Creating a culture where employees feel valued isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have'; it’s essential. After all, it’s no secret that people who feel appreciated in the workplace are more engaged, productive, and loyal.
For business owners, HR managers, and executive assistants, marking Employee Appreciation Day isn’t about grand, one-off gestures. It’s about implementing thoughtful, consistent practices that foster a positive work environment and drive long-term success.
Here are five things that all businesses should be offering to ensure that their staff are happy, motivated, and performing at their best.
Sometimes, it’s the small touches that create the biggest impact. Offering useful perks not only shows you care, but it can take the edge off common life stresses, too.
Consider introducing a range of free or discounted benefits, such as:
Personalisation is key. A ‘mix-and-match' benefits package allows employees to choose the perks that matter most to them, making your gesture feel even more thoughtful.
We all expect managers to appreciate their teams, but there’s something special about recognition coming directly from peers. People understand their colleagues’ challenges, so kind words or a ‘thank you’ from a teammate can mean a lot.
Setting up platforms for peer-to-peer recognition is an effective (and often underutilised) way to show appreciation.
You could also add a creative twist by formalising colleague-nominated awards. Whether it’s ‘Most Supportive Teammate’ or ‘Problem Solver of the Month’, recognition programmes go a long way in fostering a culture of support and collaboration.
Effort should be appreciated, but recognising results is equally critical. Tangible rewards, tied directly to employee achievements, highlight how their hard work drives success for the business.
Here’s how you can reward results effectively:
Whether it’s offering hybrid or fully remote working, implementing flexible start and finish times, or introducing a flexitime model that allows colleagues to accrue time to use when they need it, flexibility has become a top priority for employees looking for a balanced, fulfilling work-life dynamic. Recognising this need can make employees feel truly appreciated.
If you have colleagues who regularly travel for work purposes, pivoting your business travel programme to be more care-led can make a huge difference – making them feel appreciated when they’re away from the comforts of home. This could be as simple as having their favourite chocolates waiting for them in their hotel room, to extending their stay and flying out their family to spend quality time with them after their work commitments are done. See how your current business travel programme stacks up against the care pillar using our free Business Travel Barometer.
When you use Travel Counsellors for Business as your TMC partner, we’ll ensure that every need of the traveller is taken care of. Get in touch to find out how your organisation’s business travel programme can become a powerful tool in making your employees feel appreciated and valued.
Whether you’ve got international offices, or regularly welcome overseas business travellers, here’s everything you need to know about the ETA as applications from some European countries are set to open tomorrow.
With a bespoke approach to travel management, we specialise in delivering tailored services that cater to the complex and high-pressure needs of the marine industry. Find out more about the support we can provide.
Discover some of the most sought-after benefits that employees are looking for and see how you can leverage these to make your organisation more competitive.