The Happiness Equation
19 June, 2023
From Gratitude to Greatness: Top 8 Ways to Appreciate Your Employees
One question you need to ask yourself right away as an employer is whether you are going that extra mile to thank your employees for their hard work or not. Many companies have installed employee-recognition programs to not only uplift their workforce both emotionally and otherwise but also to reap significant benefits of a high-performing workforce themselves. Employee appreciation is a must-have in every company and organization, it goes a long way in creating a positive work environment where employees feel seen, heard and valued. In today’s fast-paced world of employment, Patron Career Staffing Company recognizes the importance of addressing employees’ overall contributions towards the success of an organization.
In this article, we explore eight meaningful ways you can show appreciation to your employees, alongside the numerous advantages that come along with it.
8 Creative Ways to Thank Your Employees
1. CUSTOM-MADE NOTES
A simple yet effective method to use is to write a thank-you note for when the employee deserves appreciation beyond a simple congratulatory message or when you are prevented from showing immediate appreciation. The power of a handwritten card is much more than you can imagine. It will make a significant impact on the employee because you show him that his work is seen and valued.
Advantage: imagine an employee who finds a trophy along with a tailored card celebrating his outstanding performance on his work desk as he arrives in the office. He will feel elated and give him a sense of individual recognition and enhance the emotional connection between him and the company. That is what personalized rewards such as gift cards, sharing experiences or trophies do.
2. EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Investing in an employee’s career surges the prospects of employee advancement within that organization as well as demonstrates the company’s commitment to the employee’s long-term success. Every employee at work seeks career progression as a person and a professional goal. As an employer, you must take the time to help forward the professional capabilities of an employee by giving him outstanding opportunities to upskill and grow. Provide training, skill enhancement workshops, conferences, and seminars to mindfully enhance their skills and knowledge.
Advantage: helping an employee to professionally grow in his career has many benefits such as increased employee engagement, improved retention rates, and widening the company’s talent pool.
3. FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENTS
Your employees will indeed thank you for offering them flexible work options such as remote work, flextime, career breaks or sabbaticals, shift swapping with colleagues, flexible lunch breaks, part-time work, and much more. By encouraging a healthy integration of work and personal life, you exhibit trust and respect for your workforce.
Advantage: it promotes work-life balance, diminishes burnout and excessive stress levels, and boosts employee productivity and loyalty.
4. PUBLIC RECOGNITION
Go public with your employees’ achievements, and let everyone at the office know how they did a great job. This is an excellent way to show appreciation for your employee’s accomplishments and dedication. You can do this by making company-wide announcements, on social media platforms, newsletters, by sharing their success stories and experiences and so on.
Advantage: public recognition boosts employee morale, competition spirit, and satisfaction and of course enhances job productivity.
5. GIVE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND PERKS
Employees long for incentives when they do their best. Without disappointing them, you should strive for offering your employees pay raises, bonuses, healthcare coverage, retirement plans, paid leaves, discounts, free lunches and other fringe benefits.
Check out this blog to know how you can design an effective employee benefits program.
Advantage: the ROI of employee benefits include- retention of key employees, reduced employee turnover, and increases overall job satisfaction and engagement of employees.
6. MENTAL WELLBEING PROGRAMS
Employees especially young ones are aware of the importance of emotional wellness and its causation on overall productivity in the organizational work.
Therefore, employers must aim to prioritize their employees' physical and emotional well-being by offering gym memberships, yoga classes, wellness communications, on-site health screenings, healthy snacks, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and access to mental health professionals and support groups.
Advantage: it will manage the stress levels of employees, help them to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. It will also contribute to positive work culture, reduce absenteeism and improve employee wellness.
7. COACHING AND MENTORSHIP
To show appreciation for your employee's hard work, you should implement training and coaching session for employees within your company. You can even pair new talent with work buddies who are experienced employees to grant guidance and support.
Advantage: when given opportunities for growth advancement, employees will feel appreciated and it will boost employee engagement and even foster the development of employees.
8. CELEBRATE, MORE OFTEN
Surprise employees, treat them, arrange recreational getaways, celebrate their happy birthdays, and invest in their happiness, because well, they deserve it! Celebrate even the small wins and acknowledge the big milestones as well. Highlight their best practices, and achievements and make them feel valuable to the organization.
Advantage: Acknowledging your workforce’s achievements more often, will help build a positive work environment, inspire other employees, cultivate loyalty and improve employer-employee relationships.
The Bottom Line
Showing appreciation through the above-mentioned methods is more than just a nice gesture. It has numerous benefits for both employees and the organization. Remember, appreciation methods must be tailored to specific employees to fully unlock an employee’s potential. All companies, whether small or big, should cultivate a habit of employee enrichment through appreciation and inspire excellence in the workforce.
For a company like PCS, which provides staffing solutions to employers and businesses all over the GTA, feedback is an integral part of our work. Whether it is formal, informal, external, or internal, giving and receiving feedback aids us in the improvement of our services and leads us toward greater success.
