What Are Some Historical Examples of Employee Appreciation?

“When employees are valued and appropriately rewarded,

they are motivated to go the extra mile and push themselves further.”

 -Nick Williams.

 

Every first Friday in March of each year, Employee Appreciation Day is celebrated. This is the mark in the calendar when employers in the United States if not the whole world, dedicate a special day to acknowledge outstanding performances and contributions of their employees.

Over the past 20 years, an increasing number of companies have embraced this occasion to recognize the achievements and contributions of their employees through unique ideas.

In the United States, 20,000 workers were surveyed by the Boston Consulting Group. The top reason why they enjoyed coming to work was "feeling appreciated".

According to this study by Bersin & Associates, “companies that provide ample employee recognition have 31% lower voluntary turnover rates than companies that don’t”. Recognition also helps in building stronger organizations, since rewarded behaviors are often repeated.

Below are some collated great examples of employee appreciation:

 

1.   Wall of fame

Having an entire wall of the office dedicated to appreciation of employees — with their pictures and contributions is not only a great way to brighten up the workspace but also one of the best ways to recognize effort.

You may want to level up this idea through the help of free digital signage. This can be easy to avail through free digital signage software download over the internet; the most popular ones are here.

 

2. Interactive Games!

You may want to create teams per department. Games could include indoor or outdoor. Indoor games may include Guessing Game, Trivia or Raffle. Outdoor Games could be Scavenger Hunt, Amazing Race, or Company Olympics.

Games can be great opportunities for teams and workmates to build camaraderie in a fun setting. This strategy is also a good chance for you to discover their creativity and even hidden talents and skills through a healthy competition.

 

3.   Personalized Company Gifts

Do you already have company merchandise? Have you thought of getting a collection already? Maybe you can have your exclusive stylish company bag that can contain goodies from your own merchandise collection. It can be a spa set, a lunch set, or other essentials like gift cards for partner or nearby restaurants or coffee shops.

 

4.    A Special Employee Award

Get a theme. You may think Oscar, Grammy, or Nobel Prize. Make this day something worth waiting and longing for. This is only one day of the many days your employees have helped your company grow. You can even go to the office all dressed up and complete with red carpet.

With higher motivation comes better engagement, happiness and ultimately retention. Hence, an “Employee Award” programs are a great way to show your best employees that you noticed and you are happy with their hard work and you greatly appreciate the efforts they are contributing for the company. This can become one of the best employee engagement activities that you can invest in.

5.   Lunch with the CEO

One of the best ways to show personalized and sincere appreciation to an employee or employees is by organizing a one-on-one lunch with the CEO. This is a time to focus only on people dining with you. Get to know them and how they made it on top. Encourage them to keep up their best practices.

“This accelerates the employee’s performance and drives motivation,” says Rohit Gadia, founder and CEO, CapitalVia Global Research 
 

6.   Handwritten notes

Writing a special note of appreciation may sound irrelevant in this age of technology; however, many of your employees may find this personal touch more meaningful. Sending an email or private message through messenger doesn’t take much effort, but writing a gratitude on paper with your handwriting and signature for someone else? That’s epic!

 

7.   Public Recognition

Heather Bealle is Director of HR at SHRM’s Missouri office. She solicits “way to go” nominations from over 4000 employees in 62 offices and sends a companywide e-mail that includes who was selected and why. One person’s name is then randomly drawn for a $50 Visa gift card.

In addition to a gift card, one proud moment that an outstanding employee can have is a digital signage free to be admired by the public eyes.

 

8.   Celebrate the day with Pomp and Show

The knowledge that there is a whole day dedicated to employee appreciation should let you know the significance of it.

We all know that employees are the most valuable asset for a business. Offering them an increase of their salary is one aspect. But to make them feel valued is what employees feel is the most important.

All in all, make the day about them ——your dear employees!

 

9.   Revamp your lounge room

Surprise your employees with a newly renovated or redecorated lounge room. You can even have a ribbon cutting to relaunch this part of the workplace. You know, just to add to the suspense and drama on that day.

A recent study published in Healthcare Design Magazine revealed that “an extreme break room makeover” at one health facility reduced staff “stress and fatigue”.

PopCap, the company behind legendary Facebook games like Bejeweled, offers some amazing break rooms for its 400 odd employees.

Some “lush” couches, bean bags, game area and add some seriously “tricked out” kitchens on each floor of their facilities. Their office is infused with fun, including random Razor scooters that are available to any staff who think better while in motion.

Who does not love a fun workplace, right?

 

10.   Help out with travel expenses

The cost of commuting is heavily influenced by the location of the workplace relative to where the employee lives.

One employee’s commute could be low-priced while another employee’ could be excessive. That’s why it’s important to spread your actions around multiple methods of transports to appeal to the widest proportion of your workforce. This act of going the extra mile will be significantly felt and appreciated by your employees.

You can arrange for office taxis or subsidized bus fares so that commute becomes a tad bit easier on their pockets.

 

Guest Writer: Melissa Snow