March is the month of employee appreciation. If the boss can get a
Bosses Day, then it's only fair and appropriate that you, the employee, get a
day in your honour and that is exactly what employee appreciation day does!
Origin of "Employee Appreciation Day"
According to David Nuualiitia "Employee Appreciation Day first
arrived on calendars in 1995. One of Recognition Professionals International’s
founding Board members, Bob Nelson, together with his publishing company, Workman
Publishing, created Employee Appreciation Day as a way of focusing the
attention of all employers, in all industries on employee recognition."
Simple tips and ideas
·
Ask your employee to write down six
ways they would like to be rewarded. Anything goes. The only rule is that half
the ideas need to be low cost or no cost
·
Schedule lunch dates with employees.
Give them an opportunity to select the luncheon site, and use the time to
simply get to know them better
·
Consider a gift certificate entitling
an employee to lunch with you or another mentor of his/her choosing for the
purpose of being coached on one or more topics
·
Give the gift of wellness. Have a
limousine pick up an employee for a full day at a spa.
·
Send a handwritten note of thanks for
the completion of a job well done.
·
If an employee stays late/goes above
and beyond to complete a project, send the employee and his/her partner to a
nice dinner
·
Purchase a company “toy” your
employees would most enjoy; a cappuccino machine, dart board, volleyball court,
exercise room
·
Begin
an Employee of the Month contest. “Winners” will receive a special parking
spot, free lunch, special gift, recognition in the company newsletter, etc.
·
Travelling Trophy - pick an
off-the-wall item that represents excellence in your group. A team member
who demonstrates exceptional excellence is awarded the trophy and gets to
display it for a week, when the next recipient is selected. Consider an item
that each recipient can add their autograph to before it travels on.
