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Most employees appreciate a pat on the back for a job well done. A study by O.C. Tanner found that 37 percent of respondents believe employee recognition is the most crucial driver for great work.
Given the increasing importance placed on the employee experience, it’s vital to investigate and identify any factors that contribute to lost talent and resources. If you’re looking to improve your employee recognition program, there are many effective strategies you can implement.
There are many ways to recognize staff and empower your employees. Recognition can be as small as a simple “thank-you” for doing a great job or as big as an established recognition program. The most successful companies use a combination of recognition strategies. Here are 10 tips for making your employees feel appreciated.
Organizations can benefit from a formal recognition program implemented fairly across each department. One way to do this is through gamification. Employees can earn points based on specific actions or accomplishments and spend them on company swag, activities, trips and other prizes. Your formal recognition program should also consist of some form of public recognition, such as awards and public verbal acknowledgments.
Recognition and performance discussions shouldn’t be limited to an annual performance appraisal. This type of performance management doesn’t allow for fluid communication between managers and employees and isn’t conducive to a trusting relationship. Instead, continuous performance management should be implemented, with regular check-ins between employees and their managers.
According to a survey by Workhuman, workers with weekly check-ins are more than twice as likely to trust their managers, see a path for growth within their organization and feel a sense of purpose and belonging at work.
In addition to employee recognition, weekly check-ins allow you to cover objectives, performance concerns and professional development opportunities.
Informal feedback is a cost-free way to recognize employees effectively and make them feel good. You can integrate this concept into your company culture by having managers provide employees with frequent informal feedback. You can also encourage informal peer recognition, as thank-yous and shoutouts are sometimes more meaningful to employees when they come from their peers.
Employees may place high importance on nonmonetary recognition, but that doesn’t mean you should forget about using money completely to recognize them. Career growth is crucial to employee happiness and retention, so it’s essential to recognize an employee’s achievements with promotions, raises and employee bonuses when appropriate. Monetary rewards show employees you’re invested in their continued happiness and success.
One straightforward way to signify to your team that you value their efforts is to offer competitive compensation from the start. As part of your compensation management strategy, conduct benchmark research to determine what “competitive” means for each position you hire for and ensure that internal employee salaries are up to par with those of your new hires.
Competitive compensation can include fair base wages, reasonable paid time off, health and wellness benefits, retirement contribution matching, commissions, discretionary bonuses, transportation benefits, tuition reimbursements and gym memberships.
A great way to recognize workers for their achievements is to host fun events. These can be held companywide or on a smaller department or team level. Hosting free events signifies your appreciation for your staff and brings everyone together, helping you create a strong company culture with connected employees.
When including managers, aim to create fun company events that don’t feel like a dreaded obligation. Your goal is to improve employee-management relationships, not drive them apart.
Keep a running list of important dates to acknowledge throughout the year. These can be birthdays, career milestones, anniversaries and other important dates. Acknowledging these dates ― even in the smallest way ― can make employees feel valued and special.
It’s important for employees to align with your company values and understand how their specific role helps the organization achieve its overall goals. Communicate clearly with employees about the value they bring to the organization and their team and how their efforts make a difference. Getting your team onboard with the company’s values is also a great way to increase productivity and improve employee engagement.
Generic recognition is better than nothing, but it’s always best to be specific when acknowledging an event or a job well done. Being specific about the precise event or accomplishment you’re grateful for shows your genuine appreciation and gives the employee insights into the behaviors or actions they should repeat.
The most effective type of employee recognition is individualized and honest. People are unique in how they like to receive recognition, so it’s crucial that your recognition plan accounts for your team’s preferences. Survey your employees and discuss recognition to see what rewards resonate with them. Then, use that information to create an effective employee recognition program that caters to individuals.
Beyond employee recognition, elements of a happy and motivated workplace include flexible work options, an emphasis on workplace organization and managers with positive attitudes.
Recognizing your employees isn’t just the right thing to do for your team; it can also benefit your business. Here are some key advantages of successful employee recognition:
Although there are many reasons why employees quit their jobs, feeling unappreciated and unrecognized are among the biggest. Putting in the effort to recognize employees can save you substantial time and money involved in replacing existing staff.
When employees feel unappreciated or underappreciated, it tends to show in their behavior and output. Here are some signs that an employee may feel unappreciated:
Employees will likely leave your company if they feel their hard work and achievements continue to go unnoticed. This is why it’s essential to recognize your employees frequently and keep an open line of communication about employee recognition with them.
Stuart Hearn contributed to this article.