Here are the top 4 answers to June’s question, “What are some of the things you do (or can do) to engage the lowest paid employees in your company?” 

1. Treat them like people. Show interest in them. Some of the jobs those people perform are called the “shit jobs”; paying attention to people who do menial tasks pays big dividends in employee appreciation. A lot of times they also know what’s going on in the company and you learn a lot about what’s going on.In manufacturing, when you lay off people most managers avoid the people being let go like the plague. Of course, it’s usually the lowest paid employees too. They really appreciate the fact that they’re valued.
2. Most of our people are salaried, but we have a newer, less experienced person in the office. When we hire employees, we let them pick their own desk accessories and give them the opportunity to have a desk that raises and lowers.I empty garbage and clean bathrooms in the office; I also take out the trash. I try to do it at times when they see me doing that work. Then when I need someone to mop the front area or vacuum, I don’t feel bad asking someone to do that work because they’ve seen me doing it.
3. Get to know who they are as people. Show interest in their lives – treat them as valuable parts of the team, because they are. Be less rigid. Who else would do the menial jobs they do if they weren’t working for me? Probably me! When people have something going on, encourage them and show confidence in their ability.
4. I have an “entrepreneur in training” in the North Branch Roundtable. He’ll be a freshman next year at NDSU. I had to share his input.
   My brothers and I work two or three sweet corn stands. It’s boring work: hours of sitting in a lawn chair waiting for someone to stop and buy our corn. I’m the oldest which makes me the boss. I let them know when they do a good job and I’ve learned praise works a lot better than criticism.