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Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Without employees, your business idea would never have gotten off the ground. They are the hands, they are the feet and they are the wings of your dream and should be appreciated as such.
Not only is this the human thing to do, it actually boots productivity. Happy employees work harder and are happier, which makes for better serviced customers. Happier employees also make for a higher retention rate as people are more likely to stay at a company where they feel valued. Who would want to work at company where their hard work is never recognized, or worse, seen as not good enough? No one.
In this blog post, we’ll look at 5 ways you can show your employees just how awesome and appreciated they are.
#1 The private shout-out
Employees need to know that their hard work is not going unnoticed. If you have an employee who consistently turns in good work, shows up on time and has a positive attitude, send them a message thanking them for all they do. This small but meaningful gesture will make your employee feel valued and appreciated which will result in them continuing to work hard.
This can be in the form of an email, a person-to-person meeting or even a handwritten thank you note.
#2 The public shout-out
For those employees who go above and beyond the call of duty, give them a public shout-out. This can be as simple as a company-wide email highlighting their achievements or as flashy as presenting them with an award at the next company meeting. Don’t take your top performers for granted. If you want them to continue performing at such a high caliber, make sure they know their hard work is appreciated.
Another reason why a public shout-out is a great idea is that it pushes your other employees to work harder. That’s because everyone wants to be noticed and feel special. Public shout-outs create friendly rivalries that could result in higher productivity.
#3 The employee appreciation party
Every employee, no matter how big or small their position, is a valuable part of you company. Why not throw an employee appreciation party to honor the work they’ve done? You can recognize all your employees while giving special awards to the top performers.
You can host the party in the office or rent a venue and throw it there. Put it into your budget so you’re not scrambling for resources every year. Your employees will have a blast and create memories they won’t soon forget.
#4 The paid meal
There’s nothing sweeter than a free lunch (or breakfast). It’s another small but kind gesture that really does boost employee morale. Treat them to bagels/donuts or coffee for breakfast. Order pizza for lunch, set up a taco bar or throw a company potluck.
Some companies even have a designated day of the week where they treat their employees to a meal. This could be every Friday or any other day of your choosing.
If you want to get creative and boost productivity at the same time, have each department set a goal for the month or week and offer a food stipend to the departments that reach their goal. The department managers can either order in or take their department to a restaurant.
#5 The half day Friday
Not every company is in a position to do this one, but if possible, surprise your employees with a paid half-day. After everyone is back from lunch or a few hours before closing, send out an email thanking everyone for their hard work all week. Then tell them to go home and watch smiles and high-fives explode around the office.
Another option is to tell your employees at the beginning of the workday that you’ll be closing the office early. Encourage them to work hard to finish their tasks. You’ll be surprised at how productive employees become when they know they get to go home early.
In conclusion
Your employees make your dream a reality every day. Don’t take them for granted. The suggestions on this list, while popular choices for showing your employees how much they are appreciated, is not an exhaustive list. Add to it, modify it as you see fit. Every company culture is different but what’s true for every business is that employees thrive where they are praised.
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“I have always believed that the way you treat your employees is the way they will treat your customers, and that people flourish when they are praised.”
Sir Richard Branson
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