25 Inexpensive Staff Appreciation Ideas

25 Inexpensive Staff Appreciation Ideas

by

Monica Nolan

Just 33% of American employees are fully engaged at work. Fortunately, staff appreciation activities can boost employee engagement. The following 25 staff appreciation and employee recognition ideas can be executed with very little cost.

1. Invite successful teams to show off to upper management.

2. Ask peers to nominate and vote for employees of the month.

3. Start a staff appreciation program. Award points for positive traits. Points may be redeemed for small prizes or special privileges.

4. Plan a surprise achievement celebration for an employee or a team of employees.

5. Pass on the praise. If you hear a positive remark about a person, repeat it to that person as soon as possible–perhaps via email. Copy managers and supervisors on such comments.

6. Publish a “kudos” column in your employee newsletter. Ask employees to submit kudos for their peers.

7. Call an employee to your office to thank them.

8. Set up a suggestion program. This can be as simple as setting up a suggestions box or as thorough as completing company-wide questionnaires.

9. Express interest in your employees’ professional development.

10. Post and follow a large Celebration Calendar to celebrate employees’ birthdays and employment anniversaries.

11. Hone your communication skills. Refer to employees by their first name. Listen actively and carefully to their thoughts. Even non-verbal communication can provide encouragement and recognition; when was the last time that an honest smile or strong handshake brightened your day?

12. Establish relationships between staff and upper management. One idea: send new employees out to lunch with the company president.

13. Ask staff members to invent and vote on employee awards.

14. Mail thank you notes to employees who work long hours.

15. Allow employees to select their next assignments. If you can allow employees to choose their work, they will be more engaged and dedicated.

16. Designate successful teams and employees as office consultants.

17. Include an employee in a “special meeting” they wouldn’t otherwise attend.

18. Recognize your employees’ personal accomplishments. Did Joanne just finish running a marathon? Or has Jose donated gallons of blood to the Red Cross? Acknowledge them at the beginning of your next staff meeting.

19. Give employees an extra long lunch break on occasion.

20. Make your praise personal and creative. Give the rock-climbing fanatic a book on the world’s top peaks with an inscription of your thanks.

21. Include Management. Without manager involvement, workplace celebrations can come off as cold lip service. Managers should personally deliver recognition gifts.

22. Ask for employees’ ideas on retreats, meetings, and other “fun time.” Employees enjoy having a say in how their work will be rewarded.

23. Write a formal letter. Explain in detail why a certain employee deserves praise. Deliver a copy to the employee and their manager(s). Place a copy in the employee’s file.

24. Establish a Rock Solid Award to recognize employees who consistently do their job well. Encourage consistency by recognizing employees who complete their duties on time, every time.

25. Support employees by providing space for their fliers. Support employees’ personal endeavors to show that you care about their personal well-being.

With so many ways to frugally recognize employees, there’s no reason for any employee to feel invisible or under-appreciated.

~Monica Nolan, 2010

Monica Nolan is an Account Manager for PeopleMetrics.

Companies interested in developing stronger

employee recognition programs

are encouraged to contact PeopleMetrics, an

employee engagement solutions

provider for some of the world’s most respected companies.

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25 Inexpensive Staff Appreciation Ideas