On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Could a Cup of Coffee Lead to Better Employee Morale

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Could a Cup of Coffee Lead to Better Employee Morale Theres been much written about how we all dread Mondays, but a new survey finds that twice as many workers feel energized and productive at the beginning of the weekas compared to how they feelwhen they reach Friday. So what happens during the week that leads only 17% of workers to feel theyre on top of their game by weeks end? Thats a question being pondered byXavier Unkovic, global president for Mars Drinks, whose parent company is Mars Inc. The poll of 2,034 American employees was sponsored by Mars Drinks and Ipsos. I think the results of the poll surprised me personally, Unkovic says. I think many of us make assumptions about what energizes people and makes them productive. Its the reason we did the poll. Mars Inc. is ranked among the top 25 Best Multinational Workplaces by Great Places to Work, but Unkovic says the company isnt resting on its laurels and knows that it must keep its 75,000 worldwide workers engaged if the company wants to remain competitive andinnovative. At the same time, it believes it has some information to share on how its reached that top 25 milestone, and has launched a new campaign called Rethink the Daily Grind, which seeks to inspire other leaders and workplaces on how to engage and energize workers. Taking a page from the popularity of coffee shops as a place to meet and form a community, Mars is suggesting that workplace changes can be as simple as setting up a Monday Happy Hour. By offering hot beverages and snacks as a way to get workers and managers to communicate and collaborate in a comfortable space, its much more inviting than a sterile meeting room. For me, I think the most important thing for leaders is to build a workplace that intentionally keeps the workers going something that focuses on keeping them very energized, Unkovic says. Companies that are not thriving often have the same ailment: They dont understand what engages their workers and fail to show appreciation for what they do, he says. As a business manager, its critical that you understand people are your No. 1 asset. Your people bring your brand to life. We are all competing for talent, and if you dont do a good job (with employees),theyre going to leave. And the No. 1 reason people leave is because of line managers, he says. Unkovic agrees with the Gallupresearchthat shows great workplaces have several things in common, such as: Workers know what is expected of them. They have the materials and equipment to do the work right. In the last week, workers have received recognition or praise for doing good work. Heres something you must understand: Companies that get kudos from employees as great places to work also out outperform other companies. Theres no secret here, he says. You inspire people, and they give back. He says that when employers show employees they care about them, then employeesdeliver greater customer service, and that boosts the bottom line. The key, Unkovic says, is that its not hard for any manager in any sized company to deliver the same kind of leadership that Mars offers. Thats why Mars (read more here) Photo: gainesvillescene