Stand out with an award-winningThese days, everything costs more. Company outings, hiring, travel — it’s all expensive. Luckily, workplace appreciation is an affordable, easy way to boost employee connection and company culture.
As Employee Appreciation Day approaches, it reminds us of the small but mighty ways organizations can improve employee engagement every day. This blog post highlights 15 workplace appreciation ideas you can use anytime, especially on March 7th.
Why workplace appreciation matters
Workplace appreciation isn’t about warm feelings and friendly pats on the back. Instead, it’s a catalyst for a healthy company culture and a driver of improved employee retention. It’s also among the most cost-effective methods for positively influencing morale, productivity, and retention rates.
How and what gets celebrated sends a powerful statement about your organization’s culture and what gets prioritized. When authentic employee appreciation is woven into your daily operations, employees are motivated to bring their best to work every day.
Top Workplaces for Appreciation award winners exemplify employee appreciation strategy and its impact on organizational success. But some companies still struggle to grasp the benefits of employee appreciation. The Top Workplaces Research Lab found that only 35% of HR professionals and company leaders believe their appreciation efforts are very effective — highlighting that 65% of organizations could improve their strategy.
15 workplace appreciation ideas
Showing appreciation is all about being authentic, and everyone plays a role, including leaders, managers, and employees. Next, we’ll dive into how you can show appreciation in the workplace. These ideas will inspire a culture of gratitude where employees feel valued and seen.
1. Say thank you
Don’t underestimate the power of saying “thank you.” It has a real impact on employees’ self-value and a positive company culture. Plus, it is extremely easy to do regularly. Not sure how to say thank you? A quick verbal or written note goes a long way.
2. Anniversary celebrations
Employee work anniversaries deserve recognition. Celebrate significant career milestones with your team to show how much you appreciate their long-term engagement. The celebrations will also encourage others to achieve similar anniversaries.
3. Individual passion projects
Managers should know what their employees are passionate about. To show appreciation for relevant personal interests, offer team members opportunities to grow skills in those areas. Bonus points if the passion projects advance company and individual goals simultaneously.
4. Social media spotlights
Some employees prefer public appreciation methods. In that case, give them a shoutout on social media. Not only will it boost motivation, but it will also show future employees that you value publicly showing appreciation and recognition.
5. Appreciation Slack channel
The Top Workplaces team recently started an appreciation Slack channel, and employees are already diving in and enjoying it. Slack, or any instant messaging platform, is a quick and easy way to give and receive team members’ thanks, especially when everyone is moving fast.
6. Tribute videos
Tribute videos are another appreciation tactic our team uses, specifically during company-wide meetings. Whether you’re recognizing an anniversary or another specific achievement, asking employees to talk about their team members is the perfect personal touch.
7. Handwritten notes
Handwritten thank-you notes are equal parts retro and effective. Working remotely makes handwritten notes harder, but if you’re in person, they’re a great way to show appreciation. And make it memorable.
8. Gifts and gift cards
Surprise employees with gift cards to their favorite stores or restaurants as a special treat to express gratitude and appreciation. Want to take gift-giving to the next level? Plants, gourmet snack boxes, concert tickets, and gadgets are great appreciation gift ideas.
9. Monetary bonuses
Let’s face it: everyone appreciates a little extra cash. While not as personal as other ideas, it’s an excellent complement to more individualized gestures.
10. Extra PTO
Time is valuable. Providing additional paid time off gives employees a well-deserved break to recharge. If someone is going the extra mile, they will appreciate the PTO. It is also a great tactic to reduce burnout and its costly side effects.
11. Peer-to-peer shoutouts
Teammates work side-by-side every day. When leaders are busy with the big picture, peers are likelier to see individuals’ hard work and small successes. That’s why peer-to-peer appreciation is so critical and impactful.
12. Professional development opportunities
Showing workplace appreciation with new professional development opportunities demonstrates an investment in your employees and their future. It also enhances employee performance and supports leadership development at the company level.
13. Wellness stipend
A wellness stipend is an excellent investment in employee well-being and physical and mental health. Another great tactic for reducing burnout, wellness stipends can cover a range of activities, like a massage, a yoga class, meal delivery services, etc.
14. Company merch
Giving out merch may seem corny, but it makes employees feel more connected to the company. After all, there’s a reason sports teams wear matching uniforms.
15. Appreciation parties (virtual or in-person)
At Top Workplaces, we love to celebrate—big or small. So, it’s no surprise that parties are on our list of workplace appreciation ideas. Appreciation parties build community around shared accomplishments and having fun. Offer some snacks and refreshments, maybe even play games or cook together. Just remember to focus on appreciation first and foremost.
How to measure workplace appreciation success
Are you unsure if your current workplace appreciation strategy is working? Or how your employees prefer to receive appreciation? Then, it’s time to start asking. Confidential, trustworthy employee surveys are the perfect way to measure the effectiveness of your workplace appreciation efforts and identify opportunities for improvement.
Plus, asking for feedback makes employees feel like a valued part of the organization, which boosts appreciation, too.
Learn more: Energage Workplace Survey
Top tips for improving your appreciation strategy
- Involve leadership, managers, and peers in recognition efforts. The more potential sources of appreciation, the better. When appreciation is modeled from the top down, you’ll create a culture that people want to be a part of and grow towards.
- Be thoughtful about who — and what — your organization recognizes. It tells your employees a lot about the kind of culture you have. Make sure favorites and salespeople aren’t the only ones to receive appreciation. Recognize employees who live your company values.
- Provide personalized forms of appreciation. Appreciation isn’t one-size-fits-all. Everyone has different preferences and needs. Don’t know how your employees want to be recognized? Ask them.
- Find ways to appreciate remote employees. Remote work isn’t going anywhere. Increase the visibility of remote employees’ successes, give them adequate face time with leadership, and implement virtual appreciation channels.
- Provide appreciation in various forms. Consider offering different types of appreciation so employees think it’s meaningful, not just another standard practice.
- At the end of the day, money matters. If an employee feels considerably underpaid for their work, anything short of monetary compensation won’t have much impact on their feelings of appreciation.
Get recognized for your workplace appreciation efforts
Is workplace appreciation important at your organization? Get recognized for it and then make it known to job seekers. Adding a Top Workplaces for Appreciation award to your job posts, careers page, and more builds credibility and gets top talent’s attention. Get started today by nominating your company. There’s no cost to participate, survey your employees, or win. Plus, one survey qualifies you for dozens of awards.
