by Nancy Seddens

Created on: January 24, 2010

How important is employee appreciation? Any competent business owner knows that to succeed he must protect his business’s assets and utilize them to the fullest. This means maintaining equipment, investing cash as opposed to letting it sit in a bank drawing minimum interest and protecting the reputation of the business by treating customers and vendors fairly. The wise business owner knows that his most potentially valuable asset is his employees.

While there are many ways to optimize an employee’s contribution to a business, non are as important or as overlooked as making the employee feel appreciated. If asked it is likely that the employees number one answer to what makes them feel appreciated might be a raise; however, there are more imaginative and less expensive ways to say thank-you for your valuable service.

Setting goals and rewarding workers when goals are met encourages workers to do their best not only for themselves or the company but for their fellow employees. It is important that employees understand the goal and how progress is measured to determine when the goal has been met. Further more, a system should be set up to allow employees to have input in suggesting ways to meet the goal. Rewards can be $5.00 or $10.00 gas cards, a catered buffet lunch for everyone or even just an extra casual day. By showing employees how their performance helps the company and rewarding them for it the employees develop a sense of ownership of their work and it shows them that their contributions are important and appreciated.

A sense of ownership and shared responsibility gives a worker a sense of control. They feel a part of the business and not just an accessory that could be discarded on a whim. Making a worker feel a part of the business can be as simple as saying hello to them everyday or saying thank you for even the smallest of service.  A good boss is one that every employee feels comfortable saying good morning to and whose door is always open to employees who have concerns or questions; that boss’s employees feel appreciated.

Keeping employees informed of how the company is doing and what direction the company is going gives workers a sense of stability. Asking for their ideas on how to make the company better or how to achieve new goals shows that the employee’s opinions are appreciated.

The long and short of demonstrating employee appreciation is treating your employees like the intricate part of a successful company that they are. Show that you value their opinions, address their concerns, and reward them in ways that break up their normal routine such as sundae bars, lunch catered, or donuts and coffee. Have routine diversions like a monthly birthday cake for employees born that month or a monthly pot luck lunch. When employees feel at home at work they will invest themselves in work and full fill their potential as valuable assets to the company.   

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