5 ways to show your employees how thankful you are for them

canstockphoto24676141‘Tis the season to give thanks. If you are an employer, here are five ways you can show appreciation for your employees at Thanksgiving and all year long.

Say “thank you”

It sounds obvious but a simple “thank you” goes a long way in making your employees feel appreciated, and that is good for business.

According to results from the 2013 Glassdoor Employee Appreciation Survey, the majority of employees (68 percent) reported that their boss shows them enough appreciation, while 53 percent of those surveyed said they would stay longer at their companies if they felt more appreciation from their boss.

Employees who feel appreciated are more motivated.  Eighty-one percent of employees said their boss showing appreciation for their work motivates them to work harder.

Give them time off (and treats) at Thanksgiving

Sixty-two percent of employees surveyed by Glassdoor said they appreciate not being required to work the day before, of and after Thanksgiving.

Workers also appreciate a cash bonus (49 percent), grocery store gift card (41 percent), pre-Thanksgiving meal at work (19 percent), and the option to telecommute the days before Thanksgiving (13 percent).

Encourage employees to appreciate each other

Employees want to feel appreciated by their co-workers, too.  One great way to build morale in the workplace is to encourage employees to “call out” their fellow workers for doing something good or offering an extra hand.

You can provide cards or a place online where employees can go to “report” about how another employee went above and beyond, and share those stories at company meetings or recognition events.

Offer flexibility

Thank your employees by treating them like trustworthy adults and not making them feel guilty if they need to take care of something personal during the workday.

According to a study by FlexJobs, 74 percent of people want flexible work options so they can maintain a healthy work-life balance, and 82 percent of professionals say they would be more loyal to an employer if they had more flexible options.

In an age when we all are juggling too many responsibilities and often taking our work with us wherever we go, employers who offer flexibility are more likely to attract and retain the best workers.

Encourage employees to give back

Thank your employees by encouraging them to volunteer in their community and paying them to do it.  Some employers offer a specific number of paid hours per week for employees to volunteer, while others don’t question if a salaried employee is out of the office to attend a board meeting for an organization for whom they volunteer.

According to a 2013 Health and Volunteering study conducted by The UnitedHealth Group, 87 percent of employed people said that volunteering had developed teamwork and people skills, and 81 percent agreed that volunteering together strengthens relationships among colleagues.

Four out of five employed people who volunteered reported they felt better about their employer because of the employer’s involvement in volunteer activities.

By showing your employees how much you value and appreciate them, you will have happier employees who will want to work hard for you, and it will be easier to attract the best and brightest to work for you in the future.

So this Thanksgiving and every day of the year, make sure the most important people in your business know how much they are appreciated and how thankful you are for them.

 

Deb Neuman

About Deb Neuman

Deb thinks Maine is a great place to do business and loves telling the stories of Mainers proving that it can be done! An entrepreneur at heart, she enjoys helping others with the same drive to create and innovate!