A productive and successful business doesn’t run itself. While sound strategies and robust processes are vital, it’s a company’s employees that truly drive results. That’s why ensuring high morale should be a top priority for any manager.

Low morale affects more than just attitudes – it impacts the bottom line. Disengaged workers are less motivated, miss more days, and produce lower quality work. This leads to mistakes, missed deadlines, higher turnover, and even loss of customers. The costs quickly add up. Studies show that actively disengaged employees cost the economy around £340 billion per year!

On the other hand, high employee morale boosts productivity, innovation, and loyalty. Workers who feel positively about their jobs give more effort, provide better customer service, and collaborate effectively with colleagues. This directly contributes to meeting targets and increasing profits.

So, what are some key tactics managers can use to maintain strong morale?

Encourage Open Communication

Make sure there are open channels for providing feedback, discussing concerns, and keeping workers informed. Hold regular team meetings and one-on-one chats. Be transparent about company news, plans, and decisions. Encourage employees to ask questions and share their viewpoints. This shows you value their input.

Recognise and Reward

Notice people’s contributions and hard work by praising their efforts. Send personal thank you notes when they go above-and-beyond. Celebrate wins and milestones with team lunches or fun outings. Offer incentives like gift cards, extra time off, or public shoutouts. Even small rewards make employees feel appreciated.

Promote Collaboration

Create opportunities for colleagues to work together. Assign team projects, have brainstorming sessions, or set up mentor programmes. Collaborative efforts allow employees to support each other, develop relationships, and feel part of something bigger. Make sure to celebrate group accomplishments too.

Support Work-Life Balance

Respect employees’ personal lives by allowing flexible schedules when possible. Discourage overtime and encourage people to take holidays and sick days when needed. Show you care about more than just productivity targets. A good work-life balance reduces stress and helps morale.

Listen and Take Action

Solicit honest feedback through surveys, meetings, or your open door policy. Then show you take concerns seriously by making improvements. Whether it’s providing new training, updating equipment, or revising policies, take action to address issues. Employees will see you’re committed to making positive changes.

Work with an Expert

If morale is low, it pays to work with a consultant like The Happy Business School to boost workplace happiness; they will help you create a more employee-centric culture where people thrive. An expert can provide useful insights into what’s going wrong, plus put together a bespoke programme that will make the difference you need to ensure your employees, teams, and leaders are all on the same page.

While boosting morale requires effort, the rewards for your business make it well worth it. Employees who feel positive, valued, and engaged deliver results. So, put these tips into action, and watch productivity and morale steadily rise together. By investing in your people, you ultimately invest in your organisation’s success.

Multinational technology company Opera Software Ireland Limited has been directed by the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) to unblock Odibets, a local betting firm, and restore access to its gamblers after it emerged that Opera had been undermining the firm by financially starving it of business from members of the public.

Context and Implications

This is happening amidst a raft of stringent regulatory measures on advertising and access to betting sites in Kenya. The CAK’s order is meant to cushion Odibets from financial losses occasioned by Opera’s activities and to encourage a level playing ground in the battle for market share among betting companies.

CAK’s Directive

The order by CAK states: “Opera Software Ireland Limited is hereby directed forthwith to cease causing and desist from causing Odibets financial loss by locking out Odibets from accessing its browser and redirecting its clientele to other betting sites”.

The order of direction shall operate pending completion of the ongoing investigations on the dispute pitting Odibets against Opera.

Background of the Issue

It is reported that Opera has been blocking access to Odibets and redirecting users to rival sites, which has significantly affected the business operation of Odibets. This caught the attention of the CAK, which aims to ensure that all firms work under the same rules of fair competition.

High Court Ruling and BCLB Regulations

Earlier in the year, the High Court had directed the Betting and Licensing Control Board (BCLB) to stop the use of speed dial by betting firms to market online. The BCLB had initially warned against the trend in advertisements, citing that it brought about harm to the vulnerable internet users, key among them being the minors.

Odibets and the Betting Industry

Odibets, under Kareco Holdings Limited, is among the 128 betting companies fighting for a share of the billions of shillings in the lucrative gambling market in Kenya. The sector has seen enormous growth in Kenya and remains among the most competitive, even with the increased taxation. Kenyan gamblers placed bets worth Sh620.97 billion between 2018 and 2022, indicative of the sector’s quick growth.

Opera’s User Base in Kenya

With an estimated 13.5 million Kenyan users, mostly people with feature phones, Opera is a platform likely to greatly influence the dynamics in the market regarding the betting industry.

In a great move to make healthcare service delivery more efficient, the County Government of Bomet has launched a Web-based innovative system that will streamline the management of drugs. The system, programmed to monitor the supply of drugs from Longisa County Referral Hospital to various health facilities in the county, reduces the likelihood of patients missing important medications.

Introduction of the Online System

Health County Chief Officer for Health Dr. Felix Langat said the online system enhances accountability and availability of drugs within the health facilities while at the same time being so easy to track. Dr. Felix Langat was speaking during a press briefing at Longisa County Referral Hospital, having received medicine worth Sh32 million from KEMSA.

Enhancing Accountability and Coordination

“This system will help us trace the availability of medicines at different facilities, enhance coordination, and assure residents that when in need, they can be accessed where they are needed” Dr. Langat said. This follows perennial complaints from residents over inadequate supplies of medicines and allegations that drugs are diverted to private hospitals.

The new system assures accurate monitoring of drug distribution, de-linking unfounded myths over drug availability within the level of public facilities. The system also eases the utilization of medicines expiry dates, making sure that medicines are used in the most productive way across all the sub-counties.

Preventing Drug Wastage

According to Dr. Langat, it is important to use the drugs that are reaching their expiry in a timely way to prevent losses. He said, “We will be able to identify medicines nearing expiry and redistribute them accordingly to avoid wastage.” This proactive mechanism ensures medications are used before the expiry to save on resources.

Improved Delivery of Medical Supplies

Dr. Joseph Sitonik, the CEC in charge of health in Bomet County, praised the improved delivery rates of medical supplies under the new management of the national government. He noted that the increased rate of supply delivery concerned a higher percentage; the current delivery rate of supplies ordered is 83% compared to the previous years.

Last-Mile Delivery Approach

“The adaptation of the last-mile delivery strategy in the process of delivering supplies will see the delivery being done directly to healthcare facilities, foregoing the need to have distribution altogether at the county hospital,” explained Dr. Sitonik. Definitely, the direct delivery will ensure prompt confirmation of supply in all hospitals, consequently increasing efficiency in the delivery of healthcare services.

Encouraging Utilization of Primary Healthcare Facilities

Dr. Sitonik emphasized that the timely supply was key, noting that difficult months come after the reading of the budget as revenue allocation takes a couple of months before it gets to the counties. He called on the public to visit the primary healthcare facilities around them as he confirmed that the county is expecting vaccines for children. He asked the parents to avail their children for vaccination on time.