Fall’s the Perfect Time for Employee Appreciation Planning

Employee appreciation planning should occur during every business season. And now, as the leaves change color and the days get longer, it’s time to plan for the fall milestones, celebrations, and rewards that remind workers of how much you value them.

Employee Appreciation Increases Engagement

We all want to feel valued, and if we don’t, it’s easy to lose enthusiasm for our work. As Monica Nolan of People Metrics writes in “25 Staff Appreciation and Recognition Ideas that Won’t Break the Bank” at You Earned It:

“Disgruntled or apathetic employees can suck the energy out of the sales transactions they perform. On the other hand, engaged employees pass on their enthusiasm to customers.”

And, according to the University of Washington’s Employee Recognition Appreciation Award Ideas:

[Tweet “”Ongoing, meaningful rewards and recognition provide an effective, low cost way of raising morale and encouraging higher levels of performance.””]

Start an Appreciation Program this Fall

If you don’t have an employee recognition program, fall is the perfect time to start one.

“Give points for attendance, punctuality, teamwork, etc. Provide gift certificates to employees who reach certain point goals,” Nolan’s post suggests.

Don’t be afraid to recognize your employees’ personal accomplishments!

“Did Joanne just finish running a marathon? Or has Jose donated gallons of blood to the Red Cross? They will appreciate your recognition of their personal accomplishments, even if all you do is acknowledge them at the beginning of your next staff meeting.”

And make it personal, she adds.

“It can be tempting to have your HR department handle such events as workplace anniversaries, but without manager involvement, such recognition can come off as cold lip service. You can certainly automate and standardize employee recognition like this, but be sure that managers personally deliver recognition gifts.”

Give Meaningful Gifts

When you do give employees recognition gifts, make sure they’re items workers want. You can only use so many coffee cups with the company logo.

Numerous studies demonstrate the popularity and growth of gift cards as an award, according to The Incentive Research Foundation’s “Market Study: B2B Gift Cards.”

Gift certificates or cards—such as gThankYou! gift certificates of gratitude—allow employees to purchase what they want, where they want, and when they want. Our free enclosure cards—some Autumn-themed—make it easy to personalize your employee appreciation gift.

And there are so many ways to tie gifts into the season. Give pizza gift certificates for use at football parties. Thanksgiving turkey gift certificates are always a winner. Or what about gift certificates for pies that employees can serve at fall parties?

The important thing is to plan your gift-giving and recognition so employees know they’re appreciated year-round.

For comprehensive how-to information on employee appreciation planning and building a vibrant culture of recognition, download our FREE eBook, “The Ultimate Guide to Employee Gift-Giving” now.

About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime. gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin. Contact: Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
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