Over the last few years, companies have been adopting different workplace models to help improve overall employee loyalty. This comes after employees quit their jobs in droves at the height of The Great Resignation sparked by the pandemic.

To ensure companies and organizations have a strong sense of connection with their employees, management will often improve the workplace environment and related benefits to help increase corporate loyalty. With more workers loyal to their workplace, companies often enjoy better turnover, increased productivity, and a general sense of positivity among employees. 

Workplace loyalty has become an important part of nearly every business these days, and in some instances, a majority, or more than 82% of employees felt a strong sense of loyalty towards their current employer according to a study done by West Monroe, a consulting firm based in Chicago, Illinois. 

What is Employee Loyalty?

Employee loyalty in most instances is fostered and curated over time, and not all companies will share the same strategy when it comes to building a strong sense of workplace loyalty

Traditionally, employee loyalty constitutes when employees or staffers tend to remain at a company for longer. This can only take place in an environment where employees feel valued, and appreciated and have a similar belief in the company’s mission. 

Usually, those employees that are considered to be more loyal than others will invest a lot of time and energy into the business or company to help drive organizational success and ensure that the company meets its goals. 

This also ties in with employee satisfaction, which is generally a reflection of company loyalty towards job sharing, fosetering a meaningful contribution, and providing more resources wihtin the work hours of the company.

A big part of employee loyalty matters comes in with job satisfaction, and in this case, it’s clear that those employees who are more satisfied with their job or role, will be less likely to look for other near-term career opportunities. 

Characteristics of Loyal Employees

When viewing loyal employees from an individual perspective, it becomes easy to see where staff loyalty is positioned, and how many of them often share mutual respect among each other.

Though it’s not advised to compare a loyal employee with one another, as each will carry their individual qualities, understanding the characteristics of loyal followers will help managers and team leaders foster even better relationships with colleagues.

  • Loyal employees will often share a high level of integrity towards their employer, their team, and the work they are pursuing. 
  • They look for ways to communicate more openly about topics others are not talking about.
  • There is a strong sense of communication and relationship-building among their peers. 
  • Often loyalists will support their colleagues, team members, and the business through challenging conditions. 
  • They tend to showcase better public support for the company. 
  • There is a clear sense of boundary between the employee and the work they do. 
  • They often practice strong leadership abilities, even when it is not asked or expected of them. 
  • Loyalists will follow through with their plans and are constantly looking for ways to improve their ability with inquisitive conversations. 

As a sample, we see that loyal followers in the workplace generally reflect a positive and motivational spirit. These loyal employees enjoy taking charge and helping resolve issues whenever a problem arises, ensuring that the outcomes are aligned with the company or organizational goals. 

Why is Loyalty Important in the Workplace

It’s important for an employer or team leader to properly guide and fostering employee loyalty during their time at the company. To increase employee loyalty, there is often some best practices to follow, just as with building customer loyalty through public relations.

Ensuring that employees remain loyal to a company or brand during or after their time with the organization, employers can create an environment where employees are supported and motivated. 

The importance of loyalty in the workplace will mean that productive employees are encouraged to do more than what is expected of them. They tend to support the company mission and tirelessly pursue the goals of the organization. 

Generally, this would help create a more diverse and inclusive workplace where employees feel determined to meet company expectations, help increase workplace productivity, and help to reduce employee turnover rates. 

The more employees feel valued, the easier it will be for their employers to have a strong band of workers that are always looking for innovative and creative ways to help increase marketplace exposure, attract and retain clients, and help build towards something bigger. 

Check Out Employee Loyalty in the Workplace: 4 Essential Keys to Gain Loyalty in the Workplace:

Advantages of Employee Loyalty

Enhanced Productivity

For those employees that value their employer and the workplace, it’s easy to go the extra mile, taking on more responsibility when required and helping to improve organizational output. On top of this, it also helps to know that those who are more loyal will emulate positivity which can help to motivate others in the office.

Increased Profits

The more employees are geared towards a certain goal, the easier it will be for the company to see a change in profits, usually for the better. Loyalists will take the lead in projects to ensure that the best possible outcomes are achieved and that it not only benefits them but also their company. 

