Tips on Making Your Office Staff Feel Appreciated

Your team stays on top of deadlines all year — meeting new prospects, working overtime, and staying late some days to perfect a presentation or report. Let your office staff know that their hard work does not go unnoticed. By generating a culture of appreciation, you can increase company morale, create a positive atmosphere, boost productivity, and increase employee retention. In a time when it’s important to keep top talent at your side, special corporate gifts can do much for your bottom line. Here are some tips on making your office staff feel appreciated.

Recognize Special Achievements

Maybe your project manager nailed a presentation for a new idea that has boosted profits and influenced some positive changes in your company. Or perhaps there are a number of people on your team who have been significant contributors to this year’s success and deserve some extra recognition. Give these hard-working folks special recognition at a company party with tokens like bottles of wine tucked into small custom logo work totes. Also, set aside some time at the office to celebrate these team members with a cake and refreshments. When you give well-deserving individuals the spotlight, even if it is for a cake and punch gathering at the end of the week, it will make them feel special and motivate them to continue to do good work.

Offer Regular Opportunities for Recognition

To keep the motivation to receive recognition fresh, make it a company norm to give out special awards like Employee of the Month or Employee of the Year. Offering the chance for everyone to do additional good work for a prize or bonus can offer extra motivation. For example, a great Employee of the Month award can include entertaining items like a chocolate lover’s sampler and a gift card to a great restaurant in the area. Meanwhile, an end-of-the-year recognition of one outstanding individual can include a more expensive item like a company logo Squall coat. Make these gifts more festive with cheerful gift wrapping at a holiday party or new year’s gathering.

Make Work More Fun

It’s rewarding to work hard and produce results, but sometimes people need a break. Your employees are no exception. Check with your team to see how they are feeling. Do they need some R&R? If your office typically has a formal dress code, schedule days when jeans and more casual attire are allowed. If a festive holiday is coming up, such as Halloween, allow staff to wear costumes to work to lighten up the mood. When you make a fun work culture, you create a community that bands together for more than just a paycheck. For example, organize a team building event where you all wear matching company logo shirts and let off some steam on a rope course or fun run. Select a service that organizes exciting team building events in your office or take a day off to do something relaxing like hike a trail and eat lunch together. When you make some days different from the same old routine, your employees will appreciate working for your company and come to work with a positive attitude.

Offer Summer Fridays

Many companies have found a boost in productivity and employee morale by offering Summer Fridays when employees can take Fridays off or work for a half-day during the summer. This method has been proven to reduce employee burnout during a time of year when many operations slow down. Right now, 55% of companies in the United States offer this incentive, a rate that has gone up by 11% compared to 2018. Companies who implement this strategy report that employees come to work early and with more motivation to finish their work productively so they can take time off for a long and enjoyable weekend. This incentive can also reduce the need to use personal days for necessities like going to the doctor or taking a day off for a sick child.

Be Personable

Never forget the power of simply being kind. Your office staff looks to the leadership team for sound direction, feedback, and expertise. When you lead in a fair and personable way, people will notice. Working with great people keeps people at their jobs longer because the office is a pleasant environment where productivity thrives. There is much power in a simple handshake, a “how are you?” and compliment for every person you interact with during the day.

Follow these tips to help your office staff feel like they are irreplaceable. With the help of corporate gifts, you can create a positive office culture that rewards hard work.