People want to work in a place where they feel happy and appreciated. It’s as simple as that. And keeping your staff happy has benefits for you, too. Recent research from the University of Warwick found that happy employees are more productive than those who aren’t. And happiness has also been linked to employee retention. Do your employees seem to have a case of the blahs lately? Here are 5 low or no cost ideas to encourage teamwork, increase motivation and build positive employee morale in your apartment community.

Celebrate milestones. Once a month, celebrate the folks in your office who are having birthdays, work anniversaries, weddings or other important milestones. It can be as simple as sending out an email to your team with a list of these staff members and their milestones, or perhaps bringing in a special treat on the designated date each month.

Recognize good performance. Performance reviews aren't the only time you should acknowledge the great work your employees are doing throughout the year. If an employee goes above and beyond, thank them in person immediately or give them kudos during the next staff meeting.

Form a sports team. Many cities have recreational leagues where you can sign up a team to play a variety of different sports including volleyball, soccer and softball. Form a team in your office and sign up! Or, keep it more casual by challenging the staff at another one of your portfolio’s communities to an evening game of kickball or soccer at a local park.

Schedule a volunteer activity. Giving back brings people together. Ask your employees what types of causes they’re interested in supporting, and call around to local non-profit organizations to see what types of volunteer opportunities they have for groups.

Encourage movement. I don’t know about you, but sitting at a desk all day can make me feel pretty tense. Encourage your desk-based employees to periodically stand up, stretch and take a deep breath in order to feel refreshed and rejuvenated.  

What do you do in your community to encourage teamwork and build employee morale? Please share in the comments below!