Statistics indicate that 39% of employees feel underappreciated at work, while 77% said they would work harder if recognized. You may have an innovative idea to address consumer needs, but it takes your employees to achieve your business goals. Indeed, your workers are who your clients interact with. And this interaction will determine if customers will stay loyal to your brand or patronize your competitors. For these reasons, employee recognition makes sense.
Not only does it boost their motivation, but it also triggers them to stay productive. Additionally, a well-appreciated worker can go to great lengths to please your customers and promote customer loyalty. You can also reduce turnover rates, as they would like to work with you for a long time. And this can put your brand in a good light. If you’re wondering how to appreciate your staff, here are some ideas worth considering.
Offer great incentives and bonuses
This may seem obvious, but offering incentives is one of the oldest and most effective ways to communicate your appreciation for your employees. You can rest assured that your top talents will remain with you. However, the common notion is that you offer bonuses and incentives should be during the Christmas period or other holidays. But you’d find it helpful to stray away from tradition if you want to wow your employees. You can make it a regular practice to offer stimulus to staff who hit their work targets, so keep this in mind. Appreciating workers in your company for a long time is also prudent.
Fortunately, several incentive ideas are available, so you can mix them up to heighten the experience. For instance, you can increase their salaries or offer monetary bonuses, so feel free to consider these. Consequently, set up a points-based reward system where your workers redeem points for items like gift cards, appliances, fashion items, etc. These incentives can cause your workers to assess their performance and continue what got their rewards in the first place. And this can also boost your business growth.
Give them some time off work
Financial incentives are great, but some employees prefer time off work. Perhaps, they have always wanted to undertake some activities but haven’t got the time to do so. Others may need more time with their partners, spouses, children, and other loved ones. Therefore, you can consider offering them off days as a token of appreciation. Moreover, some time off can benefit their physical and mental health. The APA indicates that the majority of American workers feel motivated, energized, less stressed, and more productive after some days away from work.
Therefore you can give your employees an extra day off after a particularly exceptional performance. You can also consider offering a day off as a birthday gift. This way, your workers can understand that you value and care for their health and happiness. Consequently, you can amend your business policy to include mandatory paid leaves for staff caring for parents, children, and other loved ones, so keep this in mind.
Invest in regular happy hours
Food is something that many people enjoy. So, you can leverage this by hosting regular happy hour events for your staff. It’s no news that work can be stressful, causing your workers to lose productivity over time. But happy hours can help them destress and unwind while having a good time with their colleagues. This, in turn, can increase their satisfaction levels and motivate them to be more productive. Moreover, you’ll promote a healthy work-life balance for your staff, causing them to stay loyal to your business. Therefore, you can consider hosting happy hours if you haven’t already.
Companies usually host their happy hours on Friday evenings at 5 pm. However, this isn’t a rule, and you can choose to have yours every day and at any convenient time. Consequently, you’ll find it helpful to hire a bartender to ensure that your employees don’t drink more than necessary, as you aren’t promoting irresponsible behavior. You also want to leverage your business’s outdoor space to promote comfort, so feel free to consider this. Likewise, include some fun games your staff can play while they enjoy their meals.
Give positive feedback
One inexpensive way to appreciate your employees is to offer positive feedback. A Gallup survey indicated that workers who got positive feedback were more involved in their work than those who received negative feedback. Furthermore, workers are likelier to be more productive when their hard work is recognized. And this can increase your company’s profits and promote your brand’s growth. You can give short feedback, although you don’t have to. Experts advise giving more detailed feedback to assure your staff that you take note of their contributions and dedication.
For instance, you can send out an email thanking them for working overtime for some days, even if they didn’t have to. As a tip, highlight how much their help means to the company, and be specific. You also don’t want to delay feedback; instead, acknowledge them immediately after they complete their tasks. Consequently, ensure that you do this regularly to motivate your team to do more. You can also take it further by sending personalized posts on social media and acknowledging them in front of colleagues. Alternatively, consider pairing your feedback with rewards like a gift card or lunch to drive the message deeper. If you really want to make your employees feel special, you could also give them beautiful award ribbon rosettes. These awards are not only a great way to show your appreciation, but they may also be displayed proudly on a drawer or mantelpiece.
Host corporate events for your staff
Admittedly, you may have hosted events geared toward growing your business. However, when last did you host one to appreciate your staff? Hosting these events can help your workers feel that they are part of your business, increasing their loyalty. Also, it’s a great way to let them know how much you value their contributions and honor specific team members who have exceeded your expectations. It’s essential to determine who you want to invite to the event. For instance, you can make it a strictly-staff party or invite family members. You’ll also find it helpful to appoint a committee to take care of the organization, so keep this in mind.
Since the event is for your staff, you don’t want to keep them out of the loop. Instead, schedule a meeting where they can offer their opinions about how the event should be. Consequently, consider choosing a party theme to heighten the experience. A party isn’t fun without activities and games, so keep this in mind. You want to include scavenger hunts, caption contests, trivia games, etc. You also don’t want to forget about food and drinks; ensure that you understand your workers’ dietary needs before deciding which meals and drinks to invest in. You’ll also find it prudent to give them gifts as they depart to their respective homes. Fortunately, sites like dynamicgift.com.au offer great deals on corporate gifts, so feel free to consider them.
Invest in career development
Another good way to express appreciation is to show interest in their career development. This way, your employees would be aware of your desire to see them grow. This can lead to high employee satisfaction and engagement, low turnover rates, and productivity. Moreover, your company can benefit from your workers’ skills and experience, so keep this in mind. Fortunately, you can promote your workers’ development in many ways. However, the first step is to create an employee development plan; this helps you to assess your workers’ strengths and weaknesses while determining future learning opportunities.
Consequently, make learning easier by offering online workshops and employing training sessions. You’ll also find it beneficial to offer mentorship programs where your new staff with experienced ones. To streamline these efforts, you can consider using a Learning Management System like TalentLMS or any talentlms alternatives. These platforms can help you easily manage training modules, track progress, and adapt learning materials to meet different team members’ goals. By offering learning in a way that’s accessible and engaging, you demonstrate a true investment in their future, which can help them thrive and make more significant contributions to your company. This way, newer staff can acquire the skills needed to help them climb the career ladder. Your workers can also learn from independent sources, so feel free to consider this.
Offer memorable experiences
This can be an unusual yet interesting and memorable way to honor your employees. And this can be particularly beneficial if they’re experiencing a rut. Offering memorable experiences can also work well as an alternative to giving your employees some time off. However, your company will be responsible for organizing whatever activities they engage in. For instance, you can arrange for them to have a spa day with you or offer them an all-expense paid weekend getaway. If they are avid sports lovers, you can get tickets for them to watch their favorite team. However, you want to ensure that your business can handle this without causing financial strain. As a tip, evaluate your business finances and draw a budget to make an informed decision.
Celebrate their anniversaries
Appreciating workers who have worked with you for a long time is important. And what better way to achieve this than to celebrate their anniversaries? Make it a point to announce each employee’s work anniversary and thank them for all their efforts to grow your business. You can even organize a small office party to celebrate them or decorate their desk with their favorite items, so feel free to consider these.
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