Employee Appreciation Day is coming up this Friday, 1st March and presents the perfect opportunity to show your employees that you appreciate them and recognise the contribution they make to the success of your business.
It’s also a day to provoke thought about how the culture of your business can strengthen employee engagement and workplace wellbeing.
When appreciation and recognition are authentic, people feel seen, valued, and respected. Acts of appreciation and recognition that create that specific outcome are based on interactions, not gestures. Employee Award Certificates, length of service perks and pizza on a Friday are all good things to do but do they work? Do they refocus people? Do they help strengthen the connection between the employee and their manager, or the employee and the wider organisation?
How can you provide authentic recognition and appreciation to employees?
Firstly, recognition should acknowledge and celebrate an accomplishment or outcome. Additionally, for recognition to be truly meaningful, it needs to come from the top. Peer recognition is important, but ultimately, peers don’t determine promotions or allocate bonuses. Senior leaders carry the most weight in the organisation, and the most meaningful recognition comes from them.
While almost everyone enjoys a free lunch or treats at work, the most effective ways to show appreciation are the interactions that build trust and connection between people.
When it comes to meaningful employee appreciation, manager behaviours really do count, for example:
Being present and listening. Giving people your full attention sends the powerful unspoken message that you appreciate and respect what the other person has to say.
Being spontaneous and in the moment. There’s no reason to wait to let an employee know they are appreciated. Whether they showed some extra initiative or simply made you laugh, a word of appreciation is always, well, appreciated.
Being deliberate and asking how they are. Another way of showing appreciation authentically is by showing you care. Leaders can do this by regularly checking in with their employees by asking how they’re doing, where they’re feeling stressed, and finding out where people are feeling challenged.
Regularly give feedback to employees is key to showing your employees you care – and appreciate them. We like this Ted Talk “Missing the obvious in employee recognition” Presented by Claire McCarthy that provides further insight into the power of giving feedback – you can view it here.
So, what’s the link between employees who feel appreciated and engaged and workplace safety?
The link between workplace safety and employee engagement is well-established. Engaged employees create fewer safety issues, while safe work environments promote engagement. In analysing decades of research, Gallup found that companies with low levels of worker enthusiasm experienced a 64% increase in safety issues when compared to those with highly engaged employees.
Workplace safety requirements mean you have to invest more in daily operations. This investment can signal to employees that you value them and care about their success. Unfortunately, a 2022 Gallup poll showed that an average of only 32% of workers were engaged at work. The other workers were either disengaged or completely dysfunctional.
Studies have shown that engaged workers are beneficial to businesses. Previous poll iterations discovered the link between engagement and safety. If a worker is engaged in their job, they are more likely to be aware of their surroundings. Plus, the odds of them doing something to protect a co-worker increase dramatically.
Further Reading on the topic of workplace safety and employee engagement, as well as links to relevant research from the 2022 Gallup Poll, click here.
