Five Ways to Tell Your Employees “Thank You”

A high percentage of employees feel overworked and under-appreciated. As recruiters, we hear this almost everyday. Employee loyalty wanes if an employee feels that her hard work goes unnoticed or that she is not really contributing value to the firm. What we have learned is that a simple sense of appreciation for your hardworking staff truly goes a long way. We are all busy and sometimes forget to give compliments or positive feedback to our staff. Praise, whether given privately or publicly, can really make your team member’s day and, in the long run, contribute to employee retention. Here are some very simple ideas:

• Congratulate your employee(s) at a public gathering or in a company newsletter, website or email.
• Write a “thank you” letter to your employee and copy senior management, as well as the employee’s personnel file.
• Highlight to your entire team how a particular staff member’s accomplishments have truly made a difference to your department or organization as a whole.
• Food speaks volumes! Buy your staff breakfast, lunch, ice cream or other afternoon treat as a “thank you” for a terrific job. Advise the team that you are proud of their efforts.
• Give an award and advise not only your firm, but your clients, of the accomplishments of your team member.