Employee Appreciation
The number one reason why most Americans leave their jobs is that they don’t feel appreciated. Employee appreciation is a must-have for organizations that value employee engagement. Showing appreciation for employees can increase productivity, customer service and product development.
Companies who participate in employee recognition report a turnover rate 23% lower than at companies without a recognition program, and 41% of companies that use peer-to-peer recognition have seen marked positive increases in customer satisfaction.
Recognizing employees is one of the most overlooked facets of management that even great leaders sometimes forget about. Without honest, frequent praise, people build up stress.
What is employee recognition?
Employee recognition is all about acknowledging the hard work and accomplishments of the individuals and teams within your organization. It’s really about creating an emotional connection between your employees and your company all while supporting the work your employees do each day.
Employee recognition lets employees know that their hard work is valued. It doesn’t have to cost anything, it can be done in less than five minutes and the results can have a lasting impact. Keep in mind, though, employee recognition doesn’t always have to come from the top – peer-to-peer appreciation is also valuable.
Ten ways to show employees they’re appreciated:
1. Lunch with the boss
Take employees out to lunch of their choice. Keep work talk to a minimum. Take this time to get to know more about employees’ hobbies and interests.
2. Company apparel
Who doesn’t love a free jacket, t-shirt, or ball cap? Offering employees free company apparel and other logo merchandise can be a simple, inexpensive way to say thank you.
3. Jeans day
Give out coupons that allow employees to wear jeans on a day of their choosing, or designate an all-employee jeans day!
4. VIP parking spot
Give an exemplary employee parking space for a week of month.
5. Spot awards
When you see an employee doing something right, give them a (small dollar amount) gift card on the spot. You can also give tickets to a sporting event, theater production, or musical show.
6. Impromptu time off
Spontaneous late arrival or early departure days are always great motivators. Shoot your hard-working employees a quick, “it’s a beautiful afternoon, go enjoy it!”
7. Breakfast treats
Treat your team to their favorite morning sweets – coffee, breakfast tacos, donut holes, etc.
8. Birthday celebrations
Make employees feel special on their big day. Host a team lunch, throw a small party, pass out cupcakes, blow up a few balloons.
9. Wall of fame
Create a “wall of fame.” Post customer compliments, charts/graphs depicting positive progress, copies of certificates, peer-to-peer notes of thanks, etc.
10. Pleasant break room
Redecorate beak rooms and continue to ensure they are clean and maintained regularly. Employees want to know the organization appreciates their work and are deserving of a quality space to rejuvenate.
Be sure that your recognition’s are timely, sincere and heartfelt. Do you remember the last time someone told you what a great job you were doing? That’s why it’s so important to lift up those who are putting effort in and working hard. Recognition makes people feel good about themselves. It also motivates employees to keep up the good work. Positive reinforcement sets an example for everyone in your organization, showing them the kind of work you value most. It doesn’t have to be a huge deal – it can be something sweet and simple, like a thank you note or a pat on the back.
If you have questions about successful employee appreciation programs, please contact us at 410-505-8723 or find us on the web at https://www.hrstrategygroup.com .