As a boss, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks of running a company. That’s fine; you need to stay focused on your business so that it can succeed. But when it comes time to show your employees that you care about them, sometimes a handwritten note or token trinket just won’t cut it. Here are four smart employee recognition examples you can use to demonstrate your appreciation for employees in the workplace.
Celebrate accomplishments
Recognize employees who are hitting milestones, those who have made a difference, and when your company has a success. For example, if an employee has been with your company for 1 year, consider throwing them a party during their 2nd birthday. You could even take it one step further by having all of their co-workers throw them a surprise party while they’re not looking.
If you want to show your employees that they’re making an impact on the company without spending too much money, or breaking the bank, then consider creating a newsletter or flyer that highlights employees’ achievements and includes fun facts about their lives outside of work. This works great if you have remote workers.
Recognize important days
One of the easiest ways to show your employees you care is to recognize their birthdays and anniversaries. Birthdays are a great opportunity for you to thank your employee for all they do, or send them a gift of appreciation. On the other hand, anniversaries are also an excellent time to show your employees how much you value their efforts.
If it’s not obvious that you want someone’s important day recognized (like an anniversary), make sure you let them know before it happens so there aren’t any misunderstandings about what’s going on. If giving gifts isn’t something that fits within your policies as an organization, don’t worry. There are plenty of other ways to recognize someone’s special day without spending money:
Say thank you: The most basic way to say thanks is by sending over a note or email expressing gratitude (or making a phone call). It doesn’t have to be anything fancy—just something short and sweet will suffice.
Send flowers: If personal notes aren’t your style, consider sending some flowers instead. Everyone loves getting pretty flowers delivered on their birthday—it certainly beats getting another year older without any form of recognition.
Say thank you
Showing your appreciation for the hard work, time, and effort that employees put into their jobs is a great way to show them you care. And it’s important to show employees this appreciation often. Remember: how often you say thank you doesn’t matter nearly as much as actually saying it in the first place.
Thanking an employee for a job well done is always appreciated, but don’t forget about thanking your employees for other things too. Take some time each month to show your appreciation for a variety of different things—for example: “Thank you for being such a great team player,” or “Thanks so much for being such an inspiration.” You’ll find that when people know they’re appreciated at work, it makes them want to go above and beyond even more than ever before—and that’s what will keep bringing success back around again and again.
Offer employee discounts and special offers
You could offer employee discounts on services or products. For example, if your company offers a software service for its clients, you could offer special pricing for employees who use that software. The same goes for other products and services offered by the company—you might be able to provide a discount on gym memberships, cell phone plans, or even coffee at work (if the office has its coffee machine).
The next step is offering special offers just for employees. This can include exclusive promotions like “buy one pair of shoes get another pair half off,” or even just using employee discounts more effectively—for example, offering 25% off all merchandise during your company’s annual sale period only to employees who are part of an email list ahead of time.
Finally, you may want to consider providing food and beverages at work as incentive programs: You could give out free lunches every Wednesday or Friday; set up an employee lunchroom where people take turns cooking; make sure there’s always fresh fruit available on-site; give out energy drinks when people need them most, such as during an afternoon slump etc. These types of gestures show employees that you value their health and well-being.
Conclusion
In today’s workplace, it’s important to show your employees that you appreciate them and value their work. The best way to do this is by rewarding them with rewards that reflect their efforts and make them feel appreciated. Employee recognition isn’t just about thanking people for doing a good job; it’s also about showing employees that they are valued members of your team who deserve special treatment from time to time because they bring something unique to the table.
