While there is no magic formula for workplace happiness, there are things employers can and should do to foster a healthier working environment and increase employee happiness and satisfaction.

Robert Half, the world's first and largest human resource consulting firm, recently released a white paper report on the factors influencing employee and company happiness. The survey is based on responses from over 12,000 employees in the United States and Canada. Respondents were asked 30 questions about their job satisfaction and what they attribute it to. In addition, the report investigated significant factors that contribute to employee satisfaction and provided insightful observations into what makes employees happier and more productive.

This raises the question of how organizations can improve employee satisfaction.

So here are the top 10 ways to keep your team happy without offering raises.

1. Make work-life balance a priority. Employers must foster an environment where their employees excel at work while enjoying a full and fulfilling life. Flexible working hours and remote working is the key to such ideal life, allowing employees to prioritize their responsibilities better and improve their attitude at work.

2. Include employees in the big picture. Allowing employees to make decisions on their own or with little direction is another factor that improves employee happiness in various ways. Managers should provide more opportunities for employees to take full ownership and contribute their ideas. Schedule working sessions where employees can present their ideas or brainstorm with peers to develop new ideas, provide feedback, and be a part of the creative process.

3. Make them feel proud. Employee pride in their organization is a top driver of workplace happiness, according to the Robert Half report. Employees are motivated to be more involved in the organization and produce higher quality work when they are proud of where they work and aligned with the company's vision and goals.

4. Provide more vacation time. Reward your top performers with additional vacation days. These employees are your superstars, so you can trust that they will complete their tasks while enjoying some well-deserved time off with family and friends.

5. Encourage communication in common areas. Businesses should create spaces where employees can easily communicate and share ideas, as conversations in the break room can evolve into collaborative discussions. Try to make it pleasant and peaceful, where they may go to clear their minds, de-stress, replenish their batteries, and interact around shared interests.

6. Plan a career path. Businesses must hold regular career planning discussions with their employees. Make sure employees are aware of the various types of career paths or job opportunities available throughout the company as part of their training and development.

7. Always express gratitude. Employees rarely become dissatisfied or leave for financial reasons. When they become disenchanted, it is usually because they dislike their boss, are uninterested, or believe they have stopped learning. A positive culture and workplace environment are extremely beneficial because they promote teamwork and communication, increasing engagement and opportunities for teammates to learn from one another.

8. Treat them with appreciation and fairness It goes without saying that all employees should be treated fairly and with respect and appreciation. Ensuring that all employees have access to the same resources and information is a critical factor to consider when creating a fair environment, especially as teams continue to be distributed across different remote work locations.

Also, consider establishing clear guidelines for promotions and raises that you can follow. This allows you to be clear and transparent with your employees and serves as a reference when an employee inquires about the possibility of their own promotion.

9. Recognize and reward employees on a regular basis. The frequency of rewards is more important than the size, as smaller, more frequent positive feedback and rewards will keep people happier longer than a single large, infrequent happy event. Even the most significant awards or raises wear off in less than a year, with most employees responding better to small doses every few days.

10. Provide benefits that go beyond the basics. There are numerous ways to supplement employees' salaries by assisting them in other aspects of their lives. For example, you can provide additional life insurance or disability insurance to employees to protect their income. Employees appreciate other ancillary benefits such as dental, optical, and wellness. Additionally, gym memberships and transportation benefits are excellent benefits for keeping employees happy and healthy. It is critical to provide better benefits so that your employees know you genuinely care about them and their families.