Tenured employees have excelled at their job for so long, they can begin to disengage with their work. It's up to the organisation to motivate them once again.
Every organisation has one: The long tenured worker who was once the most productive and innovative in the office, but has since lost a bit of his or her motivation.
The truth is, veteran staff members aren't the only ones to blame if they're lacking the professional firepower they once had. It's entirely likely management has focused its efforts on getting the most out of younger employees, hoping Baby Boomers and Generation X would set an example on their own accord.
"Elite workers have three traits in common."
It's time to stop wishing and start acting; organisations that expect high levels of engagement across the board need to facilitate it.
A company's most valuable asset
It shouldn't come as a surprise that the longer a person has been with a business, the more valuable he or she is to them. This isn't just because that staff member knows the industry well, or has a deep understanding of the product. The highest performing individuals in a given company have three traits in common, with longevity being one of them, according to data collected by Gallup:
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Been apart of the organisation for over 10 years.
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Engaged with workplace culture and day-to-day responsibilities.
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Talents are utilised well in current position.
Employees with all three characteristics are those that companies can rely on, as they outperform the average peer by 18 per cent, according to Harvard Business Review. Unfortunately, a study conducted by the source identified just 5 per cent of staff members - out of 7,000 participants - are tenured, engaged and in a role suitable to their natural skills.
Australian organisations in particular can focus on improving a few aspects of employee engagement in an effort to motivate their long-time staff members. While international workers are motivated first and foremost by financial compensation, Australians have been found to value work/life balance and workplace recognition more, Business Insider reported.
"Tenured employees are a company's most valuable asset, but not unless they're motivated."
Revamp your workplace
It's easy to learn how to motivate employees. It's much more difficult to maintain that improved productivity consistently across generations of staff. This is where many tenured employees begin to disengage with their work. They've excelled for so long, management no longer recognises a job well done.
Publicly acknowledging when a long-time employee does an excellent job on a project or goes beyond what was asked is akin to giving out a pay raise or bonus, according to Robert Half. This can be done in one of two ways; during a departmental meeting or through a digital platform or intranet that allows all staff members to see the recognition and pass along their own praise. An "Employee of the month" plaque is quickly forgotten, and it's likely the tenured worker already earned a few - avoid these at all costs.
Publicly acknowledge tenured employees.
It's also prudent to go one step beyond and pair acclaim with a gift. Tickets to a play that are difficult to obtain, or a gift card to a famous local restaurant are just a few of the unique, yet affordable methods of compensation, Robert Half reported.
Ultimately, organisations should be working towards developing a performance-based employee rewards program that ties public recognition to professional achievements. By assigning points to closing a deal or generating qualified leads, tenured staff members are more likely to maintain the motivation that kept them there all those years in the first place.
A company's most valuable asset is a culturally engaged and tenured employee, as they outperform all others. Setting up an effective rewards and recognition system takes effort, but the return on investment will last for years down the line.
Want to learn how to motivate your employees? Contact a Power2Motivate representative today.