Your
employees make up the main driving force behind your business, and, studies
show that happy employees make
your business more productive. With this in mind, making sure they are happy
and satisfied at their workplace should be one of the highest priorities within
your business. Luckily, there are some sure-fire ideas you can use in order to
show your employees just how much you care about them.
Hand
out gifts
Gifts have
always been a great way to show someone you care about them, and to make sure
they feel appreciated. They can function as a great reward for someone who has
finished a demanding project, or has been working for your business for a long
time. The choice of what you are going to give is an important one, as the
gifts will be a lot more appreciated if they are personalized and have a deeper
meaning to the recipient. However, going above and beyond to find the right
gift can be somewhat counterproductive, which is why opting for something
universal like a handy prepaid visaor added time-off that most people
can appreciate, is a great choice as well.
Celebrate
birthdays
Celebrating
an employee’s birthday is another great way to show, both them, and everyone
around the office that their hard work is appreciated. And, while there may be
people who would prefer to stay low, which is why you should always ask first,
most people like having their birthdays recognized and celebrated within the
office. The best part is that it’s quite inexpensive, as the only things you
will be required to do is order a cake, some food and some drinks.
Take
them out
Whether
it’s group lunches, after-work drinks or holiday parties, organizing non-work
related activities such as these can be a great way to show everyone that their
work is appreciated. At the same time, it can also function as a great way for
your employees to get to know eachother better and further increase their team spirit. For
example, taking them out for lunch can help you get to know them better, but
also help them relax and move into their comfort zone.
Make
them feel heard
While a
large part of employee appreciation is rewarding them for their hard work by
giving them gifts or taking them out, a much more substantial reward will be
the one which gives them a real voice, and makes sure their opinions and
suggestions are heard and understood. Giving them the ability to choose what
projects to work on or voice their opinions on how an issue should be dealt
with, will have a much deeper and lasting effect on them, by making them feel
as if though they are an integral part of something bigger.
Conclusion
Employee
appreciation is a key aspect to any truly successful business; however, it’s
important to keep in mind that employee appreciation is something that should
be relegated to a few events or birthdays each year, it instead requires an
everyday contribution. It also doesn’t have to mean spending a large amount of
money either. At the end of the day, it’s the little things, such as saying
thank you, or listening to one of your employees when they are having trouble,
and helping them out the best you can, that really makes a difference.
