Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

By Katie Tejada

When you lead a team of employees, you want them to work hard and enjoy days at the office. As a business owner, you can do things to help keep your employees engaged in the business. Showing employees appreciation goes a long way. Here are some ideas to help you keep up your employee and office morale.

-Party

Everyone loves a party. There is nothing like winning a team party for reaching specific goals. Set a plan with your staff and reward them with a blowout celebration when they accomplish their goal.

You can plan themed parties around a specific holiday or event, or you can plan a party where everyone participates and brings something. Hold your party in the office or take an afternoon or evening away to a unique location to celebrate your employee achievements. Have novelty items on hand that will get people involved, such as a custom magic 8 ball that can generate fun interactions.

-Gift of fitness

Fitness is a huge win for teams when managers recognize its importance in the office. When you support health and wellness, you show your team you care about their well being. As Nick Jaroszewicz, founder of Porvata, says, “Make your team feel happy and healthy by giving the gift of custom office furniture to help the workplace feel like home.”

Ergonomic chairs and desks help support fitness with healthy posture and working areas. Allow your employees to choose the color of chairs for their desk area to bring in a little appreciation for the work they will accomplish at their desks during the day.

Subscriptions for fitness memberships or a fitness area in the breakroom go a long way to show your team that you care about their health. You might also consider investing in desk-sized equipment to use while working to help their bodies stay active.

-Honor work anniversaries

When you have an employee that makes it through a year of work with you, it should always be a celebration. Honor and recognize every work anniversary with a gift or gift card supporting your employee’s tenure with the company. They are showing their dedication to you, and you have an opportunity to share your appreciation for their time and loyalty

Although every year’s anniversary should come with a reward, some anniversaries should receive a more significant celebration, like the five, ten, 15, 20, or 25-year marks. Make the day extra special for the employee who meets these tenure marks as a part of your work family.

-Social media shoutout

Recognize your star players on social media to inspire them to continue their hard efforts and let others know that you notice what is happening in the office. Most people are on their devices checking Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc., every chance they can spare. As a company, this gives you a platform to share good news about employees with other workers in the company and their friends.

-Engraved journals

Take a personal approach by getting your hard-working team engraved journals. Leather journals with the business brand and their names are a great custom gift that will go a long way. You can even put an encouraging quote on the outside of the journal to keep them feeling appreciated every time they look at the cover.

-Thank-you note with a gift card

Although gift cards are highly appreciated, they tend to be easy to buy and hand out in bulk. However, when you take the time to write a personal thank you letter for your employee’s results and hard work, the gift card inside will go much further than just a handout.

Give a personal touch by sharing a positive message with your best employees through the letter. Your team will feel appreciated and rewarded with your encouragement and gratitude through the gift card and thank you note.

-Verbal praise

It is easy to get caught up in the day and forget to stop for a moment and recognize your team or individuals for specific positive accomplishments. Make a habit of praising people verbally, individually, in groups, privately, or publically to show your appreciation for what they do in the office. There has never been a time when employees don’t appreciate a high-five or ‘Way to Go.’

Recognition wins

Teams excel when they have an encouraging audience watching their hard work and efforts. Whether you praise, write thank you letters, give social media shoutouts, or give parties with food, your employees will be grateful for your recognition. When you begin showing appreciation to your team, you will notice bottom line numbers climb, and your team will come to work more cheerful.

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Katie Tejada is a writer, editor, and former HR professional. She often covers developments in HR, business communication, recruiting, real estate, finance, and law, but also enjoys writing about travel, interiors, and events.