Employee appreciation is key when it comes to employee engagement and retention, but what is the proper way to show employees you appreciate them? Some employees may feel appreciated by receiving a small bonus or a paid day off. Others may feel appreciated with a free meal. Whatever you do, though, don’t offer the following “perks”—they may not be too well received!
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According to a new survey released by OfficeTeam, 66% percent of workers said they’d likely leave their job if they didn’t feel appreciated. That’s up from 51% who responded that way in 2012. In contrast, just over one-half (54%) of senior managers believe it’s common for staff to quit due to lack of recognition. The OfficeTeam survey also asked respondents to offer some of the strangest forms of recognition they’ve received, including:
- A loaf of bread
- A CD of music written and performed by a coworker
- A custom statuette of the employee
- Edible flowers
- A large carving of a polar bear
- An expired gift certificate
- A golden key to an executive bathroom that didn’t exist
- Socks
- A misspelled plaque
- A plush toy
- Fresh meat from a hunting trip
- A foam tombstone
- A jacket that was too short with sleeves that were too long
- Grocery coupons
- A $0.03 raise
If you are going to show your employees you appreciate them, a $.03 raise is probably not going to win over your hard workers. However, the survey also inquired about the best forms of recognition workers have received. If you’re going for “Employer of the Year,” you may want to consider offering the following forms of recognition:
- A handwritten thank-you card from the chief operating officer
- A new car
- Being named employee of the year
- An all-expenses-paid trip to Jamaica
- A donation to a nonprofit in the employee’s name
- A message sent to all employees acknowledging an employee’s work
- Baseball playoff tickets behind home plate
- A day off
- A fancy watch
- Being flown to corporate headquarters and receiving a plaque
- An awards show-style event
- A large bonus
- Lunch at a private club
- A complimentary e-mail to an employee from a key stakeholder
- A surprise party after completing a task
“All professionals like to be acknowledged for their contributions, and not just once or twice a year,” said Brandi Britton, a district president for OfficeTeam, in a press release. “While monetary rewards are always crowd-pleasers, companies don’t need to spend a lot to show appreciation to their workers.
 Melissa Blazejak is a Senior Web Content Editor at BLR. She has written articles for HR.BLR.com and the HR Daily Advisor websites and is responsible for the day-to-day management of HR.BLR.com and HRLaws.com. She has been at BLR since 2014. She graduated with a BA of Science, specializing in Communication, from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2008. Most recently, she graduated in 2014 with a MS of Educational Technology. |