Recognition done right. There’s a strong correlation between happy employees and happy businesses. Why? Because positive employee well-being leads to growth. Workhuman knows this well. Their human workplace solutions can help you show your teams meaningful recognition and create a greater sense of belonging. Start showin’ some love.
Let’s be real: The employer-employee relationship has entered a vibe shift. Economists, thought leaders, and your average Joe all agree that the world, and particularly the workplace, is a lot different than it was 5 years ago.
How so? Well, work has become a virtual and in-person experience, a shift which has helped move power from organizations to those who work there—it was no coincidence that 47 million people voluntarily left their jobs in 2021. And today, the job-to-job seeker ratio is extremely high; there’s 1.9 jobs for every candidate seeking one. Workers gained the upper hand as employee wellbeing became more mainstream. All good stuff, really.
But within this virtual-ish world of work where 77% of employees participate in meetings online, it can be easy for workers to start feeling invisible. And when your employees feel unseen, your business can start to hurt. In 2022, the cost of turnover from low employee wellbeing was $322 billion globally. People are social and imaginative creatures. They need and deserve the right conditions to shine, and so does your business.
Soooo, the best way to keep your employees andddd your biz happy these days? Employee recognition. By getting smart and active about implementing an employee recognition program, you can start tackling today’s challenges. Say hello to strengthening talent retention, work culture, employee wellbeing, and your inclusion programs!
With National Employee Appreciation Day just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about how you plan on rewarding employees. We partnered with Workhuman, the employee recognition platform that’s been pioneering the human workplace for over 20 years, to walk you through 4 rewards that’ll make your teams feel seen and heard.
1. Redemption and recognition
You know how some people say “things won’t make you happy?” Well, they’re kinda lying. People love receiving cold, hard rewards for their work, and tangible redemption programs prove motivating time and time again.
Let’s take a look at Workhuman’s platform. Through their recognition program, points that employees receive as rewards from their peers and leadership can be used to purchase products from their Ecommerce store. And these aren’t run-of-the-mill branded water bottles or coupon books. These are serious rewards: smartwatches, laptops, travel experiences, and even charitable donations.
Reward programs are massively appreciated by employees, but let’s not forget about good ol’ fashioned recognition. Why? Because workers who receive recognition from managers a few times a month are 3x more likely to be engaged than those who don’t.
What does recognition look like, exactly? Say one of your sales reps absolutely crushed this quarter. Share your appreciation of their work using a social recognition program like one powered by Workhuman. This way, everyone within the organization can celebrate the employee’s achievements. Be sure to list exact details such as goals met and stellar numbers when singing their praises, too—it’ll let them know you’re being genuine.
2. Social gatherings
An easy way to empower your employees in the modern workplace? An old-fashioned get-together. The introverts among us are squirming, but it turns out the majority find occasional socialization motivating—and they’re wanting it more than ever.
According to an Indeed survey, 73% of employees miss socializing with co-workers and feel more connected to their organization when they get chances to mingle.
And look, your gathering doesn’t need to be a century-end palooza, and it can be online or in-person. Consider a virtual happy hour, a cake-filled celebration for a successful Q1 if you’re in the office, a relaxed onboarding video meet-and-greet, or even an Employee Appreciation Day party. The crux of the matter here is that you bring everyone together under happy circumstances.
3. Games and contests
Let’s state the obvious: Don’t make your workplace games into some seriously competitive tournament. Just add a little friendly competition to the daily in and out. This will add some spice to everyday work life and keep everyone motivated. In fact, a recent survey suggests that employee happiness rises by 89% in a gamified workplace.
But drumming up cool games and competitions that’ll please everyone? Tough stuff. Here are a few tried-and-tested examples to consider:
- company-wide trivia (perfect for virtual settings!)
- cook-off or bake-off (best BBQ, prettiest cake, hottest salsa)
- bingo
- costume contest (yes, this can work outside of Halloween)
- treasure hunt
P.S. You may be tempted to tailor some of these games (like trivia or bingo) specifically to the workplace, but try and find inspiration from outside the office. Consider pop culture, such as trending TV shows, movies, music, etc. Even better: you could ask managers about some of their direct reports' favorite things and use the list to create trivia questions that align with your employees' interests.
Showing you are listening and caring can make a big—like really big—difference.
4. Life event celebrations
At the end of the day, through all the razzle-dazzle of rewards systems, games, and breakroom parties, employees really want to feel valued and respected. Great way to do that? Celebrate big life moments with them.
One of your marketers just turn 30? Host a little party or happy hour to celebrate their birthday. Social media manager just have a kid? Collect donations via Venmo and buy them a heartwarming gift. This can work on a smaller scale, too. Say a new hire aces their first task. Hop on zoom or hold a quick celebratory in-person meeting and discuss their good work.
Celebrating big (and also small) moments in life not only creates important personal bonds in the workplace, but also generates a sense of community and trust that proves motivating time and time again. It’s an easy and unique way to let your employees know their value, and those who feel appreciated are more loyal because they feel like they’re part of something bigger.
Insights into action
This Employee Appreciation Day, you have the tools to give your employees what they really want. Above all, just remember: Recognition comes in all shapes and sizes, but it MUST be a part of your organization's strategy for it to be successful. Employees need the right resources to shine, and your biz needs great employees to grow.
So what are you waiting for? Go start rewarding.