How to Show Appreciation to Employees: 7 Low-Cost Ways
April 16 2019
Employee recognition is a crucial component of employee engagement and should be part of your office culture all year round. But like most business owners, you’re probably on a strict budget. How do you show your employees how much they mean to you without breaking the bank? Here are some ideas on how to show appreciation to employees:
1. Treat Them with Treats
For something simple and effective, place a treat on each employee’s desk with a note. For Valentine’s Day, we gave every employee a cookie from our on-site kitchen and a simple message: It’s a great day at InfoMart because you are here! Pinterest has no shortage of these appreciation-themed treats. They’re simple, fun, and bring a smile to your employees’ faces.
2. Host a Lunch & Learn
InfoMart Drug Testing Lunch & Learn
Investing in your team’s professional and personal growth is an excellent way to show them how much you care. At InfoMart, we understand the importance of learning and development, so we host multiple monthly lunch & learns to encourage corporate learning initiatives. There’s plenty of ways to achieve this:
- Have managers do a deep-dive into their department’s processes to encourage interdepartmental training.
- Allow your experts to shine by hosting educational seminars that spotlight some of your more obscure positions (we recently had our business analyst, graphic designer, and product manager each spend 15 minutes explaining the incredible value they each bring to our organization).
- Host a vendor or supplier to educate on the relationship between them and your company.
- Bring in an outside expert to discuss productivity or work/life balance (especially if you have professional contacts who wouldn’t mind giving a pro-bono lesson).
Survey your workforce to see what topics they’re most eager to learn about. Do they want to know more about your products or services? Do they want to improve workflow processes? Would they like to learn about saving for a house or investing for retirement? Helping your staff learn more about the topics that are important to them shows that you care.
3. Get Them Out of the Office
InfoMart Outside Picnic
Everyone needs a break from their day-to-day routine every now and again. There are plenty of low-cost places for office outings. Most public parks have event spaces that can be rented or reserved; these are perfect for an office picnic. If you’d rather not worry about weather, there are other options. Local bowling alleys and skating rinks often offer discounted rates for larger groups. Offer a service day at a local volunteer opportunity. The important thing to remember is that it should be an enjoyable activity that gives your staff something to look forward to.
4. Thank Them the Old-Fashioned Way
Thank you notes seem to have fallen out of fashion recently, but personally, they’re still one of my favorite ways to recognize staff for their accomplishments. Some nice stationary, a hand-written note, and a gift card can go a long way. Employees like to see that their accomplishments are not only noticed but appreciated. Write your employees a short personal note, or, if you own a larger business, encourage your managers and supervisors to do so. This way each staff member is recognized by someone who regularly sees and interacts with their work.
5. Spice Up the Breakroom
InfoMart Breakroom
Your office breakroom is where employees go to decompress. Surprise your staff by adding a little something extra for a day: a popcorn machine, a dessert bar, board games, a bookshelf full of reading material, a new coffee bar, or a massage chair. Think about what might brighten your employees’ relaxation time and make their breaks a little bit more enjoyable. Make the breakroom a place where employees can truly have fun and relax during the day.
6. Throw a Party
InfoMart Holiday Party
Who doesn’t love a party? There are plenty of budget-friendly ways to host an office celebration. Make it a potluck and encourage everyone to bring in their favorite dish. Hold contests and decorate your workplace. You can even choose a theme, like “Shooting for the Stars” or “Smells Like Team Spirit.” Recognize and reward employees who are celebrating company anniversaries with something special, like a bouquet of flowers or personalized gifts. If you want to spring for gifts for the whole staff, you can hold a raffle. This way everyone has a fair shot at getting something.
7. Say Thank You
InfoMart Annual Awards Luncheon
The simplest way to show your employees you appreciate them is also the easiest: say thank you. Showing gratitude is something you can do every single day, and it doesn’t cost a dime. When an employee does well on a presentation or report, thank them for all the excellent work. If you notice a team member staying late to finish a task or help a customer, thank them for their dedication. Never take your staff for granted. In today’s labor market, your employees have options. Knowing how to show appreciation to employees for their contributions, big or small, will create a tightly-knit team of industry professionals.
About Tammy Cohen
Tammy Cohen, an industry pioneer and expert in identity and employment screening, founded InfoMart 30 years ago. Deemed the “Queen of Screen,” she’s been a force behind industry-leading innovations. She was most recently the first-to-market with a fully compliant sanctions search, as well as a suite of identity services that modernizes talent onboarding. Tammy revolutionized the screening industry when she stepped into the field, developing the first client-facing application and a due diligence criminal search that has since become standard for all background screening companies. Cohen has received national awards and honors for her business and civic involvement, including Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 25 Women-Owned Firms in Atlanta, Enterprising Women Magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year award, the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s Kathryn Woods Racial Justice Award, and a commendation in the 152nd Congressional Record. To learn more about Tammy, visit www.tammycohen.com.
About InfoMart
InfoMart has been revolutionizing the global background and identity screening industry for 30 years, providing businesses the information they need to make informed hiring decisions. They develop innovative technology that modernizes talent onboarding, including a first-to-market biometric identity authentication application and a verified sanctions search. The WBENC-certified company is a founding member of the Professional Background Screening Association, and they have achieved PBSA accreditation in recognition of their consistent business practices and commitment to compliance with the FCRA. The company is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy, and it has been recognized for its success, workplace culture, and corporate citizenship with over 45 industry awards. To Get the Whole Story on InfoMart, please visit www.InfoMart-USA.com, follow @InfoMartUSA, or call (770) 984-2727.