A Guide to Employee Appreciation
RECOGNITION LEADS TO RETENTION
Retention Rates Are Linked To Employee Recognition
- 87% of company recognition programs enhance tenure
- Over 91% of HR professionals believe that recognition and reward make employees more likely to stay
- When employees feel appreciated, there is an 84% decrease in the chance they will experience burnout
- 78% of workers say that being appreciated motivates them in their job
- An employee who has been recognized is 63% more likely to stay at his or her current job within the next three to six months
Benefits Of Employee Recognition
- Promotes employee retention
- Increase employee engagement
- Improve employee performance
- Make your employees feel valued
- Reduce turnover
- Promote specific products & services
- Improve customer service
- Create a more productive team
How To Recognize Your In-Office / Hybrid Employees
- Say It With A Sticky Note. Choose from one of these 50 Employee Appreciation Notes
- Cheers from peers. Make it easy for employees to recognize each other.
- Rotating Trophy. Recognize employees who have demonstrated an organizational value. Include a note with specifics on what they did to earn this award.
- Surprise employees with a special treat. Donuts, lunch, breakfast, snacks or sweets. Head over to Pinterst for some fun ways to say thank you with food!
- Offer Professional Development Opportunities. 71% of employees who believe their managers can name their strengths feel engaged and energized by their work. (Start with a Clifton Strengths Assessment for under $20/employee.)
- Say it in a card. Handwritten notes have become a lost art and taking the time to write one out adds a special touch.
- Go public with appreciation. Take a photo, talk about how much you appreciate what your staff did, and how they earned this recognition.
- Create a staff appreciation holiday. While you could just give people the day off, a better approach is to actually do something together.
- The suggestion box is still a good idea. The suggestion box is a powerful tool for your staff. It gives them a safe avenue to communicate things they might not otherwise feel comfortable doing. It shows you appreciate them by giving them every possible avenue of communication.
- Host a lunch and learn. Allow this to be led by internal employees or bring in an expert and enjoy learning something new as a team. Inspired employees outperform even the most engaged employees.
- Extra Time Off. Grant a half-day or full day off to employees to relax and recharge.
- Social Media Shoutouts. Give shoutouts on company social media platforms to recognize individual achievements and contributions.
- Customized Gifts. Give personalized gifts such as engraved pens, company-branded merchandise, or custom-made items.
- Wellness Activities. Arrange wellness activities like yoga sessions, meditation workshops, or massages to promote well-being.
- Upgrade Workspace. Upgrade or personalize employees’ workspaces with new equipment, plants, or decorations to enhance their comfort and motivation.
Final notes: Make it personal. Make it specific. Appreciate frequently. Make it fun!
How To Recognize Virtual Employees
- Send a personalized thank you card (digital or physical)
- Recognize with public accolades
- Celebrate work anniversaries, milestones, and birthdays
- Treat them to a lovely meal
- Sharpen your skills together
- Show them you haven’t forgotten about personal development
- Deliver them company swag or care packages
- Host a virtual lunch and learn
- Create a virtual suggestion box
- When in doubt – ASK. Find out what matters most.
There can be a disconnect between leadership and employees.
Understanding how to show appreciation is no different. While acknowledging that everyone’s needs and preferences are unique, one way to bridge that gap is to simply ask how your team prefers to receive appreciation.
Thinking about employee development? Start with a Clifton Strengths Assessment and 30-minute feedback for under $100 per employee.
Next Steps
How to promote well-being and enhance engagement throughout the year?
Consider onsite workshops, strengthsfinder assessment or open enrollment training to increase connection, reduce retention and maximize your team.
