Employees thrive on appreciation; workers at all levels want to know their work is seen and valued. Genuine respect and gratitude are so powerful, in fact, that they can have a positive impact on everything from team morale to staff turnover rates. 

Benefits of employee appreciation

Employee appreciation is beneficial for every business, no matter your industry or company size. Showing employees that you value their contributions is an affordable—and often free—way to boost morale and make each person feel good about being part of your company. It can also help create and maintain positive team dynamics at work.

Appreciation is especially powerful when it comes from company leaders. In a Gallup survey, 52% of employees said recognition is most memorable when it comes from a manager or the company CEO. This type of praise shows team members that their work is worth the attention of high-ranking leaders. It makes them feel like an integral part of the organization, which can increase engagement and inspire a long-term commitment to the business.

Ways for company leaders to appreciate employees

In a perfect world, employee appreciation would be the default for every company leader. When you’re just getting started, however, it may require intention and conscious action. With practice and time, your leadership team will get into the habit of showing their appreciation in both small and large ways.

Not sure where to start? Here are some easy ways for leaders to express appreciation:

Spend time with employees

Face time is one of the easiest ways to show appreciation for employees. Ask your company’s leaders to spend time with employees at various levels. They might:

  • Drop into team meetings
  • Walk the floor and strike up conversations
  • Chat with employees during elevator rides
  • Eat lunch in the break room

During these interactions, leaders can ask questions about employees’ work. Expressing interest and awareness makes employees feel both visible and respected for their expertise. Over time, this practice can close the gap workers often feel between themselves and company leaders.

Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day

Employee Appreciation Day takes place on the first Friday of March every year. Don’t let it pass unnoticed—throw a party, host a barbecue, or hand out gifts to every employee. It’s a fun opportunity to celebrate all of your team members at the same time.

It’s important that this type of celebration comes after you’ve established a foundation of regular appreciation. When the holiday is an extension of your existing efforts, employees are more likely to perceive it as natural and genuine.

Invest in professional development

Show employees that you appreciate what they bring to the company by offering a range of professional development options. Paying for continuing education demonstrates respect for their professional ambitions, all while building valuable skills that can benefit the company.

There are many ways to provide professional development:

  • Allot a budget for each employee
  • Subscribe to an online education platform with unlimited course access
  • Host regular workshops and seminars on-site

Treat employees to meals

A meal is an effective way to show employee appreciation to a group. You might treat a different department to a free lunch each week, host monthly company-wide meals, or surprise the team with catered breakfast on a random Tuesday.

With Grubhub Corporate Accounts, it’s easy to plan an employee-appreciation meal. You can invite employees to select their own meals, start a group order, or schedule catering. With a wide variety of restaurants to choose from, you can find the perfect cuisine for any occasion. To see how it works, get started with Grubhub Corporate Accounts today.