2019 Compass Volunteer Appreciation Day Compass Community Center October 18
Creative Ideas for Employee Appreciation Day and Beyond
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On the first Friday of every March, many business celebrate Employee Appreciation Day. It is the single designated day that employers are encouraged to recognize all the hard work the employees have done over the year and celebrate them. While not every company in North America may recognize this day or even know it exists, some of those that do often go above and beyond what employees may expect, while others fall very short of expectations. It is important to first understand why this day is much more valuable than what meets the eye and how you can create a unique and valuable Employee Appreciation Day or even long-term program. You don't have to hand out tacky employee awards that will be thrown in the donation box or trash, but you can implement changes that will be beneficial for you and your employees for years to come.
Recognition and Retention
Studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between recognition and retention within the workplace. While it may not seem like rocket science, the more valued the employees feel, the longer they tend to stay. With high turnovers come high costs for the company so it would be in both of the employees and employers best interests to come up with ideas of how to engage their employees in Employee Appreciation Day, at the very least, and make them feel truly valued.
Formal Day of Appreciation Ideas
So what are the best ways to celebrate this day? There are a plethora of employee templates, fun employee awards ideas and much more available on the internet, but at the end of the day, it really depends on each individual company. A large company that employs over 200 + people will have a very different day than one that has less than 10 employees. Some of the safe options to consider would be to bring in food and treats, make a speech recognizing those that have stood out over the year and/or hand out gift vouchers or hampers if you want to keep things in the office. If you have a small company and want to be a bit more active, consider taking the crew paintballing, bowing or out for lunch. It is a great way to mingle with them in an informal way and strengthen camaraderie. If you really encourage a healthy work and life balance in your company, consider inviting family members to the event and show the importance of it rather than just saying it.
Long-Term Appreciation
Showing your appreciation for your employees should not just be done by filling in an employee award template once a year and handing them out though. To really show your appreciation, it takes time and possibly financial investment. Show you value their time and energy that they put into the company by investing in them with new technology or various platforms that will make their work lives a little easier and increase their level of efficiency and productivity while simultaneously lowering their frustrations that older laborious technology caused them.
Another way to show your appreciation over the year is by incorporating a flexible schedule program into the company. This shows that you trust your employees in getting the necessary work done in the required time frame however they see fit. Why have them stay on nine to five if they work better early in the morning or late at night? Or have a day of the week or month where everyone works from an off-site location such as a café or library. This can often boost productivity.
The Small Things
Not all employee appreciation ideas have to be large scale or long-term. Often, it is the little things that are most memorable. If there is someone that has recently had a major accomplishment, make sure to recognize them and their hard work at the next staff meeting. If it is part of your work culture, recognize them on social media as well. Every so often, bring in treats or chilled drinks on those hot summer days. While it may not seem like the grandest of gestures, your employees are bound to remember these little tokens of appreciation.
Healthy Work Environment
Having a healthy work environment is extremely important for every company regardless of size. Employee appreciation and culture are intertwined. The more positive and supportive colleagues and managers are with each other, the higher the morale and more positive the work environment tend to be. Remember to encourage positive peer-to-peer support as often employees find peer support more valuable than support from their supervisors. Be intentional with your daily conversations with your employees and actively listen to their needs and concerns as they will quickly detect if you are offering them empty employee incentives and weak signs of appreciation. As we all know, actions speak louder than words.
2019 Compass Volunteer Appreciation Day Compass Community Center October 18
Source: https://www.life123.com/article/creative-ideas-for-employee-appreciation-day-and-beyond?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740009%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex