“To win in the marketplace, you must first win in the workplace.” – Doug Canant
Employee engagement is the buzz these days and for all the right reasons. More and more employers are beginning to realize that happy employees add up to happy customers, which in turn adds up to more profits and happy stakeholders.
As an employer, aside from keeping an eye on the numbers, it is also important to keep an eye on your team and ensure your employees are happy. Studies show that employees who feel valued and appreciated perform better, making it a win-win situation for all concerned.
While larger corporations can afford to host monthly dinners or sponsor international travel for employees, small and medium-sized businesses may find that a tad difficult given their very tight budgets. But that does not mean their employees don’t need to be rewarded.
Let’s look at the different and easier ways to reward your team without making a dent in the company’s budget
Praise and Thanks
As hard as it may be to notice even the littlest things your employees do, try. At the end of a working week, walk up to your employees and personally thank and praise them. Praise will cost you zero cents, but it can make your employee feel like a million bucks. Do it in your private conversation, a team huddle, or with a handwritten note. The bottom line is that you notice and commend.
Gift Company Merchandise
A lot of employees take pride in the organizations they work with, so as a gesture of thanks, work with your procurement team for some company apparel that you can give out. Caps, pens, stickers, shirts, jackets, and tumblers go a long way. Plus, it’s also a free marketing strategy.
Awards and Recognition
Employees tend to hold on to certificates and button pins of awards. These are their bragging rights and a way of showing coworkers and family that they are doing an excellent job at work. Present your employees with a certificate of their achievement and recognize them in front of their peers during team meetings. Post their pics on the company’s social media platforms as well.
Team Lunches
Let your team talk amongst themselves about where they want to have lunch. Somewhere close to the office would be better. Adjust their schedules, so everyone can lunch together. Use this time to get to know them better, not just as employees but as people. This is not a business lunch, after all.
A Shopping Spree with Visa Gift Cards
Set goals, and with every metric met, hand out Visa gift cards of varying. Allow your employees the opportunity to earn multiple Visa gift cards, which can then be redeemed by them as and when they like it. This reward system will keep your employees pumped up to keep on performing. You can even get a picture of your team, of a specific team member, added to the card for that special, personalized, touch. These sentiments never go unnoticed and are a great motivator.
Surprise Time Off
Work can be stressful enough. Impromptu late arrivals and early time off can be surprise motivators. If an employee has worked hard enough to deserve some paid time off, then reward him or her with an email that says, “It’s a great afternoon. Log-off and enjoy the rest of the day. It’s on the house!
Breakfast Bonding
Promote positivity among your employees and start the day right. Set aside a day every week to bring in some breakfast meals like coffee, donuts, bread, cereal, or granola bars. Ask everyone to come in half an hour earlier and eat breakfast together. This reward will set the mood for the entire day. You can even do some awards and recognitions while having breakfast.
Massage at Work
Reward your employees by hiring a masseuse/masseur every month. During their breaks and lunches, they can have hand and back massages to help loosen their muscles. It can be a relaxing reward for every member of your team.
Trips and Tours
If you can make it a substantial one-year running reward system, the better, but you can also give out weekend tours to museums and amusement parks that they can share with their friends and family.
Cover the entrance fees and give stubs for some snacks. Not only are you being thoughtful about your employees’ families, but you are giving them the opportunity for some quality bonding time too.
Employees are the backbone of every organization. A small gesture of thanks and appreciation is a simple way of showing your appreciation. Rewards don’t need to be extremely expensive because, as cliché, as it sounds, “it is the thought that counts.” Positive reinforcements and genuine gestures go a long way in turning a tired and unmotivated employee around.