There’s no getting away from the fact
the UK is going through an economic downturn at the moment. It’s in all the
papers, there’s something about it on the news every week and you've probably
noticed the effects at work. Many businesses are struggling to generate the
kind of revenue they once were because trade is slowing and this inevitably has
a knock-on effect on employees.
Think about it. Many companies are being
forced to make redundancies and even if this hasn't happened within your
enterprise, you can imagine the effect this has on morale and the attitudes of
staff. They will probably be coming into work each morning wondering whether or
not they will have a job at the end of the day – which can create a pretty
sombre feeling in an office. Productivity dips and your business finds itself
in an even worse position.
Basically, as an employer you need to
find a way to reassure employees, rebuild their confidence in the company and
demonstrate that their contribution is valued within the firm. But how? Gifts
can often seem like empty gestures and you’re probably not in a position to
offer pay rises or bonuses.
One solution could be to host a staff
dinner. You might think this is an event only reserved for Christmas parties,
but that doesn't have to be the case and in fact, you might just be surprised
at how effective Experiential Events can be when it comes to boosting morale.
Here are some reasons why:
It Gets People Talking
An event like this will give employees the chance to chat
away from the office and perhaps get to know those they don’t often speak to.
This will help to improve relations, generally motivate people and give the office
a new breath of fresh air.
Give a Speech
If your
employees are feeling unsure about their future at the company and
redundancies, giving a speech is a far more personal way of reassuring them and
discussing the situation than sending an email. Use this opportunity to be
honest – don’t just use a load of management speak that your employees will see
straight though. Offer reassurance but don’t try and kid people, this isn't what they want.
Free
Food Always Helps
You may not be able to offer
everyone pay rises, but planning and paying for a staff meal will show you are
still thinking of people and want to show your appreciation. Do your research
before you book anywhere and you’ll find
a lot of restaurants and bars have special deals if you’re booking a meal
for a large party.
It
Can be Fun
Come up with a fun addition to the
meal. Perhaps a mini awards ceremony honoring the best dressed male and
female, or the person who’s always late. These shouldn't be serious awards, but
just a bit of fun with a small prize like a box of chocolates. You can get
people to vote on the winners in advance – this is something else that will
bring a bit of fun to the office. You could complement this with a serious
award such as ‘outstanding employee of the year’. This will give you a way to
show your appreciation if you can’t reward the people who have done well with a
bonus or pay rise.
So as you can see, a staff dinner might
not seem like a big deal, but with some good Events Management it can actually be a fantastic motivator and a great way to
boost morale at a time when staff need reassurance and support from their
employer.
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