Employee Appreciation Day is March 5th this year and many Human Resource Managers are planning employee recognition programs, employee appreciation gifts and activities to thank their staff on this holiday. In the past year, a lot has been asked of survivor employees or those who were retained through reduced budgets and layoffs. By setting aside one day to express thanks and appreciation, employers can help to retain employees in the future. This week, I would like to share a few employee recognition ideas that are sure to make a lasting impression on staff members for Employee Appreciation Day 2010.
Create a Company Tradition
Since Employee Appreciation Day is always on a Friday, organizations can plan an annual employee recognition event that takes place after work hours. By having everyone convene outside of normal work hours, people can visit together and discuss more topics outside the normal work conversations which often positively impacts working relationships. Events often vary from company to company and can consist of an informal gathering in the workplace to a more formal recognition dinner and award ceremony. Depending on the culture of an organization, managers and employees can decide what kind of event should be held for Employee Appreciation Day and create a company tradition that everyone will anticipate.
Select an Employee Recognition Award
Some of my clients will select a hot item in our catalog and order one for each employee at their company. MP3 players, digital cameras, pedometers and other popular gift items are often the closest thing to a one size fits all recognition solution. Clients order these items a few weeks in advance and then put a recognition award on each employee’s desk on the morning of Employee Appreciation Day so that when their staff comes in, everyone is excited to see the gift displayed on each work station. A handful of my clients select three to four days out of the year at random and provide an employee recognition awards to employees. These days are called Employee Appreciation Days and help to randomize employee recognition while keeping the recognition consistent throughout the year.
Provide Employee Recognition Packages
For a more personalized touch, clients of mine will order an employee recognition package including a recognition letter, a catalog of award merchandise and an order form all in a keepsake folder. Recognition packages provide managers with a special way to thank each individual in the organization and allow each employee to select a recognition gift of his or her choice. Often, the employee recognition letter is hand written by the employee’s direct manager and includes reasons why the employee is being recognized-outstanding performance, going above the expected performance, lending a hand to co-workers and other specific instances to reinforce why the recognition award is being given.
No matter what you are planning for Employee Appreciation Day 2010, as John McFerran, author of the article Saying thanks does wonders for job relations, advises, “Truly listen to [employee] aspirations.” Gather employee feedback on how they would like to be recognized and what kinds of recognition awards your employees desire. By asking employees what they want, you are able to create a more rewarding experience for your staff members that will help you to retain employees in the long run.
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