Upwards of 61% of employees feel as if they aren’t getting recognized enough at work (SOURCE). Let’s look at some simple gestures for workplace settings which can help boost morale and retention rates. Ways to recognize your employees are virtually endless, and range from free-of-cost, in-the-moment recognition to big, monetary rewards, but among all of those, these ten can help form an excellent foundation of gratitude.
1. High Fives, Fist-Bumps, Round of Applause – A quick thing to do in passing. Giving an employee, co-worker, or teammate a small hand-gestured recognition can go a long way. This is more of an informal sign of appreciation to celebrate wins in that moment.
2. Handwritten notes - Taking the time to hand write somebody a note explaining that you see them, are proud of them, are grateful for the work they are doing, etc. can mean so much for an employee. A small action that shows that you took the time out of your day to write down your recognition for an employee shows intentionality and feels genuine, because it is!
3. Company-wide shoutouts – Whether in a monthly or quarterly meeting or through an email, a simple shout-out in front of one’s peers showcases that the work they are doing is important. Being able to broadcast the good work of your employee shows confidence in their workload levels and opens the door for public recognition, creating the chance for others in the company to provide positive feedback to the employee as well.
4. Newsletter features – If your company or organization sends internal newsletters, adding an employee spotlight feature could help in recognizing the good work that employees do. Featuring members of your organization creates a culture centered around appreciation.
5. Employee of the Month – A classic, timeless option. Taking time each month to review the work that your employees are doing and choosing one to spotlight with a message to the company, a financial or physical prize, or even an employee photo on the wall provides a positive sense of belonging for employees at their company.
6. One-on-one lunches – Take your employees out to lunch! On the manager or company card, getting out of the office space and treating them to lunch gives employees a positive reinforcement and a great break in their day of working diligently.
7. Company merchandise – A swag bag means so much to employees (and it helps the company too!). Placing a basket with company pens, water bottle, and clothing is a physical reward that employees can look forward to getting, and it is a functional gift that they can reuse later.
8. Gift Cards – Another monetary reward for employees. Presenting somebody with a gift card is an investment recognition. This allows them to be able to utilize their reward elsewhere and hone into things they enjoy, on the house!
9. Paid time off – Your employees spend so much of their lives working for you. Rewarding good work with an option to take a break improves the reputation of the company, along with employee longevity within your organization. Highlighting a positive work-life balance strengthens the culture of the company as well.
10. A simple ‘Thank You’ – Arguably the easiest but most effective way to recognize an employee. The number of employees that feel they never or hardly get recognized by their work is alarmingly high, so taking the first step and thanking employees for their good work is the most efficient, and can go a long way.
Roughly one third of a person’s life is spent at work (SOURCE). Companies and their leaders are looked up to give back to the people that give so much to the business. Recognition doesn’t have to be a big celebration, but it must be sincere. A positive work environment can do wonders for a company: it boosts reputation, improves quality of work, increases retention rates, and it all starts with a simple act of recognition.
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