Today is Employee Appreciation Day. Whether you run a small business with five employees or manage a team of one hundred, it’s a good idea to let the people who call you boss know that they’re valued. Not only are your efforts likely to result in happier workers, but showing appreciation will benefit you, too.
How to Show Appreciation
There are so many ways to say thank you to your employees!
- Use group interests as inspiration. Are your workers a bunch of foodies? Do they love karaoke? How do they bond? Now sponsor an event or night out that shows you’ve been paying attention.
- Some businesses use a points system to show employee appreciation. Workers accumulate points for a job well done and can use those points for everything from time off to gift cards.
- Use social media to give a shout out to your stars. Show them hard at work, tag them, let their friends and family know they’re doing a great job.
- Seek their advice for success and feature that advice in a blog, newsletter, or social media post. It’s flattering to be considered an expert and be asked for an opinion. It shows respect and makes a person feel good about their work.
- Have an awards ceremony. This can be a simple affair that recognizes employees one Friday every month or an elaborate yearly party with prizes.
We worked with one of our clients on a video series that identified stellar employees. Five Grant Thornton professionals were featured in recruitment videos for the career website. But these were more than just promotional pieces, they were an example of how people who love their jobs embrace work outside the job description. These employees took the respect and trust shown by their employer and turned it into a rewarding career that benefits themselves, their clients and Grant Thornton.
Size Doesn’t Matter
A big company may be able to afford grand gestures when it comes to employee appreciation. But what about small- and medium-sized businesses? You don’t need a lot of money to show your workers a little love. Take the time to wish them a happy birthday, buy your group lunch or coffee, or send everyone home early on a Friday. Most of all, recognize good work. It only takes a moment to thank an employee for doing a good job, but that recognition can have a lasting effect.
A Happy Employee is a Productive Employee
The average person will spend more than 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. That’s 3,750 days. More than 530 weeks. More than ten straight years of 24-hour workdays. You get the point—it’s a lot of time. As an employer, you can make these hours more pleasant and less stressful. After all, a bad work environment can lead to poor relationships outside of work, which leads to a bad attitude at work and a general cycle of unhappiness.
Although some people can draw a line between work life and personal life, many can’t. Especially if you spend 9-5 being unhappy. There’s also a blurred line with all of us connected electronically and many of us working from home at least part of the week. As they say, a happy employee is a productive employee. Be a good leader by cultivating a good work environment.
Everyone Benefits from Employee Appreciation
There’s a direct correlation between employee appreciation and worker morale. Providing workers with a positive job experience means you can boost motivation, increase engagement, foster loyalty, and increase productivity. Start by showing that you trust the people who work for you. If you trust your employees, and they trust you, workdays can progress smoothly and without tension. If your employees are doing a good job, there’s no reason to micromanage, which can make an employee feel like they’re not measuring up. Conversely, if a person is treated as a valued team member, they’re invested in the company’s success. This results in ownership and pride and renewed commitment.
We’re All In This Together
Tired of turnover? If your time is eaten up by training and retraining, show your current employees that they matter and they’ll stick around longer. Like it or note, as an employer you’re in a relationship with your employee. And the fact is, relationships take work. If you fail to show your appreciation for an employee’s work, they may interpret that as a lack of respect. Or they could assume you’re not interested in promoting them or otherwise nurturing their career. Understand some of the reasons good workers quit and avoid losing staff.
Ask your employees for feedback. The people who work for you are a great source of information. They’re in the trenches every day and can tell you what works and where improvements can be made. Ask for feedback and employee ideas. Conduct stay interviews or work reviews that are truly interactive and learn from each other.
Say Thank You Every Day
Show some love on Employee Appreciation Day. Then make it a habit to communicate with workers and let them know they’re a valued part of business every day. Your efforts will be rewarded by a happy workforce that’s happy to work for you. It may even mean you get some recognition on Boss’s Day if you can wait until October.
