There’s no one definition of job satisfaction, and factors contributing to it will depend on the nature of your workplace. For example, a satisfied employee in the manufacturing sector looks different from a satisfied software developer. However, there are ten traits that every workplace geared toward employee well-being and satisfaction will have in common.

1. Does your company care about its employees?

Remember, it’s not enough to only care – communicate this care regularly to employees through newsletters, rewards, informal recognition, paid incentives, and other forms of communication.

Companies with a high job satisfaction level, such as Google and Starbucks, also feature employee happiness and satisfaction stories as part of their communication strategy.

2. Does the workplace have room for employees to engage in their hobbies?

Today, most of us spend a significant part of the week at work, but this doesn’t mean we want to ignore our hobbies or personal interests.

A workplace where employees have enough free time to read a book, catch up on the news, have a pleasant meal, for example – and where such behaviors are not considered slacking off – will better enable job satisfaction.

3. What is the average interval between promotions?

The current business environment is fast-paced, and employees will switch to greener pastures if promotions aren’t forthcoming.

A good rule of thumb is to keep the interval between employee promotions below the average employee tenure. For example, if employees stay with your company for five years and two months on average, promotions should be scheduled at least at two-year intervals. If such transitions aren’t possible, provide cross-training programs to give every employee a chance to explore new roles in the organization.

More importantly, inform your employees about the promotion policies in your organization so they know what to expect and when to expect it.

4. Do employees feel respected by their peers?

A workplace where employees feel regularly criticized or under some type of scrutiny is ripe for dissatisfaction. You can detect their dissatisfaction via one-on-one conversations with employees, or through anonymized data collected via employee satisfaction surveys and then take appropriate measures to improve their experience in this area.

5. Is there a culture of two-way feedback?

Employees need regular feedback (both positive and constructive) to know that they are on the right track.

Also, they want to share their opinions with managers/HR/senior management to guide the future of the company. This culture of two-way feedback is essential to maintaining employee satisfaction. It is doubly necessary for you to act on the feedback you receive.

6. Where do you stand on the issue of work-life balance?

Companies must try to build a non-toxic culture of high performance, where productivity isn’t prioritized over well-being. Positive work-life balance is integral to this.

As per the 2019 Workplace Happiness Report by Udemy, work-life balance adds meaning to the job for 37% of professionals. Mandatory work-from-home days, paid time off, and flexible working benefits are great ways to help employees achieve this.

7. How do employees rate their relationships with their reporting heads?

We have all heard the axiom that employees don’t quit jobs, they quit bosses. And this is confirmed by studies – a poll by Gallup found that 75% of voluntary attrition can be attributed to the behavior of immediate supervisors and not the job itself.

Again, targeted job satisfaction surveys (implemented on a team-by-team basis) can help root this out.

8. Does your organization follow fair and inclusive policies

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace have a positive impact on the business bottom line, while also improving a company’s culture and work environment. By ensuring fairness toward all your employees, regardless of age, gender, or disability, you can increase the average level of satisfaction across the company.

In other words, job satisfaction shouldn't be limited to a select few – everyone, across the company, should experience the same level of well-being.

9. Can employees nurture their creative instincts in their jobs?

While this depends on your specific industry of operation, employees mustn't be stifled when showing a spirit of creativity in their jobs.

In fact, learning and development programs can be deployed to strengthen creative skills, making your company more innovation-friendly. Otherwise, you risk having a workforce that feels unheard, with the same rules imposed upon them over and over again.

10. Do employees feel secure about their role?

Job security is now a major concern as technology upends existing processes, and automation threatens legacy models of working. As a future-focused employer, you must clearly explain how an employee’s role will transform over the years and equip them for this change.

Employees shouldn’t feel insecure about their jobs – you can ensure this by maintaining a consistent line of communication between frontline employees and senior leadership.

Apart from basics such as compensation, employee benefits, and workplace amenities, these ten factors go a long way in either improving or negatively impacting employee satisfaction. And here’s why you can’t afford to have dissatisfied employees.

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