How to Boost Employee Morale
by Citrix Online

High staff turnover is one of the biggest and most expensive problems for support managers. Not surprisingly, the two major factors leading to high staff turnover are low employee morale and increased burnout. According to the 2004 IT Staffing and Compensation Guide put out by the META Group, Inc., more than 72% of the 650+ companies surveyed indicated that low IT employee morale is a serious issue. If not addressed, it’s a problem that could result in long-range high staff turnover, low productivity, and less overall shareholder value to the organization.

It’s evident that praise and recognition increase employee morale and lead to less turnover. People want to work where they’re recognized for the outstanding work they do, and if their efforts go unrecognized, employees tend to leave their jobs. What have you done lately to recognize the top performers on your team? You should actively look for ways to reward outstanding individual and team performance. Recognizing those accomplishments should be an important part of your management strategy.

Here are a few morale-boosting activities to reward outstanding individuals and teams:

• Thank-You Notes -- Since email has become a primary communication channel, there’s something special about a handwritten note. A personal note is an inexpensive way to show your appreciation for a job well done.
  
  
• Cash Bonuses -- A cash bonus does wonders when it comes to motivating employees to perform, but be aware that you have to honor such a program by ensuring that payments are made on time and terms are met. Otherwise, you might significantly damage morale. Plus, your employees won’t feel as motivated the next time you offer a cash bonus.
  
  
• Gift Certificates -- Gift certificates are a great way to reward outstanding achievements. Gift certificates for local bookstores and restaurants are always good choices. Consider establishing a weekly or monthly award and present the recipient with a gift certificate at your team meetings.
  
  
• Extra Time Off -- When the email server is down and needs to be fixed overnight, being able to go home early after a stressful crisis can mean the world to a help desk analyst. In such a situation, consider sending someone home early with pay and without debiting their personal or vacation time. This occasional small token of gratitude is guaranteed to greatly increase your staff morale.
  
  
• Free Lunches -- Consider regular lunches at which free sodas and pizza are provided to the entire team. Weekly or monthly luncheons greatly enhance team-building efforts by providing an opportunity for people who don’t normally socialize to discover shared interests while chatting over a slice of pizza.
  
  
• Team Outings -- Consider quarterly or annual team outings. An annual canoeing retreat can be an unforgettable event with a strong team-building benefit. For less expensive alternatives, consider an afternoon at the movies or bowling alley followed by a happy hour with free drinks and snacks.

Most managers have budgets that include allocations for rewards and team-building activities. While the amount budgeted varies across organizations, there should be something in every manager’s budget to reward teams and/or individuals. If you don’t have a budget for rewards and team-building activities, the least you can do is to improve your internal communications. That way, you can keep your employees engaged and productive by providing updates on current projects as well as encouraging messages from the company's executive leadership.

About Citrix Online
Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTXS), offers the leading Web-based access, support and collaboration software and services. The division offers Citrix GoToMyPC®, the easiest-to-use solution for remote, secure and managed desktop PC access over the Web; and Citrix GoToAssist™, the most secure, reliable and powerful solution for Web-based technical support and customer collaboration. Citrix Online products are used by more than 4,000 companies worldwide, including Cisco Systems, Siemens, Intuit, Cablevision and Microsoft Business Solutions. The division is based in Santa Barbara, California, and is on the Web at www.gotomypc.com, www.gotoassist.com and www.citrix.com.