Employee happiness is the biggest contributor to a positive and successful work environment. One of the easiest and most powerful ways to keep your employees happy is by showing appreciation for the work that they do. If your team stops feeling appreciated, they will stop showing up. In honor of National Employee Appreciation Day, we wanted to share the best ways to show your employees that you recognize and appreciate them.
- Give your employees extra time off. According to Human Resources Today, paid time off is one of the top employee benefits for 2021. One of the best ways to show appreciation to your employees and contribute to an overall positive work environment is to provide them with ample time off.
- Daily informal recognitions. Little gestures make a huge difference! Whenever you have any successes on your team (a new client, a closed deal, etc.), make it known. Send a message in your communication platform or verbally congratulate the employee during team meetings. When employees feel proud and appreciated in their work, they will feel more fulfilled in their role.
Do you thank your team enough?
- Happy hours or pizza parties. Another way to celebrate accomplishments among your team is to host events like happy hours or pizza parties. Even in a remote setting, a happy hour over zoom is a great way to allow employees to take an hour off from their work and socialize!
- Social media posts. If your business has a social media page, implement an employee appreciation system where you periodically post about team members and all of the awesome work they do for the company. On top of that, whenever major accomplishments occur, give employees a shoutout on the page.
- Gift-giving for celebratory events. Keep important dates in your calendar like your employees’ birthdays and anniversaries. On these days, you can give them small yet thoughtful gifts (flowers, candies, candles, etc.) to show your employees that you appreciate them and care about their big days.
Encourage team building even in a virtual setting with these activities!
- Encourage a strong work-life balance. Be open-minded when it comes to your employees’ family life and personal events. Don’t overload them with work or continuously reach out to them during hours that they are not supposed to be working. Encouraging your employees to separate time at home from time at work will help them to feel more appreciated as an employee.
- Write cards. A handwritten card or letter is an extremely thoughtful gesture that can definitely make a real difference in someone’s day. Take the time to write out cards to your employees, thanking them for their hard work and consistent contributions to the team. It will have a lasting effect on their attitude in the workplace.
- Plan team trips. Whether it be a day trip, a weekend trip, or even just a trip out to lunch, make an effort to get out of the office setting and take your employees out. You can spend a day in the city, go out to a restaurant, or go on a hiking trip. It will show your employees how much you enjoy their company, and it will help to bring your team closer together.
- Allow plenty of breaks. Encourage your employees to take short breaks throughout the day, on top of just their lunch break. If your team members feel like they are being overworked, they will start to feel underappreciated in the workplace. Allow them to take breaks and clear their minds periodically.
- Bring your dog to work day. If your office space allows, organize a day where employees can bring their dogs to work. This is a fun way for employees to feel more comfortable at work and content with their work environment. If you’re working in a remote setting, try to incorporate this idea into a video meeting by having dog owners show the team their dogs on video!
I’m ready to hire some talent!
Start implementing these simple yet effective methods to better foster a sense of appreciation among your team. For more tips on all things remote leading and hiring, check out our Employer Tips or contact us at mglenny@franklinprofessionals.com.
