Employee morale is like a good cup of coffee. When it’s brewed right — with the perfect mix of recognition, teamwork, and a splash of purpose — it fuels your people and keeps them happy and energized all day. When employee morale is stale, bitter, or lukewarm, on the other hand, you end up with workers dragging their feet through the workweek.
Just as coffee fuels your morning, employee morale drives workplace productivity, engagement, and retention. Studies have shown that organizations with high employee morale see higher productivity and lower turnover rates and 23% higher engagement globally. Meanwhile, low morale cascades into dissatisfaction, burnout, and costly turnover.
The following blog uncovers the key factors behind improving morale. At the end of reading, you’ll walk away with practical ideas you can apply today to boost the morale of your own workforce.
Key factors that influence workplace morale
Employee morale is a mix of critical workplace elements that work together to keep the workforce energized, motivated, and engaged. Let’s dive into these key contributors and meet the office personalities that bring them to life.
Clear, consistent communication eliminates confusion, aligns employees with company goals, and promotes a sense of belonging. In fact, 86% of employees say poor communication is the root of workplace failures. Tools like company apps change the way you handle communication for the better, bringing your company-wide updates in a single place to keep everyone informed and engaged.
Leadership style is another driver of morale at work. When people work with supportive, communicative leaders who actively listen to everyone’s feedback and showcase empathy, teams thrive. Poor leadership, on the other hand, makes employees feel undervalued and disconnected from their work. Emphasize developing leadership communication skills to foster alignment and morale-boosting motivation.
Now add positive company cultures and consistent employee recognition. These are the final ingredients in keeping employees happy and engaged. By paving the way to a culture of inclusivity and celebrating achievements, you’ll improve both morale and retention.
Need inspiration? Check out these company culture examples to learn how to create a culture where employees thrive.
The impact of high employee morale on business success
High employee morale changes the entire recipe. With higher productivity, reduced staff turnover, smoother collaboration, and even greater innovation, your team will feel valued and motivated.
Take your team’s go-getters. They always meet their targets and consistently exceed expectations because they feel engaged and aligned with the company’s goals. Happy employees are also more likely to stay, reducing turnover costs. Studies also show that companies with high morale experience lower turnover rates and a better Employee Net Promoter Score.
But it’s not just retention. Your team has even more to gain as high morale is directly linked to better teamwork and innovation. That’s where the idea generators in your team come in to support your culture by encouraging open dialogues and input from all team members.
When morale is high, innovation flourishes, and employees are energized to tackle challenges with fresh perspectives. The connection between morale and business outcomes is clear: happier employees lead to more successful organizations.
How to boost morale in the workplace: 15 proven ideas
Let’s put it all into practice now. We’ve organized the ideas below by their purposes and potential restrictions you might have, such as current resource or budget availability.
The best employee morale booster ideas
1. Celebrate personal milestones whenever they happen
Highlight birthdays, work anniversaries, or personal achievements like weddings, new babies, or graduations in company communications. Staffbase can automate and personalize these announcements with engaging visuals. Pair this with personalized care packages you send to employees’ homes for their special milestones, such as their favorite snacks or handwritten notes.
Alternatively, you can set up a digital memory wall where employees can share photos or stories from key moments in their lives. Customizable content hubs can house and maintain this interactive feature.
2. Start a program for random acts of kindness to wow your team
Make team-wide gratitude a daily occurrence by using employee intranet platforms to let employees share thank-you notes with their peers. Go beyond simple acts and encourage your team to perform small, kind gestures for colleagues, like leaving them a gift or organizing a surprise event.
To keep the momentum alive, set up a “kindness calendar” with weekly themes or challenges, such as “Compliment a colleague Monday” or “Snack surprise Friday.” Another fun idea is to host a “random act of kindness raffle”. Employees who perform or receive acts of kindness use these to win small prizes like gift cards or team lunches.
3. Change your workspace to get rid of common challenges such as discomfort or boredom
Or rather, improve your workspace with personalized upgrades for their workstations. Use survey tools to gather preferences and communicate program rollouts. For hybrid or in-office teams, themed office days will also break the routine and encourage creativity and playfulness.
Remote employees won’t be left aside though. You can involve them in any of the programs mentioned above by making it all happen in their own homes Plus, switching up things in your digital workspace every once in a while won’t hurt either.
Fun activities to boost employee morale
4. Team-building activities that bridge the office-remote work gap
Escape room activities can be held locally or through online escape room platforms. There are also plenty of organizations and platforms (some very accessible, like Airbnb Experiences) that host collaborative, thematic events such as cooking classes, history lessons, and more.
Likewise, you can find room and time for simple activities like two truths and a lie at any point. Host this classic icebreaker during team lunches, retreats, or before a meeting. You can use social intranet chats to collect guesses and keep things interactive.
5. Social events that will get everyone together for the first time
Many of your employees might not know each other yet. This is a common problem with hybrid and remote teams, but you can fix it by hosting after-work gatherings with a fun theme or just scheduling one-on-one calls not related to work. Randomly pair employees from different teams to have lunch together or attend an online event.
And guess what? Game nights are still a thing. Host board games, card games, or video game tournaments at the office or through online platforms like Jackbox Games.
6. Wellness-focused activities for managers who truly care
Invite a yoga instructor to the office for a morning or lunchtime session. Stream these sessions online for remote colleagues. Host workshops as virtual “wellness breaks” on stress management or work-life balance led by mental health professionals.
To build daily habits, encourage employees to track their steps over a week, rewarding the most active participants. Use your company app to organize a virtual leaderboard where employees log daily activity. This keeps things playfully competitive and brings different teams together.
Boost employee morale after layoffs
7. Set up the tools you need to encourage transparent communication
Honest and empathetic change management communication can ease concerns and prevent misinformation. Share the rationale behind the layoffs, emphasizing the factors that led to the decision and the steps being taken to stabilize the organization. Use Staffbase’s internal communication platform to post video messages or detailed FAQs directly from leadership.
Keep remaining employees informed about company health and future plans through consistent updates. Use employee newsletters or newsfeeds to provide accessible, ongoing information. Further support your team through safe spaces for them to ask questions or share their concerns (anonymously or not). Staffbase’s anonymous survey tool gives employees the freedom to voice their real opinions, fostering trust and engagement.
8. Offer mental health support to help employees navigate the emotional impact of layoffs
Give your team free access to mental health professionals through an employee assistance program. These shouldn’t be stand-alone events though. Pair them with sessions focused on stress management, resilience, or coping with change. Use Staffbase to invite employees, track attendance, and share follow-up materials.
It’s also important to create a culture where seeking mental health support and well-being is encouraged and can become a part of the routine. As a leader, you come in to openly discuss the importance of mental well-being and give your team useful resources like guided meditation apps, self-care toolkits, or peer support groups.
9. Work on rebuilding trust
Rebuilding trust involves showing employees that their voices matter and that the company is committed to their growth and well-being. Engage employees in shaping the future by seeking their input on changes or initiatives. Quick pulse surveys let you collect feedback and demonstrate that their opinions influence decisions.
It’s also now more important than ever to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of remaining employees, showing appreciation for their commitment during tough times. Employee experience and recognition tools amplify these gestures with public shout-outs and personalized messages.
Once you’ve laid this foundation, outline the next paths for employees’ professional development. This will show them the company is invested in their future and is actively contributing to their development.
Gift ideas to boost employee morale
10. Send personalized notes and gifts
A heartfelt, handwritten note from a manager or leader expressing specific appreciation for an employee’s contributions. Pair it with a small treat like chocolate or tea for added thoughtfulness.
Create certificates of recognition for achievements, such as “Team Player Award” or “Innovation Champion.” For a personal touch, bring together photos from past team events or a project milestone, and frame them with a personalized message. For remote teams, send a digital version via email or company app announcement so no one will be left out.
11. Give branded items one more chance
Branded items aren’t exactly what employees expect anymore. Their decreasing popularity is mainly due to the lack of creativity behind branded gifts organizations used to send.
Practical desk accessories like branded notebooks, pens, or reusable water bottles are useful and affordable, but if your employee’s role doesn’t call for them, you’re better off looking at bigger gifts. Branded desks, chairs or homeware are more likely to make a wave instead.
Same goes for comfortable apparel, tech gadgets, wellness bags, or snack baskets. Always try to send what people will have a use for.
It’s also worth listening to every individual or directly asking them for feedback to get a better feel of what they truly need. Got someone who’s involved in conserving the environment? They sure won’t be disappointed by eco-friendly products and sustainable options like tote bags, bamboo lunch boxes, or plantable seed cards.
12. Try out experience-based rewards to offer employees memories
Wouldn’t you like to give your team members more than just an object?
Something as simple as a gift card for popular coffee shops or local eateries, giving employees a treat on the company’s behalf, can give them a chance to get out, meet their friends, or even get in touch with co-workers in their area.
Think bigger by offering tickets to community events, movie screenings, or virtual experiences like online cooking classes or escape rooms. Think even “crazier” with time-off tokens to allow employees to “redeem” a half-day or full-day off as a reward.
Cheap ways to boost morale in the workplace
13. Set up peer recognition programs to get your team to contribute to boosting morale
There’s no reason why you shouldn’t focus on rewarding your staff through peer recognition programs. Regardless of their format, they tend to cost less than many of the ideas we’ve listed above.
