4 Ways Your Small Business Can Lead In Employee Satisfaction

Julie Starr • January 20, 2023



If you recently started a small business and expanded your team, you may be thinking about how you can keep your new staff feeling their best. In the event that employee satisfaction wasn’t a top priority before, now’s your time to create a healthy work environment. Here are four easy ways to lead in employee satisfaction and make your business one your employees will feel proud to be a part of:

1. Incentives

To combat the mundaneness of the everyday workflow, introduce friendly competition for a small reward to motivate those who need an extra push. Everyone wants to feel that their work is benefiting the greater cause, whether it be from generating sales or efficiently delegating a team. Creating incentives that reward employees for their efforts will keep them engaged and striving to work their hardest.

Looking for incentive ideas? Here are a few ways to reward your staff:

  • Establish an employee recognition program
  • Give out company-branded apparel or items
  • Hold more frequent compensation reviews
  • Offer continued learning or development opportunities

Employee recognition isn’t just for top performers. It’s also important to acknowledge those who’ve been trying their hardest and staying consistent or improving in their work efforts! 

2. Benefits

Growing a team means providing a benefits package employees can feel secure with. Health insurance, paid family leave, and retirement plans are among the many crucial components to creating the perfect package. Adding extra benefits that offer employee perks such as a health and wellness program, can be highly favored by employees. If you don’t feel financially comfortable providing these big-ticket items for your employees just yet, obtaining the sufficient funds to put these in place can help get you in a more comfortable position. Not only are these benefits essential for the well-being of your employees, but they can also be a major attraction for job applicants. 

3. Work-Life Balance

Being a small business allows greater flexibility, which is something many larger corporations can’t offer their employees. With 48% of Americans identifying as being a workaholic , burnout among your team can feel inevitable. Therefore, being adaptable and flexible with your employees can make a lasting impact on the efficiency of your business! 

 

As an employer, promoting work-life balance can seem counterintuitive, but encouraging employees to take a personal day now and then can increase their productivity. Balance doesn’t always have to mean taking a day off, seeing that employees take a lunch break or even a walk around the office can allow them a mental break throughout their day. You may want to also look into how to create a 24 hour schedule depending on your line of work. This way you can avoid one particular employee being overworked and experiencing burnout.

 

To further avoid burnout, making flexible work hours a part of your business model can give employees a more relaxed way to schedule their work week. Having a 9-5 every day can become a tiring routine; working a different 8-hour schedule within business hours could be the change in workflow your employees need!

4. Team Building

If you expand your business and onboard more people to the team, creating team-building activities can be a great way to invite innovation and creativity into the workplace. Collaboration among different departments will ensure everyone understands your company’s goals and offer the opportunity to witness everyone’s contribution. 

Many companies encourage team building through company-wide retreats. Holding one for your employees can help everyone feel comfortable meeting one another without the pressure of missing out on day-to-day work requirements or easing back into in-person work. 

Here are a few events you can host to kickstart team-building traditions:

  • Hire a speaker for a day
  • Rent a park for a company picnic
  • Have an office party to celebrate a big win
  • Create weekly or bi-weekly company meetings 

Not everyone who works for you will be excited to come to work every day, but slowly introducing these practices into your small business will create a culture your  employees will be increasingly excited to work in. This will make you a stronger employer and increase your employee’s satisfaction!

