4 Ways to Help Employees Find Meaning at Work

A survey from the Globoforce WorkHuman Research Institute found employees desire a personal sense of meaning in the work they perform, which is key to retaining them, reports Fast Company . "Having a personal sense of meaning in one's work was even more important than compensation, which ranked as the third most important reason for staying," says Globoforce CEO Eric Mosley. To help employees find meaning at work, employers can offer them regular validation. Globoforce determined of employees who were recognized in the last six months, 93 percent concur their work has meaning and purpose, while just 72 percent of those who were not recognized say the same is true. A second recommendation is to link jobs to a greater societal cause. "Every individual needs to feel a sense of 'I matter,' that showing up every day makes a difference," says Skillsoft CEO Bill Donoghue. A third tip is to develop a strong sense of community of individuals, which entails "giving people the opportunity to share who they are with their colleagues, and the chance to create the kind of place in which they personally want to work," according to Funding Circle's Maria Weaver. The final recommendation is to encourage and sponsor continuous learning and career development opportunities for employees, with Donoghue contending "everyone should become a lifelong learner to develop and grow new skills and competencies."