The Leadership Guide to Employee Appreciation

As Thanksgiving approaches, you may be thinking about expressing gratitude for the people and things in your life. As a leader in the workplace, showing appreciation to your employees can not only convey gratitude during this season but also play a key role in improving company culture and employee retention year-round.

A two-year study by Gallup and Workhuman shows that employees who received regular, high-quality recognition were 45% less likely to leave their company and 56% less likely to be seeking a new job. Since high employee turnover can lead to increased costs and lower productivity, it’s essential for business leaders to devote enough time and resources to employee appreciation. However, with 66% of HR managers believing their employees don’t have access to the right tools to deliver effective, frequent, and meaningful recognition, it can be challenging to know where to begin.

Fortunately, recognizing your employees doesn’t have to be complicated; simple gestures can go a long way toward making people feel valued. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here’s our list of the top seven ways leaders can foster a culture of employee appreciation.

Recognize Achievements Promptly

Did an employee give a stellar presentation or make a significant contribution to a project? One of the simplest ways to build a culture of appreciation is to recognize employees’ achievements immediately rather than waiting for a formal opportunity or a regular “highlights” email. Acknowledge hard work with direct messages, emails, or verbal praise at the end of a meeting. Immediate, direct feedback helps employees feel seen and contributes to a sense of belonging. This can be done both one-on-one and in front of the team to recognize their achievements and efforts.

Offer Plenty of Growth Opportunities

Employees want clear career advancement paths. Research shows that employees who work for companies offering professional development opportunities are more engaged in their work, and thus less likely to seek other roles. Invest in career development initiatives, such as hiring Professional Development Coaches, sponsoring online or in-person training courses, or sending team members to networking events. This investment will go a long way toward making your employees feel like they have a future at your company.

Celebrate Employees as Individuals

While it’s a no-brainer that work-related achievements should be highlighted and celebrated, your employees also have lives outside of the office. Recognizing birthdays, anniversaries, or the arrival of a new family member may seem like a small gesture, but a little can go a long way. The recognition doesn’t need to be elaborate; a card on their desk or a shout-out on Teams or in a company email can show that you care about them as individuals. Consistently recognizing personal milestones helps foster a culture of belonging, improving overall productivity and employee engagement.

Offer Incentives

Did you know that benefits packages can be considered a form of employee appreciation? While you may already offer competitive benefits like healthcare, paid time off, and tuition reimbursement, it may be worth expanding your offerings to show a little more appreciation. Incentives such as extra time off, holiday bonuses, or flexible work options demonstrate that you value your employees and their contributions.

Write a Personal Note

Handwritten or digital, taking the time to write a note of thanks or appreciation is a kind gesture that makes a meaningful impact. Leaders can use this approach to recognize employees for great success, drop a thank-you card on their desk after wrapping up a big project, or send a sincere  email following a stellar presentation. Personalized, authentic notes (not generic templates) are more likely to be perceived as genuine and heartfelt.

Share a Meal Together

Sometimes, the best way to show employee appreciation is through a simple, shared meal. Offering catered lunches or providing snacks or breakfast are quick, easy ways to show employees that you care. After all, you can’t do your best work on an empty stomach, and sharing a meal together is a great way to build team camaraderie. So, get that group order ready and chow down!

Foster a Culture of Appreciation

Finally, employee appreciation doesn’t have to come only from managers and leaders; encouraging employees to recognize each other, connect, and work together every day can cultivate a full company culture of appreciation and fosters belonging. Top workplaces often host company-wide events, bringing employees together to play games, engage in friendly competitions, or give back to the community. Set an example as a leader and facilitate events like these—and participate yourself! — and your employees will feel more empowered to participate as well.

Another way to promote appreciation across the organization is by offering incentives for employees to recognize each other’s achievements. For example, at LCS, we use Reward Gateway, an online portal where team members can send one another appreciation cards or points that can be redeemed for gift cards, company-branded merchandise, and even extra paid time off. Here are some recent shout-outs from our team:

Feel Appreciated at Work at LCS

While leaders are often where successful employee appreciation efforts begin, fostering a company-wide culture of collaboration and appreciation is paramount to an organization’s success. That’s why, at LCS, we work hard at all levels—from the C-Suite to our Team Leads—to recognize hard work and offer professional development, company events, and incentives to show our team that their contributions are valued.

If you’re looking for a workplace where appreciation is felt every day, not just during Thanksgiving, come see for yourself why LCS has been a Top Workplace in Cincinnati for 13 years running. Check out our careers page to see what positions we have available, and apply to join our team today!