Improves the Company’s Image

Brand image is a big part of what the consumer often sees on social media and billboards. Having more determined and valued employees means that even in public these workers will support the company, and portray a more positive image of their employer. 

Attracts Top Talent

Employees want to work for companies that see potential in their abilities and invest in their careers.

This would often mean that companies who are more openly supportive of their staff will attract and retain the best talent for open positions. Instead of seeing higher employee turnover, companies may often experience positions being filled faster and with highly skilled workers. 

Employee Loyalty Boosting Techniques

Making sure that the workplace emulates a sense of motivation, while also having dedicated employees requires employers to take some responsibility by introducing loyalty-boosting techniques

There are several ways of boosting employee morale, especially during challenging times, or when a big project needs to be completed. 

Recognize and Appreciate

Those companies that focus on recognizing and appreciating employees, whether it’s through words of affirmation or even in a monetary sense have experienced better workplace loyalty. 

According to a Gallup/Workhuman survey, 73% of surveyed employees claimed to feel less tired and burned out if they are being recognized for their contribution to the company. More so, those staffers that are appreciated are far less likely to be looking for a new job or applying their talents to other projects. 

Offer Incentives and Perks

Another way to boost office loyalty is to provide some sort of workplace incentive or perk. The more employees are rewarded for their work, whether it’s a physical or monetary incentive, the more likely they are to remain motivated. 

A Genesis Associates study found that 85% of workers felt more motivated after they received some sort of office perk. This led to better employee engagement and helped to create stronger employee retention. 

Positive Work Environment

Creating a positive work environment is only possible if employers and team leaders are all on track with what the company aims to achieve and how they manage their staff. If employees are exposed to toxic and negative work environments, they are more likely to resign or look for new opportunities

What’s more, those employees that are in a less toxic workplace setting are generally happier and feel more connected with their employer. 

Invest in Their Development

Satisfied employees stay longer; not only this but those that are exposed to more career advancements and development opportunities will often feel more motivated to stay with a specific company for longer. A survey found that more than 94% of employees will stay at their current employer if they were offered learning and development opportunities.

Why Is Loyalty Important in Leadership

While ensuring employees remain loyal to the workplace, it’s often only possible to create and establish this environment if the upper-level management team and leaders also share the same experience. 

Having loyalty among leadership helps to motivate workers and helps to establish more valuable relationships between management and staffers. 

If leaders are more encouraged and share a better understanding of organizational goals, it will be easier for them to pursue these achievements.

Additionally, their attitude will mirror those employees that follow their guidance and cultivate a positive working environment for both leaders and mid-level staff. 

Examples of Loyalty in the Workplace

Examples of what workplace loyalty might look like include: 

  • Pride in their work
  • Effective communication
  • Strong interpersonal relationships
  • Public support 
  • Peer-to-peer support 
  • Dedicated workforce
  • A shared sense of respect
  • Effective workplace ethics 

FAQs

Why Is Loyalty So Important in the Workplace?

It helps to keep employees motivated, which ultimately translates into better productivity, increased profits attracts the best talent for open vacancies, and lowers employee turnover rates. Having workplace loyalty boosts overall morale and establishes and cultivates a positive office environment.

Final Thoughts

Workplace loyalty can wear many different masks, but ultimately it is up to employers and team leaders to cultivate a workplace environment where employees can feel motivated and encouraged.

The better chance of growth and opportunities, the more like employees will be to stay at their current employer. 

On top of this, it’s possible to see employees share better peer-to-peer relationships if they are motivated by incentives or workplace perks, but in general, it’s easier to have a loyal employee following if they are simply being recognized and appreciated for their contribution to the company. 

Sabine Ghali

Kelly Murphy

PRESIDENT & FOUNDER

Certified Meeting planner with 20+ years of event management experience, founder of ConferenceSource, expert in meeting facility sourcing & contracting in North America, Europe, South America and Asia. Kelly will manage your budget as if they were her own, negotiating the best possible rate and hotel contract to benefit and protect every client and exceed all expectations for all planning aspects for sales meetings, educational meetings, product launches, incentive trips down to a small board of directors meeting. We make meetings easy understanding your meeting objectives and delivering meeting matched components.