The Importance of Employee Appreciation in the Workplace
There is a famous saying that states “you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone”. Why is it that we only appreciate each other on holidays or special occasions? Why don’t we show and share our appreciation on the daily?
In the workplace, it is crucial to practice employee appreciation. Employees who feel valued and love where they work are more likely to have a longer retention and a better attitude. When a colleague or superior shows their appreciation of your hard work, it makes you feel validated and strive to work even harder. A hard working, loyal staff adds significant value to any company, which is one of the major reasons why it is so important to acknowledge the hard work of your staff.
When the workplace gets busy and demands more attention, employee appreciation tends to take a back seat. Businesses can unintentionally lean toward taking their employees for granted or have the attitude of “this is what I pay them for, so why should I go out of my way to tell them they did their task well?”
We’d like to counter that outlook with the question – “well, where would you be without them?”
Employee appreciation plays a big role in job satisfaction and performance, as well as company morale. When you make an effort to show your staff how much you care and see the strengths of their skillset, it can boost their motivation, productivity, mood, and desire to learn. Best of all, taking the time to give a colleague a compliment doesn’t cost you a cent and takes just a moment of your time.
There are many ways you can show your appreciation including:
- Express gratitude, even with a simple “thank you”
- Provide honest and positive feedback
- Make conversation to show you care about them as a person, not just an employee
- Discuss growth opportunities
- Offer occasional flexibility in their schedule
- Remote days
- Invitation to come in a few hours late, after working an extra long shift
- Offer encouragement during stressful times
- Rewards or gifts when applicable
It is truly amazing how a few kind words can go a long way. Positive affirmation can turn an average or negative day into a great one; it can turn any environment into a positive one; it can add joy in someone’s life.
The first Friday in March is National Employee Appreciation Day, so make today the day you tell your employees how much value they add to company and specifically what great work they have done. Let today be the start of your new habit of appreciating your staff and making an effort to acknowledge their determination and success.
By creating a strong connection with your staff, they will see how you recognize their work and will want to continue to be dedicated to the company You will establish trust and good communication, and hopefully high performance from your business.
At CommonGrounds Workplace, we pride ourselves on our premier staff. Our workplace teams are a shining light in our spaces and are not only knowledgeable, but always willing to lend a hand and support our members needs. We have had countless feedback from our members on how much they love and appreciate their CG workplace managers and coordinators, and how they make coming to work a joy. It is the people who make a space special and we see so much value in how hard they work each and every day.
If you are looking to join a team where you love where you work, look no further. Check out our job postings at CommonGrounds across the country: here.
