April is Employee Appreciation Month
Showing employees that you appreciate their hard work and dedication is important for any employer. Studies have shown that employees who feel appreciated are motivated to work harder and stay with their companies longer. Some employers think that money is the only way to show their appreciation which might not always be in the budget. However, studies have shown that up to 70% of employees say their most meaningful recognition had no dollar value at all! This same study, which was conducted by “Make Their Day”, showed how employees like to be recognized:
- 83% of respondents said that recognition for contributions was more satisfying than rewards or gifts
- 76% found peer praise to be very or extremely motivating
- 90% said a “fun work environment” was very or extremely motivating
- 88% found praise from managers as very or extremely motivating
If you are looking to do some things in your office to let your employees or co-workers know that you appreciate their efforts, here are some low-cost ways to show them you care:
- Celebrate small accomplishments in meetings with an email to the department, or another creative way.
- Be vocal! If colleagues are praising your co-worker’s efforts let them know.
- Allow employees to have a flexible schedule. Be open to them leaving work to go to the gym in the middle of the day. It will boost productivity and they’ll feel like you trust them. Just ensure they are getting their work done too.
- Call a co-worker to your office to thank them. The gesture is more personable then just saying so in passing or in an email.
- Be polite and friendly. You may be surprised how far it can go.
- Send “Thank you” notes when a good job is done. Small tokens can really mean a lot.
- Allow your employees to leave early on the day before a holiday weekend. This is a simple way to make their day and weekend a little extra special.
References:
https://justworks.com/blog/master-employee-appreciation-inexpensive-ideas
Contributing Writer: David Talley, Wellness Program Administrator, Employee Development and Wellness Services, Georgia State University
Employee Appreciation Event at Georgia State:
National Walking Day, Wednesday, April 4, All Campuses. For more information, call 404-413-3342 or email EDWS @gsu.edu