By KAREN MRACEK • GANNETT NEWS SERVICE • February 11, 2008
For the employers who think a glass of eggnog and the uncomfortable small talk of the office party are enough to keep employees motivated all year long: Think again.
Now that the holidays are over and employees are back to their four felt-covered cube walls, they need more encouragement than ever.
"The key to successfully showing appreciation to employees — no matter how you do it — is that it is sincere, and not just done once a year," said Karen Rieck, human resources manager for the Iowa Bankers Association.
Showing appreciation is a good way to beat the winter "it's-so-cold-I-can't-feel-the-keyboard" blues. It's also a good way to help squash the coup that will arise when employees realize how much their 401(k)s tanked last week.
"Appreciation should be shown throughout the year - every day in the interactions between management, supervisors, co-workers, etc.," Rieck said.
Appreciation also shouldn't be reserved for the biggest projects. Thank employees for doing their job every day, for showing up before noon, and even for not screwing up a project. After all, younger workers are said to need more affirmation for everything — isn't that right?
The reason to show appreciation: It could mean the difference in the competitive war for talent.
"With the availability of talent shrinking, and the differences in what people really want — based on culture, generation, status, etc., it is important for organizations to look at what their overall goal is when thinking of employee recognition," said Paula Hender, spokeswoman for Central Iowa chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management.
Managers seem to be doing a pretty good job, if you trust the latest Adecco survey. A majority of employees surveyed, 56 percent, said they feel appreciated or very appreciated.
That survey also shows that it is important to demonstrate appreciation for individual successes and not just for group accomplishments.
"Many today feel that it is becoming more important to recognize at the individual level versus a one-stop shop for all," Hender said. "This mind-set may lead more organizations to move away from the big holiday party gathering and move to more individualized items or events."
There are many ways to show appreciation, said Kristina Johnson, workplace consultant for Employee & Family Resources in Des Moines, Iowa. "The most effective way to show appreciation is with the recipient in mind," she said.
Need some help thinking of ways to show your undying appreciation for your employees?
Workbytes can help, along with the experts from the Central Iowa Society for Human Resource Management, or SHRM, chapter, who know way more than we do:
Say thank you. These two little words are more important than "annual bonus." Not really, but with this economy, who has the money for bonuses? The words are free, easy and can turn someone's day around. "Some people find a verbal 'good job' more meaningful than tokens such as a gift card," Johnson said. "The best way is to ask employees what type of appreciation do they most value?"
Send written notes, or (etiquette experts, look away) even an e-mail thank you. It's a nice surprise when someone actually takes the time to write down their thanks. An added bonus: People are so glad to get them, no one counts grammar and punctuation in thank you notes. Plus, it is something they can keep, or throw darts at when they have a bad day.
Take someone to lunch. If your office is anything like The Des Moines Register's newsroom, free food is always a big hit. Do lunch without an agenda or any performance issues to talk about. It will really throw employees off. They let down their guard, and when they are done looking for hidden meanings, innuendos and land mines, they will feel like you care about them and their employment with your company.
Trips around an exotic beach resort for the whole staff. Or at least treat them to a pina colada at the beach-themed bar down the street. Really, though, find something that employees can do together to celebrate a team effort.
Carrie Theisen, a member of the local SHRM chapter, encourages managers to "get a committee together to determine how their specific group would like to celebrate."
Give merchandise, gift cards, a certificate of attendance — something tangible that can be an outward sign of appreciation. So what if they dump the "Go Team Go" T-shirt as soon as they get home. Even some of the most cynical employees like to be recognized publicly. It gives them bragging rights with their co-workers, something to tell their spouse at the end of the day, and a goal to shoot for — the hooded "I love my boss" sweatshirt.
It's important to find out which method would mean the most to your employees and just do it. "There are other ways to show appreciation to your team, but that will be different with each team," Theisen said. "Individuals have different ways they want to be recognized, and a holiday party may not be on their top 10 list."
