Hourly employees thrive in supportive and engaging workplaces. Promote open communication, offer flexibility, invest in development, prioritize wellbeing, build community, provide recognition, and more.
Promote Open Communication
Foster a culture of open, honest communication at all levels. Train managers to listen actively without judgment and respond constructively to concerns. Solicit input through regular employee surveys, town halls, and suggestion boxes. Clarify how feedback gets reviewed and inform staff of resulting actions.
Encourage employees to voice ideas for innovation or process improvements that leadership may lack visibility into. Establish reciprocal communication channels using digital tools like anonymous messaging apps and Slack conversations.
Share information proactively and transparently around policies and business developments that impact hourly staff. Clearly explain the rationale behind decisions to build understanding. According to HR experts, perceptions of fairness and inclusivity in shaping initiatives drive engagement.
Combat rumors by promptly addressing news relevant to employees, even if it is complex or sensitive. Overcommunication is better than leaving issues open to assumptions. Frequent, compassionate leadership communication fosters trust.
Invest in Development
Investing in hourly employees’ growth and education demonstrates a commitment to long-term careers, not just temporary roles. Provide skills training, career coaching, continuing education support, and leadership pathways.
Fund tuition reimbursement or degree programs adding capabilities applicable to company needs. Partner with local universities and community colleges to co-develop relevant curriculums.
Facilitate mentorships where seasoned employees advise newer staff one-on-one. Assign stretch development projects or rotations exposing employees to new areas. Document advancement pathways to elevate motivated staff into supervisory or management tracks. Establish merit-based promotion criteria focused on performance, not tenure alone.
According to Gallup, 87% of employees are likelier to remain committed to organizations investing in their career development. Ongoing training and growth opportunities should be accessible regardless of seniority level.
Focus on Wellbeing
Prioritize programs supporting hourly employees’ holistic well-being, not just workplace needs. Offer robust healthcare benefits, life insurance, disability protection, mental health services, and ample paid time off. Communicate available offerings thoroughly during onboarding and enrollment periods.
Host onsite flu shot clinics, biometric screenings, nutrition counseling, fitness challenges, mindfulness seminars, and other resources to improve physical health.
Make free or subsidized counseling available through employee assistance programs. Normalize utilizing these mental health resources when grappling with stress, grief, relationships, or other personal challenges.
Encourage using provided paid time off for refreshment and work-life balance. Discourage overwork cultures that skip vacations or work while sick. Set email and communication cut-off times outside standard hours.
Survey staff regularly on burnout risks and satisfaction with well-being offerings. Enhance programs based on feedback or usage metrics. Workplace psychologists say prioritizing holistic wellness reduces stress, health risks, and burnout after the prolonged pandemic.
Foster Community and Camaraderie
Facilitate community building and social connection among hourly teams through initiatives like peer mentoring programs, employee resource groups, and cross-functional projects bringing together staff from different locations and roles.
Host team-building events, recreational activities, potlucks, and parties, enabling employees to interact in informal settings and forge bonds beyond work itself. Sponsor offsite outings, picnics, intramural sports teams, and similar social events that hourly workers can easily attend.
Welcome new hires through buddy programs, pairing them with ambassadors. Profile employee stories internally and celebrate diversity. Recognize major life milestones like marriages, births, graduations, or volunteerism.
According to psychologists, belonging and mutual support enhance retention, collaboration, and connection to your organization’s purpose. Strong cultures consciously cultivate community.
Recognize Achievements
Provide frequent recognition acknowledging hourly employees’ contributions both publicly and privately. Call out great work in team meetings, internal newsletters, and intranet sites for peer visibility.
Send thank-you notes or small surprise rewards when employees go above and beyond. Have leaders congratulate staff directly for significant achievements. Feature long-tenured employees prominently on websites and in lobbies.
Shine a spotlight on employees doing good work in the community through volunteering, fundraising, and similar social initiatives outside the workplace. Praise not just individual accomplishments but team and department-wide successes as well. Recognize behaviors aligning with organizational values, not only specific business outcomes. Hourly workers respond well to authentic acknowledgment for work ethic, customer service, collaboration, problem-solving, continuous learning, and living their organization’s mission.
Creating an hourly workplace built on open communication, flexibility, development, well-being, community, and recognition cultivates an engaged, empowered workforce poised for success. Chattr’s suite of tools can streamline finding, hiring, and retaining standout talent.
