The days of ping pong tables, pizza party Fridays, and beer in the fridge being enough to keep employees happy are well and truly dead. If they were ever truly alive. And, in truth, they stopped being meaningful long before the pandemic.

Don’t get us wrong, the occasional Friday unwind party is good for those who still work in an office. It’s a good way to relax before the weekend. But it shouldn’t be the only attempt employees make at keeping employees happy.

The only reason all those things worked for as long as they did, was because employees convinced themselves this was some kind of benefit—some kind of reward. That this somehow made work fun.

And then they woke up.

It's one of the worst ways to end a story. But it's true. Employees realized that what they wanted was a better work-life balance.

So that becomes a buzzword. And businesses and brands wrestled with making it a reality. And then it took on a life of its own—employees genuinely wanted a job that suited them and their lifestyle. Not a job that required them to adapt their life around it.

Now, in the post-pandemic world, keeping your employees happy and still productive is important if you want to keep—and gain—quality talent in your business.

The not-so-secret secret to keeping your employees happy and productive

Do you want to know the secret to keeping your employees happy and productive? It's not that difficult. It starts with understanding what employees want.

Not what you think employees want, or what's the easiest way to appear to be appeasing them.

You see, employees want to feel like they're part of a team, and that their work is valuable. They want to be able to trust their employers and feel like they're being treated fairly.

And of course, they want to be compensated well for their work.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways employers can facilitate these things.

For example, you can create a positive workplace culture by investing in your employee's development, and showing them that their contributions are valued.

You can also build trust by being transparent about your company's decisions, and communicating openly with your team.

And of course, compensation is always a key factor in employee happiness.

Making sure your employees are paid fairly, and providing benefits and other perks, can go a long way towards keeping them happy and engaged with their work.

Investing in your employees' happiness will pay off in dividends for your company.

Happy employees are more productive, and more likely to stick around for the long term.

So, if you want to keep your business thriving, it's worth putting some effort into making sure your team is happy and healthy.

How to keep your team happy without breaking the bank

Let’s take a look at what we’ve said and show you how it’s not that difficult to keep your team happy without breaking your budget.

Here are 9 few tips:

1. Get to know your team members on a personal level

Learn about their hobbies, interests, and families. This will help you create a more personal relationship with them and make them feel valued as individuals.

2. Encourage open communication between yourself and your team members

If they feel like they can come to you with concerns or suggestions, they'll be more likely to feel invested in their work.

3. Make sure your team members have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively

This includes things like proper training, adequate supplies, and clear instructions. If they feel like they're constantly being set up to fail, it'll be hard to keep them happy.

Read more on how to be more productive with fewer working hours

4. Recognize and reward good work

A little acknowledgment can go a long way. Whether it's a simple "thank you" or a more formal recognition program, make sure your team knows that their hard work is appreciated.

5. Allow for some flexibility in the workplace

Whether it's flexible hours or the ability to work from home occasionally, giving your team members some control over their work lives can go a long way in making them happy.

If your business can survive and thrive by allowing your employees to work remotely, this will—in most cases—create a lot of goodwill with your employees. Saying you think people are more productive in the office, translates to most employees as, “I don’t trust you, at least at the office I won't watch you.”

6. Encourage collaboration

One of the best ways to keep your team members happy is to encourage collaboration.

When employees feel like they're working together towards a common goal, they're more likely to be engaged and motivated. Encourage idea sharing, open communication, and regular team meetings to foster a collaborative environment.

Read more on 10 collaboration mistakes you're making with your hybrid team

7. Give them autonomy

Another way to keep your employees happy is to give them autonomy.

No one likes to feel like they're being micromanaged, so giving your team members the freedom to work on their own can go a long way.

Of course, you'll still want to provide guidance and support, but letting them take ownership of their projects will help them feel more invested in their work.

8. Encourage feedback

This is another great way to keep your employees happy. Whether it's positive or constructive, feedback helps employees feel like their work is valued.

Encourage regular check-ins and one-on-one meetings so team members can share their thoughts and ideas openly.

9. Offer competitive salaries and benefits

Of course, you can't keep your employees happy if you're not paying them enough. Make sure you're offering salaries and benefits that are competitive with other businesses in your industry.

By following these tips, you can keep your employees happy without breaking the bank. A happy workforce is a productive workforce, so it's worth the investment.

How project management software can help keep your employees happy and streamline employee productivity

Project management software can help keep your employees happy in several ways.

5 ways project management software can help

Better communication

Project management software can help you to communicate better with your team members.

By keeping everyone on the same page and sharing information quickly and easily, you can reduce frustration and confusion.

This has the bonus of helping to ensure communication doesn’t get lost in emails, or that people with conflicting software can open files, etc.

Read more on 10 best ways to avoid interruptions in team communication

Keep track of deadlines and progress

Project management software can help you to keep track of deadlines and progress.

This way, you can ensure projects are moving along smoothly and that no one is falling behind. Planning a project and knowing who needs to do what by when allows for everyone to manage their deadlines.

Which better helps to ensure all projects are completed on time and within budget.

Troubleshoot problems faster and easier

The right software can help you to identify problem areas quickly.

By tracking tasks and progress, you can quickly see where bottlenecks are forming and take steps to fix them.

Effective task delegation

Delegate tasks more effectively with project management software.

By assigning tasks and setting deadlines, you can ensure that everyone on your team is working on something that is important and that they have the time they need to complete it.

You can also see who needs help, and who can help them.

A more positive work environment

Finally, project management software can help you to create a more positive work environment.

By keeping everyone organized and on track, you can reduce stress and create a more enjoyable workplace.

Project management software is a valuable tool for any business owner looking to keep their employees happy and productive.

By following these tips, you can make the most of this powerful tool and keep your team running like a well-oiled machine.

Keep your employees happy and still productive

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking superficial acts are enough to keep your employees happy. By paying attention to your employees and what they need/want, you have a better chance of keeping them happy.

And why you do care about your employees’ happiness. Because the happier they are, the more productive are. If you, as an employer, put in the bare minimum—you know, that “well, I pay them, don’t I?” mentality.

That’s what you’re going to get back. Employees who say, “well, I’m paid to be here from 9 to 5 to do this job, what more do you want?”

It’s not a healthy or productive way to be.

By following the tips outlined in this blog post, you can keep your employees happy and productive. The overarching benefit for you is that the more productive your employees are the better you’ll be able to meet project deadlines and increase your bottom line.