With the holiday season upon us, a lot of recruiters and managers are wondering what’s the best way to show thanks and appreciation to their employees. If you’re among them, that’s a good thing! It turns out, according to data from global employee recognition firm Globoforce, 40-percent of workers say they were not recognized in the past year. Yet recognition, appreciation, and thanks are essential to the health and happiness of employees — which, of course, directly correlates to the health of the company.
The holidays are a great time to make a change and start appreciating your employees’ hard work. Here are five things employers can implement this holiday season to show their appreciation:
1. Encourage recognition at the peer-to-peer level.
While it’s always great to receive an “attaboy” from the boss, often that’s not enough. The health of a company depends on mutually supportive employees working together in a nurturing environment. By encouraging employees not only to recognize their subordinates, but to also recognize the good work of their peers and supervisors, you’re fostering a culture of mutual support, where creativity shines and employees feel valued.
2. Offer training courses.
Most good employees want to improve their skills so they can work their way up in the company. By offering training courses for specific skills, you’re not only providing a way for employees to learn, you’re also showing them that you value their work and believe they’re capable of more.
3. Cash bonus.
What employee doesn’t want a cash bonus for the holidays? It’s a no-brainer: you can encourage your hard-working employees and provide incentives for the group as a whole. There’s nothing that says holiday cheer like a little extra buck in the bank!
4. Chance to work from home.
While allowing employees to work from home all of the time may not foster the creative brainstorming needed to perform well, allowing employees the option to work from home on occasion shows that you trust them and value their wellbeing. Plus, sometimes working from home may actually provide the restful environment an employee needs to get the job done. Giving them the option of a day or two per month to work from home is a great holiday treat!
5. Gift cards.
You can’t go wrong with a gift card to a store you know your employees will love. The key is to not give your employees any old gift card — be sure the card you give them is redeemable at a store they love.
Looking for more ideas?
At Safeguard, we offer creative business solutions that fit your needs. In particular, we offer employee recognition products and awards, which may be a great holiday gift. Give us a call today! We’d love to tackle any problem you throw our way.