Test the waters by creating a physical or digital board where employees can write public notes of appreciation for their peers. Tools like employee apps can facilitate this in a virtual setting. These will be your first ways of knowing how to best use this method to boost confidence, strengthen team bonds, and spread positivity.
Make it a regular thing with weekly recognition rounds. Dedicate time in team meetings for employees to call out their colleagues’ contributions, fostering a culture of gratitude. Or, encourage team members to write short notes of appreciation for each other, perhaps using a designated “kindness wall” or digital space.
Try something different by rotating your “Employee of the Week”. Highlight team members for their efforts in internal newsletters or social media channels. Use a simple survey or nomination process to keep it fair and inclusive.
14. Offer the flexible schedules people really want
A survey conducted by Owl Labs revealed that 25% of workers would be willing to give up 15% of their annual salary in exchange for flexible working hours. Now that you know this will work, why not begin by letting employees choose work times that suit their lifestyle and responsibilities?
You can keep a bit more control over timelines by providing occasional work-from-home days. These should apply even for teams that typically work in the office, to give employees more freedom over their environment. Or, you can introduce occasional “no-meeting” or half-days for employees to focus on personal or professional needs.
15. Change the way you work through gamification
Gamification shouldn’t stop at how your team communicates. Employees appreciate gamification for daily tasks as a way of staying productive and engaged. Turn repetitive work into a game by rewarding efficiency or creativity. For example: award those who can complete tasks with the most innovative methods.
Learn more on how you can use gamification as early as the onboarding stage.
Elevate employee morale with a thoughtful internal communication strategy
Building and maintaining employee morale starts with an effective internal communication strategy, such as the one you can achieve with Staffbase’s employee connection tools, is the ultimate solution for addressing common workplace challenges like poor transparency and lack of recognition.
Staffbase gives you the tools to build trust through clear, consistent communication while creating spaces for celebrating achievements and sharing meaningful updates. With features like customizable newsfeeds, employee experience tools, a social intranet, and feedback surveys, the platform gives everyone a voice.
Ready to increase transparency by sharing company updates, recognizing achievements publicly, or connecting teams through engaging activities? Explore how Staffbase can give you and your team a dream workplace culture and keep everyone happy!
Frequently asked questions about boosting employee morale
How can you improve employee morale with benefits?
There are many methods for improving employee morale with benefits including wellness support, training opportunities, and flexible schedules. We’ve outlined a few ideas to support these in the article above. 78% of employees are more likely to stay with an employer offering strong benefits packages. This is exactly why you need to prioritize these activities next to increase employer-employee trust, make your team feel appreciated, and increase loyalty and morale for everyone.
How can you improve employee morale with pets in the workplace?
Giving pets a free space in your workplace can take a lot of burden off your employees’ shoulders. Studies reveal that 57% of employees find pets reduce anxiety. For 58% of them, pets at work increase happiness — for both the owner and colleagues. Pet-friendly policies should be part of your organization’s culture as almost 50% of dog owners find it more difficult to leave such workplaces.
How can you work towards improving employee morale in healthcare?
Working towards improving employee morale in the healthcare space comes with its set of challenges like tackling higher stress and burnout levels specific to the industry. In this context, wellness programs such as stress management workshops or mental health support aren’t optional anymore. Better work-life balance through flexible scheduling, extra paid time off, or shift-swapping also contributes to reducing burnout.
How to improve employee morale in manufacturing?
To improve employee morale in manufacturing, first focus on how you can handle challenges such as too many repetitive tasks and safety concerns. Skills training helps employees grow in their roles and feel more valued. Their own capabilities and career opportunities should be supported by automation tools that can remove routine tasks. Safety incentives tied to maintaining a safe work environment will also improve morale by making employees feel secure before all else.
How does a communication strategy boost morale in the workplace?
Consider regular town hall meetings, feedback loops, and shared communication channels to offer a single platform for leadership and employees. All communication strategies should prioritize promoting a sense of ownership and showing employees that everyone’s opinions matter. Creating customized communication apps provide a framework for day-to-day communication, keeping employees stay and informed, no matter where they work from.
How does transparency in the workplace boost morale?
When leadership is open in decision-making, employees are more confident and they know exactly where the company is heading. This openness reduces uncertainty and helps people understand why certain changes or strategies are made. Clear expectations and transparency pave the way. For example, if you want to share your financial results for the year, involve employees in planning or discussing challenges. Best practices include holding regular Q&A sessions, using company communication platforms for company-wide updates, and providing feedback channels so employees can express concerns and offer suggestions.
How can managers boost employee morale?
Managers lead the pack by creating a supportive work environment and acting as a model themselves. Consider providing regular feedback to guide development and celebrate achievements, recognizing accomplishments, and giving your team the tools they need for open communication. Tools like company apps and intranet support and enhance these efforts by making better communication and recognition available across teams.