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5 Tips for Keeping Your Engineers Happy

The key to retaining your team’s strong engineers is to make them feel valuable and appreciated. While paychecks are extremely important, employee happiness requires more than the right numbers. Here are five tips to help you keep your engineers happy and engaged in their work.

1. Invest in Salaries

While happiness is about more than money, engineers will look elsewhere if they are not being paid what they think they are worth – or if a competitor comes along and offers them more money. Always pay engineers based on education and experience. If you underpay your engineers, they will feel undervalued. If you aren’t sure what the current market rate is, do some research to ensure you’re paying competitive and commensurate rates.

2. Encourage Fun

Employees do their jobs better when they like what they do. While engineering is an extremely serious field, and it requires a great deal of focus, it doesn’t mean your team doesn’t want to have a little fun. Create different opportunities for your engineers to let their hair down a bit. Set up friendly contests in the office, hold monthly or quarterly picnics (indoors or out), or set up old-fashioned games like kickball or dodgeball. These types of outings and events let engineers step out of their roles and have a little fun every now and again.

3. Invest in Comfort

Sitting at a desk all day is not only boring, but it can be hard on the body. Invest in ergonomically correct office furniture and comfortable chairs. Ask engineers if they prefer alternative workstations like standing or walking desks, and invest in those, as well.

If your engineers must travel, be sure they have comfortable cars to ride in if they use company vehicles. Invest in lumbar support for both drivers and passengers. If engineers have to stay overnight, put them up in a reputable hotel that offers quality mattress options like sleep number beds to encourage your engineers to get enough rest while on the road.

4. Offer Telecommuting and Flextime Options

Thanks to cloud computing, the 9-5 job is becoming a thing of the past. Work can happen from anywhere. Flextime and telecommuting opportunities are a great way to boost morale. They also show engineers that you care. If they are able to avoid a hectic commute and work from home once or twice a week, it can improve their attitude toward work. Flex time also shows engineers that you are willing to give them the time they need to take care of their personal business.

5. Offer Bonuses

Bonuses for hitting targets or finishing projects under budget can be a great way to improve productivity and boost morale at the same time. Engineers will work harder if they know there will be an extra kicker in their paycheck.

If your organization is looking for ways to locate, attract, and hire top engineers, Dunhill Staffing can help. Our team of experienced recruiters can get you a leg up on your competition when it comes to connecting with the right candidates for your engineering positions in the Southeast region and beyond. Contact us today to learn more about our proven methods of success.