamwork, lack of recognition, etc. Regardless of the cause, everyone can agree that low morale makes the work environment hard to be in and can greatly impact employee engagement. In this article, we will discuss ways that organizations can boost morale in a cost-effective way so that the company and the employees can thrive.
Why Companies Need Cheap Ways to Boost Morale
There are many reasons why companies need cheap ways to boost morale, and most of them revolve around the company’s budget. There are so many costs involved in running a business, and sometimes, it can be hard to find wiggle room for extra expenses. Here are a few situations when companies need cheaper ways to boost morale.
- Recent Budget Cuts: Many companies are feeling the impact of inflation, and budget cuts can impact how the company chooses to spend money on morale-boosting efforts. Finding cost-effective methods helps combat budget constraints and allows companies to still focus on employee satisfaction.
- Small Teams: Smaller teams can impact a company’s budget because they have limited resources to allow for team events or other common morale-boosting efforts.
- Low Overhead: If companies aren’t budgeting money to boost morale, it can be challenging to prioritize boosting morale.
- Doing Too Much with Too Little: There are so many business costs that it can be hard to juggle them all. If companies are doing too much and don’t have enough money, they won’t be able to boost morale effectively.
8 Cheap Ways to Boost Morale in the Workplace
Boosting morale in the workplace doesn’t have to be expensive or burdensome. Here are eight fun ideas that companies can use to effectively boost morale in the workplace, inexpensively but without feeling “cheap.”
Employee Of The ________
Employee of the Month (or however frequently the company chooses to celebrate) can be an inexpensive way for companies to recognize employees while boosting morale. Highlighting an employee and recognizing their efforts helps boost morale and acknowledges their hard work and success. An inexpensive way to celebrate would be to recognize them publicly and give the employee a small reward (e.g., a day off, an option for remote work, or fun company swag).
Employee Milestones
Celebrating employee milestones is a great way to show employees they are valued, recognize employees, and show appreciation, all while boosting morale. Let’s dig deeper to understand why recognizing milestones makes a difference. Here are a few reasons why companies need to celebrate company milestones and how they affect morale, engagement, and workplace culture:
- Builds A Positive Culture
- Increases Employee Engagement and Motivation
- Promotes Personal and Professional Growth
There are several ways companies can celebrate milestones; here are a few inexpensive ideas:
- Handwritten thank you notes/cards: The handwritten part gives a personal touch; for ideas on what to write, check out our post about work anniversary quotes for any coworker.
- Office celebrations: Teams can host a small lunch, have a drink bar, or get a cake for the team.
- Extra Time Off: Another excellent incentive for employees when celebrating milestones is to give them some extra time off. Half a day can help them feel recharged and is a great, inexpensive reward.
Online Group Cards
Group eCards are a fun way to celebrate all kinds of occasions, from new hires to retirement and everything in between. Companies can utilize group eCards as an inexpensive option to show their employees how valued and appreciated they are. Group eCards aren’t only great for boosting morale. Still, they can also be a game changer for companies in terms of employee recognition. The best part is that anyone can participate from anywhere, and these cards last forever. Here are a few ways companies can utilize online group cards to boost morale.
- Birthday Shoutouts: Recognizing birthdays is a simple way to show employees that they matter and make their day a little more special (this is especially true for when their birthday falls on a workday when they would rather be doing anything but working).
- Milestones/anniversaries: As stated above, celebrating work anniversaries and milestones helps employees feel seen for their efforts and gives them a chance for peer-to-peer recognition.
- Retirement: A significant milestone deserves something special. While not everyone wants a party, retirement should be recognized and celebrated. An online group card gives everyone a chance to say their goodbyes without spending a ton of money.
- Thank you: Thanking a coworker or boss is a great way to boost morale and increase engagement in the workplace. Fostering a culture of appreciation helps employees feel validated and seen and makes for a happier workplace.
- Team Celebrations: Celebrate big wins and special occasions with team celebration boards. Companies can choose custom branding and personalize it further with photos and GIFs to make the celebration extra special.
- Congratulations: Congratulating employees on a big (or small) accomplishment helps to boost morale because little acts of congratulation can help to make significant changes in the work environment. Congratulating employees also helps to boost their confidence and builds a supportive culture.
- Welcome To The Team: It can be challenging to find your place in a new company or team, so getting a group e-card signed by everyone you’ll be working with helps to build a sense of belonging and makes for a smooth transition.
