Do your employees seem unmotivated? Perhaps they don’t have the spring in their step they once had, or are experiencing burnout.

When workers aren’t happy, their performance suffers. Low morale can lead to poor productivity or customer service, which can hurt your company’s reputation.

Your employees’ happiness, or lack thereof, can also affect their personal lives. Those who are content at work are twice as likely to thrive in other areas of life, such as their relationships.

On the other hand, employees who aren’t happy in the workplace tend to report higher levels of depression, stress, and heart disease.

As an employer, there are certain things you can do to boost morale and productivity. Providing your staff with incentives can give them something to strive for, while letting them know you appreciate their efforts and hard work.

Here are three incentives you could offer to your employees to boost their motivation.

1. Health and wellness benefits

Healthy people generally tend to be more productive. Workplace health programmes can help increase output and reduce employee absence owing to illness.

So, consider offering onsite health screenings or free healthy lunches for your workers. Alternatively, why not provide free gym memberships to promote health and wellness among your employees?

Some gyms offer corporate discounts, which might also be a tax-deductible expense. It’s generally a win-win for everyone.

If you have room in the workplace, consider an in-office gym for employees to use in their downtime. If your staff spend a lot of time at their desks, perhaps offer standing desks or those fitted with a walking pad or treadmill.

Additionally, you could reward employees who make healthy choices – for example, by offering small bonuses to those who quit smoking, take the stairs instead of the lift, or reach their monthly step goal.

2. Professional-development opportunities

It is essential to allow employees the chance to grow within the company. One way to do this is to offer professional-development opportunities.

These will vary according to your industry – for example, if you own a hair salon, consider holding professional classes after-hours to help your stylists stay up-to-date with techniques and trends.

Run learning or professional-development events, or encourage staff to join courses that help them continue their education or advance their skills.

Conferences and conventions can be an excellent way for them to stay on top of the latest industry trends.

3. Tuition assistance

Relatedly, why not support your staff who are looking to improve their knowledge and skills? Ongoing education can help them succeed within your company – for instance, by allowing them to be promoted or to move departments with their new qualifications.

Offering to pay for your employees to get a certificate, diploma, or perhaps even a degree will benefit both parties in the long run: he or she will gain new career skills and proficiency, while you’ll gain an employee with more knowledge and expertise.

Assistance can take the form of reimbursement after employees pay for their own tuition fees upfront.

Remember, employees are more than just workers: they’re people. Allowing them to feel appreciated will boost company morale and, in turn, help your business to grow.

Read more articles by Dennis Relojo-Howell here.

Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg and host of ‘The DRH Show’. Connect with him on X (Twitter) at @dennisr_howell.