Journalist and social commentator Taiwo Olapade has urged employers to look beyond timely salaries and embrace comprehensive non-monetary incentives to motivate workers and improve productivity.
Speaking as a guest on Lagos Television’s The Conversation on the topic, “Staff Motivation Beyond Cash Reward,”Olapade said rising socio-economic pressures mean that salaries alone may not be enough to inspire employees to give their best at work.
He identified health insurance, welfare packages, 13th-month bonuses, festive support and recognition programmes such as “Staff of the Month” as important incentives that can boost morale and encourage healthy competition among employees. According to him, a healthy workforce is essential to building a productive organisation.
Olapade also stressed the need for employers to create a workplace where staff feel valued and have a genuine sense of belonging. He warned against overworking employees by assigning the duties of multiple personnel to individuals, saying such practices could lead to exploitation and burnout.
He further advocated flexible work arrangements, including remote and hybrid options, noting that such measures can ease the burden of commuting, particularly for workers in high-traffic cities like Lagos. He maintained that employee loyalty and retention are better sustained through fair compensation, empathy, job security and supportive working conditions.