Contests and Team Building Events
Company or team contests can be a fun way to boost morale, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Company-wide or team-specific contests also promote positive team dynamics, increase engagement, and boost employee retention. Here are a few (cheap) fun ideas that companies can use:
- Scavenger hunts
- Bingo
- Board game day
- Show and tell
- Volunteer somewhere local
- Virtual escape rooms
Holiday Celebrations
Another way companies can boost morale is by celebrating holidays. Holidays are a chance to give everyone in the company a break from the usual routine and help to create a festive atmosphere where employees can relax. Companies that celebrate holidays also show that they care about the work-life balance of their employees and foster a culture where employee well-being matters. Celebrating holidays is also a great way to be inclusive and mindful of each employee’s different cultures and backgrounds. Companies can be aware of budget constraints by doing the following:
- Reusing/recycling past decorations (or asking for donations from employees)
- Hosting small parties where everyone contributes or brings their favorite holiday dish.
- Providing early dismissal before holidays (or a company-wide shutdown) to give employees a chance to celebrate with their loved ones.
Potlucks
This may be more difficult on a large scale, but potlucks or having employees bring their own lunch are great ways for companies and teams to boost morale without spending a ton of money. Companies can provide drinks while employees bring their own food.
Casual Dress
Offering a casual dress day is a fun and free way to boost morale in the workplace. It gives employees a chance to feel more relaxed at work. Casual dress also helps promote a more relaxed atmosphere because it reduces the formality of the workplace. Offering a casual dress day also shows that companies trust their employees to make appropriate choices and give them flexibility in the workplace.
Regular Acknowledgement
Finally, one of the best ways companies can boost morale inexpensively is by regularly acknowledging their employees’ efforts. When companies promote authentic and regular appreciation, employees are happier and more engaged. Acknowledging employees doesn’t have to be expensive or take much time. Remember, the best and most effective acknowledgment is personal, specific, and timely.
How to Implement Inexpensive Morale-Boosters Effectively
A bit of strategic and thoughtful planning is involved when implementing inexpensive morale boosters. If a company wants the morale-boosting efforts to resonate with its employees, there are a few strategies it can use to ensure the morale in a company is high:
- Get Feedback From Employees
- Observe
- Encourage Regular Appreciation
- Promote A Positive Workplace
Impacts of Inexpensive Ways to Boost Morale
When companies put their employees first through regular appreciation and morale-boosting efforts, there is a positive shift in the culture and atmosphere of the workplace. Additionally, inexpensive morale boosters can be seen as more authentic and genuine, as there is typically more thought and effort behind the act. Let’s read a few more benefits of inexpensive ways to boost morale:
Increased Motivation
Low-cost morale boosters can increase engagement and motivation in the workplace. A motivated workforce is more focused and committed to achieving team and company goals.
Efficiency
Companies that try to boost office morale can also see more present employees. Happier employees are less likely to take unnecessary time off, which ensures consistency. Additionally, morale-boosting activities can lead to better-quality work because satisfied employees are more likely to invest more in their tasks.
Reduced Turnover
Companies that make efforts to boost morale can see more loyalty and increased employee retention. If employees are happy, engaged, and satisfied in their position at a company, they are unlikely to look elsewhere for work.
Read More: What’s the Difference Between Employee Engagement and Job Satisfaction?
Better Team Dynamics
Morale-boosting efforts like team celebrations, peer-to-peer recognition, and more help teams to collaborate efficiently and promote team bonding. When team members feel happy and the morale is high, teams can be more productive and communicate more effectively.
A Cost-Effective Employee Recognition Program
Creating an employee recognition plan doesn’t have to be complicated and can be a great, budget-friendly way to boost morale in the workplace. There are many different employee recognition programs, and while some can include monetary employee rewards, a successful program goes beyond monetary bonuses.
Here at Kudoboard, we understand that every company’s budget is different, so we have a few other options for companies to use. Kudoboard is an online platform that enables groups of people to recognize milestones and moments with digital greeting cards or messages. It offers a collaborative and interactive way to celebrate special occasions, express appreciation, or convey well-wishes to someone.
No matter what your company’s needs are, Kudoboard has different pricing options to fit any budget. Single board pricing ranges from $5.99 to $19.99 per board. Plans specifically for businesses begin at $299 and can be customized to meet the unique needs of larger enterprises.
Make Boosting Morale A Priority
Putting your employees’ needs and emotional well-being is a great way to foster a positive and supportive culture in the workplace. There are several ways that companies can inexpensively boost morale in the workplace (that don’t feel cheap). No matter how a company chooses, the bottom line is that when companies prioritize boosting morale, no matter the budget, their company and the employees will thrive.
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