In human resource terms, Employee satisfaction is the extent to which an individual is happy with their job and the role it plays in their life, it means employees are contented with their work and position, they are likely to enjoy much of their work, they feel management is fair and cares about them, and they are comfortable in their work environment, both with other staffers, and with the resources they have to complete their jobs.
Importance of Employee Satisfaction
Employee satisfaction is extremely important for employees to remain happy and also deliver their level best. Satisfied employees are the ones who are extremely loyal to their organization and stick to it even in the worst scenario. They do not work out of any compulsion, but because they dream of taking their organization to a new level. Employees need to be passionate about their work and passion comes only when employees are satisfied with their job and organization on the whole. Employee satisfaction leads to a positive ambience at the workplace.
There are many benefits of employee satisfaction one of benefit is that individuals hardly think of leaving their current jobs. Employee satisfaction in a way is essential for employee retention. Organizations need to retain deserving and talented employees for long term growth and guaranteed success. It is essential for organizations to have experienced people around who can guide freshers or individuals who are likely to join the organization.
Employee attrition is one of the major problems faced by organizations. Retaining talented employees definitely gives your organization an edge over your competitors as they contribute more effectively than new joiners. Moreover, no new individual likes to join an organization that has a high employee attrition rate. Employees who are not satisfied with their jobs often badmouth their organization and also warn friends and acquaintances not to join the same.
Employee satisfaction is essential to ensure higher revenues for the organization. No amount of training or motivation would help, unless and until individuals develop a feeling of attachment and loyalty towards their organization. They do not come to the office just for money but because they value the organization and believe in its goals and objectives. Satisfied employees also spread positive word of mouth and always stand by each other. They take pride in representing their respective organizations and work hard to ensure higher revenues for the organization.
Satisfied employees tend to adjust more and handle pressure with ease as compared to frustrated ones. Employees who are not satisfied with their jobs would find a problem in every small thing and be too rigid. On the other hand, employees who are happy with their jobs willing to participate in training programs and are eager to learn new applications and technologies which would eventually help them in their professional careers. Satisfied employees accept challenges with a big smile and deliver even in the worst of circumstances.
Factors affecting job satisfaction of the employees
1. Fair Policies and Practices.
Organizational structural and policies also play an important role in the job satisfaction of employees. These policies can generate positive or negative feelings toward the organization. Individuals who perceive that promotion decisions are made in a fair and just manner are likely to experience satisfaction from their jobs. It is therefore of utmost importance for an organization to have a fair and equal system regarding practices and policies so that there is no discrimination and frustration.
2. Working environment
It is essential to provide employees with a work environment that is conducive to their overall development. Good working conditions are desirable by the employees, as they lead to more physical comfort with a healthy and safe working environment. Temperature, humidity, ventilation, lighting and noise, hours of work, cleanliness of the workplace and adequate tools and equipment are the features that affect job satisfaction. If the working conditions are good, the personnel will find it easier to carry out their jobs. On the other hand, if the working conditions are poor, personnel will find it more difficult to get things done. Hence, is very important to provide a friendly and supportive environment which can lead to increased job satisfaction.
3. Relationship with Supervisors
Relationship with supervisors also plays an important role when it comes to satisfying the employees. A friendly relationship with a co-worker/supervisor enables the individual to perform their assignment, jobs and work duties adequately. Employees also need to know their supervisor’s door is always open for them to discuss any concerns they have that are affecting their ability to do their jobs, ultimately helps them to enhance their productivity and output and develop job satisfaction.
4. Feedback
Effective feedback will help the team members know where they are and how they can improve. Not receiving feedback on their work can be quite discouraging for most people. Authority also needs to know what kind of feedback the team members respond to best. Research shows that learners seek and respond to positive feedback, while experts respond to negative feedback. In the case of negative feedback, it’s not enough to simply point out what is wrong. One should explain the reason something they did isn’t working, and how it might be corrected so it will help them to understand exactly where they are lacking behind and improve themselves which will also lead to job satisfaction
Tips for improving job satisfaction
1. Recognize Good Work
Recognizing your employees is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to increase job satisfaction also this is a huge opportunity for leaders to step up and make their employees proud of their work.
2. Communicate More
Work on creating a culture of open and honest communication within your team. That feeling of safety and being comfortable saying whatever you want to anyone on your team is a key component of a successful team. Remember, there’s no such thing as too much communication. Also, the lack of communication is the source of a lot of frustration in the workplace.
3. Care About Employee Well-Being
Showing employees that you genuinely care about their well-being is one of the most effective ways to increase job satisfaction. It’s better to invest the time and resources in creating an environment where employees thrive and love to work.
4. Offer Opportunities For Learning
Personal growth is the most important aspect of employee engagement, so it is very important to Investing in the career development of an organization’s workforce where employees feel valued and grow professionally.
5. Work on The Culture
Having a positive work culture reflects positively on employee retention and the financial goals of the company. The culture of an organization is influenced by the behaviors of its leadership team. Senior leaders should set the example of their behaviors by demonstrating respect toward others while holding people accountable for doing the same. Respect for others can be demonstrated through professional communication and internal policies that are honoring to employees.
Source:
https://www.managementstudyguide.com/factors-influencing-employee-satisfaction.htm
https://iedunote.com/factors-affecting-job-satisfaction