CareerBuilder found that 40 percent of employees who don’t feel meaningfully recognized will not go above their formal responsibilities. And 50 percent believe increased recognition would reduce voluntary turnover. With these figures in mind, think about your organization’s current employee appreciation methods. Are you confident that they are sufficient to give your employees the recognition and satisfaction they deserve?
If you’re unsure, take a look at these employee appreciation ideas for some inspiration to liven up your organization’s engagement.
- Social butterfly – Acknowledge an employee’s successes on the company Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin pages. Not only will this increase recognition, it will also give your social media presence more attention.
- Change of scenery – You’d be surprised how much of an effect a change of scenery has on productivity. Encourage employees to work from a different location every once in a while, whether it’s a coffee shop, library, or even their own home to keep the office from getting stale.
- Recognition day – Some organizations, that have the means and the manpower to do so, organize entire recognition days, filled with team-building activities and awards.
- Project plan – Allow your employees to choose a project to work on. This responsibility will foster in them a sense of importance.
- Spontaneous treats – Occasional donuts in the breakroom or catered lunch will give people things to look forward to, as well as reward them for showing up early or sticking around during their lunch break.
- Token economy – Create a rewards system based on whatever you feel like offering—extra vacation time, longer lunch breaks, etc.—by keeping track of employees’ accomplishments and converting them to a sufficient reward at the end of the week.
You may think some of these ideas are trivial, but even the small things don’t go unnoticed by employees. Every little bit of acknowledgement and effort on your part will translate to more effort on their part.
