Employee appreciation is a powerful tool that can help increase job satisfaction, productivity, and overall morale in the workplace.
Recognizing and rewarding your employees’ hard work and contributions to the team is a surefire way to boost motivation and engagement.
Stonewall Resort’s general manager André D’Amour chatted with Cory Falter of the InnSync Show about how showing appreciation can create a great sense of engagement among employees and teams.
The Benefits of Acknowledging Employees
Showing gratitude in the workplace is a key element to success for any business.
Employee appreciation is about recognizing and rewarding employees for their hard work, dedication, and loyalty to the company, and it doesn’t need to come just from the top, either.
André says, “when recognition comes from leadership, that’s great, but when it comes from co-workers and peers, it just takes it to that next level.”
Here are some of the key benefits of employee appreciation in the workplace.
Increases Communication
Acknowledging employees for their hard work can strengthen communication between team members. It offers a shared sense of accomplishment that can build trust among the group and create an environment where people feel safe to express their opinions.
“In big organizations,” André says, “it’s easy for things to be misconstrued when it goes through all the different ranks of folks it needs to hit. One thing I’ve noticed is using that communication through recognition can streamline that process and get everyone on the same page.”
Improved Productivity
Employees who feel appreciated and valued at work will naturally strive to improve. They will put more effort into their work because they know it will be recognized and rewarded with positive feedback or recognition. This increased productivity will help your business reach its goals faster and more efficiently.
André says, “recognition really helps us hold each other accountable.”
Higher Morale
Employees who feel appreciated by their employer are more likely to stay with the company longer, increasing loyalty and reducing turnover rates.
Employees who enjoy coming to work each day also tend to be more productive, as evidenced by studies showing that happy workers are 12% more productive than those who don’t feel appreciated.
Increased Engagement
Employee appreciation also leads to increased engagement in the workplace.
When employees feel like their hard work is being recognized, they are more likely to become actively involved in different aspects of the organization, such as brainstorming ideas or giving feedback on strategies that help improve operations. This engagement helps ensure everyone is on the same page and working towards common goals.
Improved Retention Rates
Finally, employee appreciation helps improve company retention rates because people want to stay with companies where they feel valued and respected.
Acknowledging employees’ efforts encourages them to strive for success while staying loyal to the organization. Higher retention rates translate into fewer recruitment costs, which means lower overhead costs for any organization.
“The goal is to create a positive working atmosphere so that once folks start, they will not want to leave,” André says. “Creating that peer-to-peer positive working environment really helps so much with retention.”
Ways to Express Employee Gratitude
There are many ways to express your gratitude to your employees; some of the most effective methods may differ from what you think.
André says communication is key, and allowing all team members to engage is a highly effective way to express appreciation.
He also recommends creating an environment where employees feel empowered to share their ideas on improving the experience for all involved.
André goes on to say that creating a fun and positive work environment really keeps a team together.
Other ideas for recognizing employees include:
- Ambassador program that recognizes star-engaged employees with perks
- Internal employee spotlight
- Employee celebration day within departments
- Company-wide employee picnics
- Public acknowledgment through social media channels
You could also make smaller gestures like giving out handwritten thank-you cards and planning surprise team activities or celebrations when goals are achieved.
Other ideas include monthly bonuses, paid time off, flexible work hours, and other incentives that show employees you value them and their hard work.
It’s important to remember that employee appreciation should always be genuine and heartfelt.
A few words of gratitude can go a long way in creating a positive work environment, ultimately resulting in higher productivity and better morale.
You will see increased engagement, productivity, and overall job satisfaction throughout your organization by showing your appreciation for your employees’ efforts. Everyone deserves to feel valued at work, so take every opportunity to express how much you appreciate your team!
