Boost Morale While Cutting Costs

We've likely all been affected by the economy. Many of our businesses are cutting costs and employees too. But is it consequently bringing down the morale of your company? While it's hard enough to make ends meet on a personal level, businesses are feeling the crunch and the trickle-down effect is outrageous. Not all hope is lost though. Believe it or not, with the right attitude, companies can cut costs without sacrificing morale.

Telecommuting

For many, the first impression of telecommuting is that it will give your employees the opportunity to sit around at home while pretending to do work. This couldn't be farther from the truth. In all actuality it improves productivity 10-20% when employees telecommute 1-3 times a week. For more information on how you can convince your boss to let you telecommute, read our article on the topic.

Company Parties and Events

Parties are always a great way to bring the office together. It gives people a chance to mingle with their co-workers and superiors and appreciate each other outside of work. Unfortunately, company sponsored parties can be a major expense with catering and securing a venue, but they are really too important to cut out completely. Try throwing a pot luck lunch or dinner in the office. Everyone loves to share recipes and be told that they're a great cook, so this really works out for everyone.

Another way to save money and motivate your team at the same time is to start a lunch club. Here's how it works:

Depending on the size of your office, you choose a certain number of people to bring dishes to feed the rest. I suggest one person per 10 in the office. So if you have a 30 person office, 3 people should bring in dishes to feed everyone else. You can do this as often as you'd like: 1 day a week, 3 days or every day. Rotate between the folks in the office that are responsible for bringing in a dish. It's a great way the employees to save money and get to know one another as well.

Conferencing

If you haven't discovered conferencing services yet, you're wasting tons of money on business travel. Teleconferencing and webconferencing save time, money and a lot of undue stress that comes with travel. It's almost always cheaper than purchasing plane tickets, hotel and car accommodations and when you add in tips, tolls and food, it's a steal.

Imagine never leaving your office and still maintaining a relationship with clients and co-workers located outside of the office. Even presentations are a snap with webconferencing; the easy web interface allows your participants to view exactly what you're viewing. You can also record your conversations for easy retrieval. While you aren't face to face with your client or co-worker, installing a web cam allows you to see each other wherever you are in the world.

Shorter Work Week

I know that this seems silly to some of you as the company would lose an entire day of work. But, that's not entirely true. A shorter work week can be done a few ways:

• Rotate employees to take every other Friday off
• Every employee takes every Friday (or Monday or whatever day) off

It's totally up to the company as to how they want to do it, but the employees can work extra hours each of the 4 days they are in the office if that helps keep things productive. This will save the workers gas money going to and from the office. And the company will save as well - on parking, utilities, etc. Employees usually jump at this type of opportunity so it's a great way to boost morale.

Cutting costs and boosting employee morale aren't necessarily two things that work well together. But both are extremely necessary to maintain a healthy and profitable work environment. Maintaining the fun in the office is essential simply because it promotes motivation. It's a tough time for everyone but if you build a stronger team, you'll all push through together.