To celebrate employee appreciation day 2023 it’s the time to change the appreciation of employees from a once-a-year event to an everyday routine.
Recognition of employees is an essential aspect of retention
In case the War for Talent that companies are fighting in recent years has been a lesson for us the lesson is that employers should not let their employees go unnoticed no longer. Despite massive layoffs in the finance and tech world making headlines small and mid-sized companies have been hiring as many employees as they can. This keeps unemployment at a low for decades.
However, it isn’t all it means that employers who are looking to recruit and, perhaps even more importantly keep their employees should up the game by recognizing the critical role employees play in the company.
The common belief is that businesses can honor employees occasionally to acknowledge a job well done and as a consequence employees feel grateful and feel a sense of belonging. Perhaps it was in this manner, but now it’s far from the reality.
“Employee recognition isn’t something that can be done in a way that is a check-box,” says Zoe Peterson-Ward as chief customer officer of Workhuman. “We’re in a time that employees expect greater from employers than they ever have previously, and this is valid for recognition, too. Recognition shouldn’t just be given more often, but it must also be tailored for each employee to ensure that they feel respected and appreciated by their company.”
The benefits of acknowledging employees for their efforts is immense. If employees feel that their employer is dedicated to their well-being as well as professional development, study shows that it is three times more likely feel connected to the culture of their company and being three times more likely that their company is concerned about their health and 30 percent more likely to remain within their workplace five years later.
In honor of Employee Appreciation Day I spoke with Peterson-Ward through email to discuss ways that companies could rethink their employee appreciation initiatives with a view to creating a place where employees, especially the younger generation can flourish.
Genuine and often recognized
A major errors employers make when it comes to recognizing their employees is because they lack authenticity.
“Employees are aware of whether gestures of gratitude are genuine , or not, and unauthentic appreciation moments are not met with positive reactions,” says Peterson-Ward.
Peterson-Ward gives an instance where each employee receives the exact “canned” thank-you email sent by an Executive.
“Now imagine the impression you’d have when the letter that you received was a personal message that emphasized the details regarding the things you did that contributed to the company’s success,” she says. “Getting a personal, genuine message that is specific enhances employees’ experience at the moment they receive the award. In turn, employees feel more connected with the individual giving the award and to the company.”
Employee Appreciation Day is yet another illustration of how companies make a pretentious effort to honor their employees in unauthentic ways.
“Typical celebrations such as the happy hour or pizza party , are lovely gestures but they are not able to provide the long-term benefits and affect on employees,” Peterson-Ward explains. “Making these occasions and gestures an ongoing event is more beneficial for employees and must be given priority in the process of determining the best ways to design more effective programs for recognition.”
This is especially true for those of the younger generation who want regular, authentic recognition. Workhuman’s research showed an average of 78% millennials as well as Gen Z workers want frequent acknowledgment from their supervisors.
In addition to being authentic, Peterson-Ward suggests that recognition programs be effective that are tied to your business the culture, and fair and personal.
“Each element of the elements is a complement to each one,” she says. “For instance, fulfilling recognition may also be customized recognition, while equitable recognition is derived by a culture of the company that is focused on equity, diversity and inclusion. When all the components of recognition work off of one another, recognition programs will bring value to employees from all industries.”
Making sure employees feel appreciated and respected
The latest research from Workhuman revealed that three-in-ten workers (30 percent) have felt ignored at work. 23% feel cut out of conversations , and 22% feel completely not heard. They don’t feel appreciated or valued.
“Feeling visible is a daily issue for many employees,” says Peterson-Ward. “Effective genuine recognition, especially when it is coupled with regular check-ins by managers, helps to build relationships within the workplace and help the employees who aren’t visible feel appreciated.”
Peterson-Ward adds that businesses should not ignore the significance of acknowledgment of diversity inclusiveness and equity (DE&I) measures within the company.
She refers to Workhuman research that showed that just 19% of employees from black backgrounds and 21 percent of Hispanic employees are of the opinion that they get the same amount of appreciation in the same way as team members on other teams, as opposed to 28% of white employees.
“Recognition in all its forms must be open to all people and employees of any company, and the burden is on the employers to be proactive to tie together DE&I strategies with the recognition program,” says Peterson-Ward.
She says that cutting-edge technology like AI as well as machine-learning could aid business and executive leaders to eliminate racial discrimination and microaggressions in their recognition systems, and in the end, better educate their employees and themselves about what it means to be truly inclusive and fair.
“Making the younger generation feel appreciated and respected is something that companies must prioritize when it comes to implementing efficient recognition strategies in the future,” says Peterson-Ward. “Moreover it’s crucial not to ignore everyone within your organization, which makes personal recognition more essential.”
The benefits of recognition that are productive
An effective program for recognition will not only help employees stay engaged and motivates them to stay, but also helps employees become more productive and happier in their work.
“When workers feel valued by their employer, they are 10 times more likely to feel they are part of their company,” says Peterson-Ward. “On the flip side of the coin, employees who don’t feel a connection to their work are twelve times more likely to feel disengaged which can result in a decline productivity.”
The research carried out with Workhuman and Gallup discovered that an active workforce, fueled by recognition, could result in an average productivity an increase of $1,737 for every employee. The number of employees a company employs this can be quite significant figures.
“In short, creating environments that are centered around recognition can assist in making workers feel more connected and, as a result become more involved and engaged in their job,” says Peterson-Ward.
This seems like a win-win for me.
Employees are meeting where they’re located.
Employee Appreciation Day can be the perfect time to determine how effectively your company recognizes its employees, not just once every year but often and with methods that’s genuine and personal.
If you are able to get your people to where they are in relevant ways, you might be amazed at how much more productive your employees are, since they truly enjoy what they’re doing to support your goals.
In other words, perhaps it’s time for you to make every morning an employee Appreciation Day.
