Now more than ever, employee appreciation is essential to maintaining a happy and motivated workforce. It’s not just about recognizing hard work, but it’s also about making employees feel valued and appreciated for their contributions to the company. In fact, according to a survey by Hubspot, 69% of employees polled said they would work harder if they felt appreciated by their employer and received recognition for a job well done.
While there is an annual Employee Appreciation Day (observed on the first Friday in March), we submit that this is something you should do all year round. Why? It’s an excellent way to boost morale, increase employee engagement, and foster a positive work culture.
Here are four employee appreciation activities you can implement to show your team that they are valued.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Special events such as holiday parties and company retreats are fun ways to show employees they are appreciated. As many companies have switched to a hybrid working model, these events are a great way to unite your team in one place and allow employees to socialize and bond with each other. They can also be a way to recognize and reward employees for their contributions to the company. For example, you could have an awards ceremony to celebrate employees who have gone above and beyond in their roles, or you could have a contest with prizes for the most innovative ideas.
Welcome Kits
One way to show your employees that you appreciate them from the start is by providing a welcome kit on their first day. This kit can include a handwritten welcome note, company merchandise, and a local coffee shop or restaurant gift card.
When a new employee joins your team, have them fill out a short “getting to know you” survey that you can share with the rest of the company – but ask questions that will enable you to add some special touches to their welcome kit, such as what their favourite candy is or if they prefer coffee or tea.
Welcome kits are one of our favourite projects to put together for our clients.
This small gesture can go a long way in making new hires feel valued and appreciated from the start, and it sets the tone for the rest of their time at the company. Check out this great kit we crafted for Float.
MILESTONE GIFTS
Another way to show appreciation is by giving employees recognition for career milestones. For example, if an employee has been with the company for five, ten, or even twenty years, it’s an excellent opportunity to show them how much they are appreciated. Loyalty like that, particularly in today’s rapidly changing work climate, is an incredible achievement for employees and employers.
You could give them a gift card, a trophy, or extra paid days off to celebrate their achievements. Or go big and award them a trip! The sky is the limit (literally). This type of recognition sends a clear message that employees’ contributions and longevity are valued, and it helps to build a strong sense of loyalty and commitment to the company.
INTERNAL MERCH STORE
An internal merch store is a great way to reward employees for their hard work and achievements. Employees can be rewarded with credits to the company’s “General Store,” where they can pick out something they really want. This could be anything from personalized company merchandise to a high-tech gadget. This type of reward system shows employees that their hard work is valued and provides a tangible incentive for them to continue working hard and achieving their goals.
We’ve taken the guesswork out of launching your merch store thanks to our simple-to-use e-commerce platform and our massive warehouse that ensures the products you want are in stock and ready to go when your employees order them. By the way – you can learn more about our warehouse by following along on our Instagram for our monthly Warehouse Wednesday features!
