Thank you ABCO Wolfpack!
The first Friday in March has been designated as Employee Appreciation Day. It was created to focus all employers on recognizing and honoring their employees. Employees are a company’s greatest asset. about their well-being, they’re 38 percent more engaged and 18 percent more likely to go the extra mile. When employers or managers express gratitude, say thank you, and show appreciation through celebration and encouragement, employee job satisfaction and engagement increase.
So, if you’re wondering what you can do to show your employees you care, here are some tips on how you can show appreciation for your employees today.
3 Reasons to Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day
1. A little recognition can make a big difference. Employee recognition isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each employee’s motivation is unique to them. But most employees need to know their efforts are being recognized and valued in some way to drive performance.
How to give employees public recognition:
- Send a companywide or teamwide email to congratulate an employee for a job well done
- Share an employee success story in a team meeting
- Compile a list of wins across the company to highlight at your next company meeting
2. Employee retention is critical to the success of your company. Great employees can be hard to come by. And if you lose them — it can be costly to your bottom line. To retain your top employees, they need to feel valued, recognized and that their role has real meaning. This can be directly tied to employee engagement — the deep connection and sense of purpose at work that creates extra energy and commitment. When employees feel supported by their employer, they are more likely to still be there in a year. To increase employee retention, focus on employees’ engagement and well-being — and always put your people first.
Ways to increase employee retention with appreciation:
- Encourage employees to take an extra-long lunch break to recharge
- Offer work-from-home days
- Send an employee to a conference of their choice for personal or professional development
- Offer a free financial session or yoga class
3. When employees feel valued, they work harder. Employees recognized or rewarded by their manager is one thing. But when employees feel like they’re making a real impact on the business with appreciation from a co-worker, client, or even executive, they feel even more valued. Employees who see the results of their hard work and are reminded just how important their work is will ultimately work harder.
We know that when a company invests in the well-being of employees, they’re more engaged. And more engaged employees mean better business results. In a study conducted by Harvard Business School, researchers found that workers are distressed when managers don’t say thank you or express appreciation for their work. Recognition for achievements or simple gestures for doing well reinforces employees’ accomplishments, which motivates them to do more.
How to motivate employees with appreciation:
- Design jobs that are fulfilling and provide ongoing organizational support
- Offer growth opportunities such as putting them on a big project or involving them in strategic decisions
- Go to coffee with your employees to discuss their unique goals so they know you’re invested in their personal and professional success
Click to download our infographic: 7 Ways to Show Your Team You Care
Ref: Peterson, M. (2022). Why You Should Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day. Retrieved from: https://www.limeade.com/resources/blog/three-reasons-celebrate-employee-appreciation-day/
