Simple ways to appreciate employees that don’t cost a lot
Unlock your employees’ potential through genuine acknowledgement and recognition
March 3rd is Employee Appreciation Day. But why limit gratitude to a single day? In this edition of ‘Thrive in 5’, we discuss the importance of showing your appreciation for your employees, and what that means for your organisation.
Where are we now?
Employees are among the most critical assets of any organisation and it’s essential to keep them happy and engaged — the two critical factors in maintaining a productive, thriving workplace.
As the world of work evolves, with hybrid and remote working becoming the norm and people prioritising mental health, employees increasingly seek out organisations who respect work/life boundaries and where they feel a sense of belonging. Being appreciated by the company only adds to this feeling.
In fact, organisations with formal recognition programmes have 31% less voluntary turnover than organisations without any program. The former are also 12X more likely to have strong business outcomes.
What can you do?
Studies have shown that regular recognition, at least once a month, significantly boosts employee morale and engagement. While acknowledging employees, tie your praise to a specific achievement and highlight the employee's unique qualities.
Reasons to recognise employees could include top performance, achieving specific goals, work anniversaries, or initiative-taking.
Appreciation doesn’t have to be in monetary form. A simple ‘well done’ during a team meeting can make the employee feel recognised for their work and the public platform adds weight to the compliment.
What’s next?
Starting a culture of appreciation in the workplace can present challenges, but the key is to not get overwhelmed by the details and just begin somewhere.
Even a simple shoutout at weekly team meetings to members who deserve it, or a more visible one on the company social channels can make employees feel appreciated and motivated.
Employee appreciation is a fundamental way to build trust. Personalising the message to fit the specific employee's achievements is the most effective and genuine way to show appreciation and drive employee engagement.
"Appreciation can make a day, even change a life.
Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary."
- Margaret Cousins, Suffragist and social activist