5 great ways to show your team the love on employee appreciation day

Every manager knows that the happiest, most productive members of any staff are the ones who know their own value–and just as important, know that their bosses appreciate their value as well. Conveying gratitude and appreciation for your staff is an incredibly important part of being a manager. Employee satisfaction impacts every aspect of a company: retention, productivity, morale, and, ultimately, your bottom line.

We all know it intuitively, but the data backs it up. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, “Almost all employees (93 percent) who reported feeling valued said that they are motivated to do their best at work and 88 percent reported feeling engaged. This compares to just 33 percent and 38 percent, respectively, of those who said they do not feel valued.” Employees who feel valued were also more likely to recommend their workplace to others. Staff who didn’t feel the love were also significantly more likely to seek new employment.

Making your team feel appreciated starts with everyday interactions and the general workplace tone a manager sets, but it pays to give an extra “thank you” to employees with a special treat at least a few times a year. An employee appreciation event might coincide with a big sales push or the completion of a major initiative, or maybe you simply feel the need for a little boost to push your team towards the year-end finish line. Whatever the occasion, these ideas are guaranteed to make your team know how much you value their contributions.

It’s the simple things:

Leave a thoughtful handwritten note accompanied a small gift at your team’s workstations–a bottle of wine or champagne, an Amazon gift card, or a voucher for free movie tickets. Be sure to detail specifically why each individual is great for the team in your message. Acknowledge their efforts and tell them what it personally meant to you.

Give the gift of health:

Let your staff know you care about their well-being by giving them a healthy perk, like a FitBit, a week of Blue Apron meals, or a free yoga class.

Caffeinate the squad:

Everyone will feel the love when coffee, donuts, and bagels are waiting for them as a surprise breakfast at the office.

Loosen the reins:

Let everyone know that you recognize their efforts by letting them ease up a bit. Send everyone home early on a Friday to get a head start on the weekend.

Treat the team to lunch:

Nothing says “thanks for your hard work” quite the way that food does. A free lunch is truly the universal sign of gratitude. So let your staff know they’re loved by letting Jerry’s Kitchen serve up a delicious afternoon pick-me-up. Our food truck is equipped for any venue, whether you’re planning hors d’ouvres in the conference room or a picnic in the park. We serve a full range of options for every palate and are proud to offer dishes for those with dietary restrictions, including healthy and gluten-free options. Give us a call today for a free quote.