Ask an HR Pro: How Can I Improve My Employees’ Job Satisfaction?

The start of a new year inspires many of us to improve our lives. And for some, “New Year, New Me” could also mean “New Job” – which isn’t great news if you’re an HR professional or business leader with employee retention and competitive hiring markets on your mind.

Keeping your employees happy in 2025 and beyond depends greatly on their workplace well-being and job satisfaction. If they’re happy at work, they’re less likely to seek greener pastures or be lured away by headhunters.

But what is job satisfaction, and how can you influence it? We asked Chrisanne Bowden, Principal HR Business Partner at iHire, for her insights.

What Is Job Satisfaction?

Put simply, job satisfaction is how positively someone feels about their experiences at work. But there’s a lot that goes into job satisfaction beyond your employees’ day-to-day roles.

“Yes, job satisfaction involves how much your employees enjoy what they do every day. But it also includes their sense of purpose, connections with their coworkers, alignment with the company mission and values, how they perceive their impact on your organization’s success, and more,” Bowden added.

Why Does Job Satisfaction Matter?

“When your employees love their jobs, they are more productive, motivated, optimistic, and willing to learn. All of these things impact your bottom line,” explained Bowden. “Plus, job satisfaction positively impacts their personal lives.”

Through multiple global studies, Gallup uncovered five universal elements of well-being – Career, Social, Financial, Physical, and Community – and identified Career well-being as the foundation for the rest.

“Empowering your team to thrive at work also empowers them to thrive at home,” Bowden added. “When you invest in their job satisfaction, you show your employees that you care about them as humans.”

How to Improve Job Satisfaction at Your Workplace

“One of the most important things you can do to improve job satisfaction is to first establish trusting relationships with your employees. From there, meet with them regularly for ‘pulse checks’ and to get their feedback. You can do this in one-on-one meetings and through satisfaction surveys,” Bowden advised. “You may never know if a team member is bored, overwhelmed, or otherwise unhappy if you never ask.”

When employees feel comfortable expressing themselves, you’ll get honest feedback that you can put into action to keep them happy at work.

“Getting to know your team members personally and understanding their professional goals and aspirations will then enable you to create personalized career paths for them,” continued Bowden. “Understanding how they can grow with your organization is a key aspect of job satisfaction.”

Employees who feel connected to one another – or even have a work bestie or two – also have higher levels of job satisfaction.

“Ongoing team-building efforts help with this, as do structured programs like mentorships and ‘buddies’ for new hires,” said Bowden.

Finally, don’t underestimate the power of consistent and meaningful recognition.

“Find out how each employee prefers to receive praise and express your appreciation for their hard work,” Bowden said. “Be specific about how their efforts positively impact the bottom line to strengthen their sense of purpose and connection to your organization in a broader sense.”

Explore our complete library of Ask an HR Pro articles for more expert tips on how to keep employees happy. You can also book a free consultation with our HR pros for personalized guidance on employee engagement, retention, and more.