‘Tis The Season For Employee Appreciation…

The holiday season is kicking off and there’s no better time to show your employee appreciation and say “thank you” than now. It’s a great time for holiday parties and bonus checks, but what can you do that is a little extra something for your dedicated workforce? Here are 5 ways to show your employees they’re appreciated and that you as a business owner, are acknowledging their incredible dedication to ensuring your business succeeds.

• Holiday bonuses are a great way to show employee appreciation. If you’re in the position of being able to give out holiday bonuses, make it a big deal, a celebration even. People love to be praised for their hard work publicly. Bonus points if you include a card along with each bonus check passed out that is personalized saying something like what exactly that particular employee does to make your life easier, what he or she is doing for your business and how you do recognize his or her growth over the time he or she has been employed. Fun fact: employees who receive bonuses are 71% more likely to stay with their current employers; it creates loyalty, which reduces your turnover rate and practically erases potential training costs for replacement employees since you won’t be hiring anyone new.

• If possible, close early one day and have a festive holiday party. Feel free to make a speech reminding your workers just how important and appreciated they are. Make it a potluck style party where everyone brings a dish, dessert or drink selection. This will make your employees feel as if they are apart of something bigger than just a 9-to-5 so to speak.

• Don’t forget to say thank you. This is perhaps the easiest one of all. Not just during the holiday season, but year-round. A constant reminder to your workers saying how thankful you are that they’re here working for you makes your employees feel as if they are a part of something bigger than just a regular old job.

• One-on-one time is great for the management/boss/owner to do. Create space in your day to call in individual workers one-by-one and have a brief meeting with them. In this meeting, discuss their strengths within your company and remind them that you’re noticing their hard work, that it’s not going ignored.

Small tokens of appreciation are great because they’re memorable. Create something simple like a holiday-themed travel coffee mug that also includes your company logo on it. You didn’t spend a million dollars on small gifts for something like something like a travel mug (or anything else you wish,) but your employees will take it to heart that you were thoughtful enough to even give them anything at all. Best of all, if your logo is on whatever gift items you decide on, you’re also spreading awareness of your brand. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!