Bribing Employees is a Good Thing

HR managers, take note: employees are unhappy. They are unhappy with their workloads and unchallenging tasks, dissatisfied with their compensation packages, uncomfortable with co-workers and angry at The Man. In fairness, work is serious business, and isn’t supposed to be fun (although I’ve argued against this in a previous post). However, there is good news: bribing employees makes them enjoy their jobs more.

Fellow psychology majors may remember the behaviorist theory of “classical conditioning,” which basically boils down to carrot and stick motivation: reward wanted behaviors, punish unwanted ones. In the workplace, I would argue that you can take this a step further: directly reward wanted behaviors, but also encourage positive attitudes by indirectly rewarding favorable work environments. This can easily be done through bribes.

Now, my use of “bribes” here is not meant to be taken literally – you can’t outright pay people to like their jobs more. You can, however, promote a happier work environment by “paying” employees to work better with one another, collaborate more, communicate better and foster an overall more collegiate work environment. This may of course be done with money: employees are regularly provided with bonuses and other financial incentives. However, in order to really promote positive interactions which will ultimately benefit morale and productivity, the “bribes” should extend beyond dollars, and focus on improving performance.

How else can employees be rewarded for behavior which leads to a happier workplace? Give them what they want: professional development, recognition, and opportunities to bond with their colleagues. As both an employee and a business owner, I know firsthand how important it is to let staff know that they are valued, and to keep them motivated by providing positive feedback, opportunities for growth, acknowledgement of good work, and the chance to just relax and have fun with their fellow workers. Doing so provides the necessary incentives to keep workers happy, engaged, and full of enthusiasm necessary to do their jobs well.

Are there downsides to this approach? Of course – I think we have all just had a very good lesson with the recent economic downturn about how excessive reward can delude staff at all levels into thinking that they are invincible, and that they can carry on with business as usual without recourse. However, keeping employees stimulated with regular “bribes” of good will, encouragement and opportunities to bond as a team will certainly help create an atmosphere which encourages teamwork, pride and positive attitude towards work in general.

What are your thoughts on “bribing” employees to keep morale high? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!