Investments in Morale Pay Big Satisfaction Dividends

83% of Canadian workers say employers can improve satisfaction by focusing on morale

TORONTO, March 16, 2016 /CNW/ - The latest ADP Canada Sentiment Survey reveals that a large majority of working Canadians (83 per cent) believe if their employer made an effort to raise spirits at work, their own satisfaction level would significantly improve.

"Winter can be a difficult time of year for Canadians, which can create a sluggish environment at work if it isn't managed carefully," said Sooky Lee, General Manager, Human Resources Business Process Outsourcing at ADP Canada. "While the weather may be cold, dark and depressing outside, even modest efforts by employers can brighten the mood on the inside."

Highlights of the ADP Canada Sentiment Survey:

Workplace Morale and Employee Satisfaction

• More than eight out of 10 (83 per cent) of working Canadians say that if their employer made an effort to raise spirits, it would significantly improve their own satisfaction at work.
• More than one third (35 per cent) say their employer doesn't do anything to improve morale.
• One in three (31 per cent) say there are some initiatives at their workplace to improve morale, but more could be done.
• One quarter (24 per cent) say their employer offers a number of things to improve morale in the workplace.

Why Employee Satisfaction Matters  

"Satisfaction and wellness are closely linked, so investments in morale, such as special events at work, contests or team outings can reduce stress and help people feel connected to their colleagues," Lee explains.

"The good news is that organizations don't need to reinvent the wheel to improve employee satisfaction," said Lee. "The first step is setting up a framework that will be flexible so you can adapt it as the company grows."

Morale-boosting ideas for employers:

1. Have fun! Have a themed day, such as wearing pajamas to work or having a silly hat contest. A little friendly competition can bring out creative ideas and build teams.
   
2. Get outside: Even a few minutes of fresh air has been shown to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Organize a group walk at lunch or get your snow pants on and take everyone skating or tobogganing for half an hour.
   
3. Bring some wellness inside: If it's too blustery to head outdoors, hire a yoga instructor to lead a gentle rejuvenating class, or bring in some massage therapists to help your employees relax.
   
4. Get everyone involved: Whether you have a formal social committee or not, it's important to let everyone have some input into how your organization boosts morale.
   
5. Get formal: You can also look to more formal methods, such as employee discount programs, paid time to volunteer or community giving activities. 

"There is some confusion between employee satisfaction and employee engagement," stated Lee.  "Engagement is a different metric that is related to retention and productivity, whereas satisfaction focuses on how people feel when they are at work each day."

For more information, check out the ADP Employee Satisfaction vs. Employee Engagement whitepaper.

"A key step towards investing in morale is to free up HR teams so they can give formal and informal efforts the attention needed as part of your year-round wellness strategy," said Lee.

The New Standard in People Management

ADP Canada recently introduced ADP Workforce Now Comprehensive Services, the first HR shared service of its kind in Canada.  By combining HR expertise and proven technology, the service supports rapidly growing organizations with world-class HR capabilities, without the overhead. Key benefits include:

• Streamlined HR administration, backed by integrated technology
• On-demand access to experts in wellness, compliance, payroll, recruiting and other key disciplines
• A dedicated relationship manager
• Best-in-class recruiting, talent management, employee assistance programs and other key engagement tools

Survey methodology
An online survey of 1,547 Canadians was conducted between December 21st and December 23rd, 2015 using Legerweb. The figures in this release are based on an unweighted total of 956 Canadians (for question one) and 863 (for question two) who plan to work in 2016. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

About ADP Canada
ADP Canada gives organizations of every size the tools to help their people thrive. From basic payroll to complex people management systems and analytics, we help business leaders make better decisions. Our clients trust ADP to provide strategic insights and on-demand expertise to build and inspire the workforce they need. Visit us at adp.ca or follow us on Twitter @ADP_CDA.

About ADP
Powerful technology plus a human touch. Companies of all types and sizes around the world rely on ADP's cloud software and expert insights to help unlock the potential of their people. HR. Talent. Benefits. Payroll. Compliance. Working together to build a better workforce. For more information, visit ADP.com.

SOURCE ADP Canada

Media Contact: McKenna Wild, Environics Communications, 416-969-2774, [email protected]