The Power of Employee Appreciation: How Appreciation Can Transform Your Team and Boost Your Bottom Line

Employees happily sitting in a meeting

March 7th is National Employee Appreciation Day, and to prepare, we wanted to share ways that leaders can share genuine support and appreciation for their teams with a greater goal of creating a culture of gratitude in their workplaces.

Leaders need to recognize that, for many people, the beginning of 2025 has already held a lot of heaviness, which leads to an even greater need for employee appreciation. From natural disasters and economic hardships to the ever-changing political sphere, which has left thousands of people’s jobs and livelihoods in limbo, there has been no shortage of events that have caused stress, fear, and anxiety. Outside of these events, it’s still winter, and many people are going through the winter blues and seasonal mental health issues. Suffice it to say everyone is dealing with something right now.

As a workplace leader, now is an especially great time to support your team and express appreciation. Employee appreciation is more than offering kind words and gestures—it’s crucial for boosting employee morale, job satisfaction, and long-term retention. In this blog, we share the importance of employee appreciation and some of the best ways to display gratitude and support to your team.

The Organizational Benefits of Employee Appreciation

Before we discuss how to show appreciation to your employees, it’s important to understand why you and your organization should do so. When people are thanked and recognized for their contributions, they tend to work harder, be happier, and feel more engaged. Engaging in employee appreciation initiatives not only benefits employees but can also positively impact your organization.

Did you know that 80% of employees report they would work harder if they were better recognized for their contributions? If your organization isn’t currently utilizing employee appreciation, imagine what 80% of your workforce working even harder could do for your bottom line. 

We often see business owners who fail to recognize that employee appreciation is one of the most impactful retention strategies they could use to reduce attrition and increase employee satisfaction. In fact, businesses that heavily invest in employee appreciation initiatives see an average 31% decrease in turnover.

As a leader, the good news is that you can create a culture of gratitude in your organization to enact results like these.

Start With “Thank You”

If you feel like you don’t know where to start, one of the best ways to show appreciation is to begin with “thank you.” Frequently sharing this simple yet highly effective gesture is the foundation of creating a culture of appreciation in your organization. A few ways you can incorporate displaying thanks and gratitude are:

  • Ensuring you verbally thank employees for a job well done.
  • Recognizing individual and team contributions and achievements.
  • Dedicating time for appreciation, such as setting a special meeting time to do this or taking a few moments during a recurring meeting to share your appreciation.

As mentioned, everyone is always dealing with something, even if you can’t see it. Right now, your team may have more on their mind as they come to work than usual. As a leader, you can affirm your appreciation for their efforts, which can help alleviate one of their many anxieties.

Ideas for Employee Appreciation Initiatives

Some business owners may have financial concerns about employee appreciation initiatives. However, employee appreciation doesn’t always have to involve extravagant displays or expensive offsite events. There are many low-cost—and even free—ways to show care and support for your team. A few creative examples of this are:

  • Personalized Thank You Videos: Have your leadership and management teams film a personalized message for each team member and share the montage with that employee.
  • Memberships to a Local Event or Museum: Gift an annual membership to a nearby museum, zoo, or cultural institution of their choosing that would allow them to utilize this benefit with their friends and families, too.
  • Flexible Perks: You can offer flexible perks, like letting employees choose a date to come in late, leave early, or take a long lunch.
  • Customized Journal or Planner: You could personalize a high-quality notebook or planner with your employee’s name or monogram.
  • Paid Meditation or Fitness App Subscription: Support your team’s well-being with paid subscriptions to apps like Calm, Headspace, or Peloton.
  • A “Choose Your Experience” Gift: Provide a stipend for an activity of your employee’s choice, such as a cooking class, concert, or escape room.

Recently, we gave our Berger HR Solutions team each their own plant to brighten up their workspaces as part of our special employee appreciation meeting. You can check out the photos and learn more about why we did this on our LinkedIn!

Remember to Engage for the Right Reasons

If your organization has never tried a formal employee recognition program or initiative, it’s important to remember that genuine gratitude must be the foundation of these efforts. While employee appreciation has many benefits, the primary motivation for engaging in these initiatives should be to make your employees feel seen and appreciated for what they do for your organization—especially when times are hard, and their plates are fuller than usual.

When Your Employee’s Needs Go Beyond the Support You Can Offer

One of the most important parts of truly appreciating your employees is seeing their needs and connecting them with the resources they need to continue bringing the best version of themselves to work every day. Many times that includes verbal thank you’s and tokens of appreciation, but sometimes, what they may need most is support that you may not be trained to offer, such as mental health resources or therapy.

With so many people facing many stressors, leaders need to be aware of the mental health resources their organizations offer. We highly recommend that all leaders familiarize themselves with these available resources to efficiently make connections when needed. Doing this helps to create a truly supportive environment where employees can confidently reach out for help if they need it.

Closing Thoughts

Employee appreciation is an integral part of creating a culture where employees are engaged, productive, and more likely to stay with your organization. It’s important to remember that showing appreciation doesn’t have to be grand, as genuine, consistent, and sincere gestures build a strong workplace culture. We strongly encourage employers and leaders to incorporate actions of gratitude for their employees into their day-to-day interactions and see how the culture changes.

If your organization has questions or needs help creating employee appreciation initiatives, please contact Berger HR Solutions at info@bergerhrsolutions.com or (410) 695-9888. We’re here to help!

 

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