Why Telling Your Sustainability Story Matters — And How Taiga Company Can Help

By Julie Starr • December 17, 2024
In today’s world, sustainability is no longer a buzzword—it’s a business imperative. Consumers, investors, and stakeholders are demanding more transparency and accountability from brands. They don’t just want to know what you sell; they want to know who you are, what you stand for, and how your work contributes to a better world. That’s where your sustainability story comes in. Sharing your achievements in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives isn’t just about meeting expectations—it’s about building trust, fostering loyalty, and inspiring action. At Taiga Company, we specialize in helping organizations authentically communicate their sustainability achievements in ways that drive measurable impact and align with their goals. Why Sharing Your Sustainability Achievements Is Good for Business Build Trust with Stakeholders Sustainability storytelling builds credibility and trust. Whether you’re addressing investors, employees, or customers, sharing your sustainability milestones demonstrates your commitment to accountability and long-term value creation. For example: Highlight your efforts in achieving science-based targets, reducing carbon emissions, or adopting circular economy practices. These stories resonate with audiences looking for businesses that align with their values. Differentiate Your Brand In a competitive marketplace, sustainability can set you apart. Brands that communicate their achievements in regenerative agriculture, water stewardship, or biodiversity conservation position themselves as industry leaders and innovators. Think of it this way: A well-told sustainability story is not just a report—it’s a statement of leadership, authenticity, and purpose. Drive Stakeholder Engagement Sustainability stories invite dialogue. By showcasing meaningful milestones, like successful recycling initiatives or community reforestation projects, you foster stronger relationships with stakeholders who want to be part of your mission. Engagement isn’t just about storytelling; it’s about inspiring action. Whether through social media campaigns, press releases, or executive thought leadership, your achievements can encourage others to collaborate and support your goals. Attract Purpose-Driven Talent and Customers Today’s workforce and consumers seek brands with purpose. Communicating your impact helps attract talent and customers who align with your mission. A transparent, well-executed sustainability strategy speaks volumes about your leadership and values. At Taiga Company, we specialize in results-driven communications that empower purpose-led brands to share their sustainability achievements with confidence and clarity. Our services ensure your story resonates with the audiences that matter most. Your sustainability achievements deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Whether it’s reducing carbon emissions, innovating in sustainable packaging, or leading water stewardship initiatives, telling your story is an opportunity to inspire trust, drive action, and shape a better future.

Why Going Green Is No Longer Optional for Industry Leaders

By Julie Starr • December 16, 2024
Alright, so here’s the deal, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword anymore. Sure, at this most most industries, yes, even the most unsustainable industries have this general idea, right? Well, you’re always going to find some businesses in some niches (and yes, industries too) who think that it doesn’t apply to them. But no, it applies to all niches and all industries, and yes, it’s a business requirement. Now, across every industry, the companies that are embracing green practices are the ones that are thriving. Why? Well, because customers, investors, and employees are all paying attention. If a business isn’t making an effort to be sustainable, it’s not just falling behind, it’s losing out. Overall, sustainability isn’t just about saving the planet; it’s about saving your business. Yes, this needs to be hammered in, so industry leaders, here’s why you’re just not excused. Green Practices Mean Growth Yep, it’s that plain and simple, So, sustainability isn’t just about doing the right thing, it’s about doing the smart thing. Businesses that prioritize green practices are cutting costs, staying competitive, and building trust with their audiences. So, reducing waste, switching to renewable energy, and sourcing materials ethically aren’t just good for the planet, they’re great for the bottom line. Simple enough, right? Well, take packaging, for example. Cutting down on unnecessary plastics doesn’t just make customers happy; it slashes production and disposal costs. So, switching to energy-efficient operations isn’t just environmentally friendly, rather, it saves a fortune on utilities. There don’t need to be roadblocks seen, rather they should be opportunities! There’s Plenty to Gain Okay, so sustainability isn’t just for industries with obvious environmental impact, it’s critical in healthcare too. Again, no excuses here. Hospitals and clinics use massive amounts of energy, and the waste from single-use supplies piles up fast. The same can be said for labs, and pharmacies too. Actually, go ahead and take specialty drugs as an example. Now, most people know that these life-changing treatments are for serious conditions, but they often come with sky-high costs. But why? Well, the production and distribution processes can be incredibly resource-heavy. But even sustainable practices can help lower prices, such as energy-efficient manufacturing or even cutting down on excess packaging. It might be hard to see, but little changes can make massive impacts on costs (and what’s being spent on both ends). Tech Easily Shows How Sustainability Drives Innovation The tech industry has been leading the charge when it comes to sustainability, and the results speak for themselves. Actually, companies like Google and Apple are proving that being green isn’t just possible, but this can actually be pretty profitable! If tech companies can do this, then yeah, all industries are capable. So above, medicine was mentioned, but data centers are also a great example ( since they use a lot of energy). Well, nowadays, most companies are now powering these centers with renewable energy, cutting costs and emissions at the same time. No Industry Gets a Free Pass It doesn’t matter if it’s healthcare, tech, retail, or manufacturing, basically, every industry has something to gain by going green. There are small examples like retailers ditching plastic bags for reusable ones. Then there are bigger examples like factories rethinking supply chains to cut emissions and save costs. But the reality is that businesses sticking to wasteful, outdated practices are falling behind. Besides, governments are rolling out stricter regulations.
Share by: