How to Show Appreciation to Employees for a Job Well Done
It’s easy for bosses to take their employees for granted. Yet there are consequences if you do it all the time. One survey found that 66 percent of employees would leave a job if they didn’t feel appreciated.
Telling someone you appreciate them is one thing. But you have to show appreciation as well. Everyone likes to know they matter.
Employee appreciation week is a good start, but you should show appreciation all year long. Read on for four staff appreciation ideas that will boost morale at the office.
Buy Them Food
This is a basic method of staff appreciation. In fact, it’s so basic it can be easy to overlook.
Bring in a catered lunch on days where the workload is big and the deadlines are coming up fast. It’s a reminder that you see your employees as people, not just cogs in a productivity machine.
If you can, give them a few minutes to actually enjoy the food as well. If someone wants to eat at their desk, that’s fine. But it’s always nice to say, “The work can wait.”
Don’t Micromanage Their Time
Speaking of time, try not to be an obsessive bean-counter. Yes, that’s true even if you’re in an office full of accountants. If someone comes in five minutes late on a Monday, don’t scold them.
Now, if they come in an hour late, it’s fair to ask if something’s wrong. That’s especially true if they don’t call or text first.
But a significant part of employee appreciation is trusting adults to act like adults. You’re managing an office, not a daycare.
Don’t assume people are irresponsible or untrustworthy. As long as they’re getting the work done, it shouldn’t matter as much when they arrive or leave.
Allow Office Dogs
Pet ownership has a clear connection to better heart health. Yet not everyone has an apartment or house suitable for a pet. Other people might want dogs, but not want to leave them at home all day.
You can help out both groups by inviting dogs into the office. If a dog is well-behaved, there’s no reason why it can’t join its person at work.
Again, this is a way to show staff appreciation by reminding people that work is not the be-all and end-all of their existence. Encourage them to spend their break time petting dogs. Both the employees and the dogs will be better off for it.
Dogs are a gift for everyone. Check out gift ideas from Bonusly for more.
Remote Work Days
As remote working becomes more common, you’ll have a choice: Allow it or continue insisting everyone is in the office 40 hours a week.
The best businesses will offer more flexibility. You can start by offering remote work days every Wednesday, for instance. If that goes well, you can add more remote work options.
Not everyone will want to work remotely, and that’s fine. But it’s a good option for people who feel more productive in their home office.
How to Show Appreciation to Employees
Figuring out how to show appreciation to employees may feel awkward, at least at first. Yet that’s no reason not to try. The more you do it, the better you’ll get at it.
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