As our American neighbours have just wrapped up their Thanksgiving celebrations, we thought now was a good time to share some ideas on how to say “thanks” to employees. When you show your employees that you appreciate them, a funny thing happens; they become more engaged and productive. While this is not surprising, as an employer, finding ways to demonstrate appreciation can be a bit of a task. Thankfully, there are many ways to recognize employees and acknowledge their efforts, at little or no monetary cost.
- Pick up their favourite drink – Gift cards are often a popular way to say thank you, but can also feel impersonal. Rather than buying a generic gift card, purchase a hard-working employee an actual cup of coffee or skinny, no-foam chai latte as the case may be.
- Send a thank you card – A card mailed directly to the employee’s home, including a short personalized message, is an easy way to show them you notice they’re doing a good job.
- Leave a note – Similarly to a mailed card, leaving a note on their desk or computer monitor is a great way to show appreciation. Not only does this provide you with an opportunity to leave a personal message, the recognition can also be made more public and encourage other employees to demonstrate their strong work ethic as well.
- Give a spontaneous gift – Does your employee love going to the movies or preparing gourmet meals at home? Surprise them with small gifts such as movie tickets or fancy condiments.
- Publicly acknowledge hard work – Walls of Fame, company bulletin boards and newsletters are all great places to praise your employees’ achievements. Additionally, recognizing employees in front of their peers during team meetings has the side benefit of encouraging the team over all.
- Sign them up for a magazine subscription As many magazine subscriptions provide new issues on a monthly basis, this is a personal touch that also reminds employees each month that they are appreciated.
- Treat them to a free lunch – Taking an employee out for lunch personally or paying in advance for an employee’s meal with a spouse or friend shows that you care about them outside of the workplace.
- Give deserved time off – One way to say thank you to your employees is to give them time off from work. It doesn’t have to be a full day – allowing employees to start their day a little later, or leave work early, can be a really simple way to show that you value their wellbeing.
- Just say it – The easiest way to say thank you to your employees is to do it face to face. Never underestimate the power of a simple thank you.
Employee recognition is best approached creatively. Ideas about ways to say thank you at work are limited only by your imagination, not your wallet. The power of saying thank you is magnified when the gift or interaction is accompanied with a personal touch, even if the gift isn’t lavish. So borrow from the simple ideas outlined above and make saying “thank you” a common practice in your organization.
About Blu Ivy Group
Blu Ivy Group is a leading employer branding and employee engagement consultancy that aligns your organization with contemporary workplace paradigms. Blu Ivy Group’s mission is to help client’s build award-winning people practices, inspire extraordinary employee engagement, and cultivate unique and desirable workplaces.
We provide integrated solutions in employer brand and engagement research, strategic consulting, employer brand integration, creative and talent communications. Blu Ivy Group is a trusted partner to many of North America’s most respected employer brands. For more information, go to www.bluivygroup.com