So, what are some ways you can show your employees you care? And if you are a small business or struggling with resource constraints in the current environment— what are some low-cost ways to make your employees feel like you care and thus increase company morale?

• Feedback Sessions

Allow your employees an opportunity (either monthly or quarterly) to share new product ideas or to provide feedback on certain aspects of the business (UX, customer service, etc). By allowing them a voice they are more likely to feel invested in the future of the company. It also encourages cross-departmental cooperation if say the Finance department feels involved in product development.

• Career Advancement Opportunities

Countless HR studies and articles mention that a top concern for employees is career advancement. Employees want to know what it takes and how long it will be to get to their dream position and ideal salary. By providing a requirements matrix and being as transparent as possible on how to achieve promotions, you give employees something to work toward and a certain level of certainty about a positive outcome for the future.

• Celebrating Accomplishments

Everyone wants to feel valued—not just monetarily but appreciated. Most people value a flexible working environment. Combine these two employee desires and use working from home as an incentive and reward for accomplishing company goals. For example, if your team meets certain growth goals, you can reward them with “Summer Fridays.” You’ve found a low-cost way to motivate your employees and achieve business objectives.

• Sharing the Big Picture

All business owners have a vision of what they want to achieve for the business. By allowing employees to share in that vision and also by setting expectations for them with this vision (once we achieve 30% growth, we want to hire more department heads or go into a new geographic market) you are providing a sense of security that increases morale.

• Health & Fitness

It’s no secret that fitness increases health and boosts energy. By providing opportunities for team fitness activities, you show your employees you care about their well-being, you encourage team building, and also give them a great stress management tool.

Ultimately what employees want is a sense of security. If you are able to provide all or some of the above recommendations, your employees will feel more invested in your company and product, which will in turn result in higher quality work and productivity.