The Great Resignation has put many employers in an uncomfortable position. While most may think the discomfort is in finding new talent, the true burden has come in retaining it. With the high need for talent, employees are hyper-aware of the opportunities available to them. They expect a certain level of benefits, but more than that, they expect to be valued for their work.
A lack of appreciation and employee recognition is a significant determining factor of the Great Resignation. 79% of people who quit their jobs cite “lack of appreciation” as the primary reason.
With numbers like this, it’s evident that employee recognition is an essential and powerful tool for motivating and retaining top talent.
This blog post will discuss why employee recognition is important, how it can create a positive work environment, and how employee engagement ideas can boost overall morale.
What Is Employee Recognition?
At its core, employee recognition is the simple act of acknowledging an employee’s hard work, skill, and contribution. It’s also the act of showing appreciation toward them for the efforts they put in. This recognition can be done in many different ways.
Employee recognition is one of the most important tools a business can use to motivate and retain top talent. It can have a tremendous impact on employee engagement, productivity, and the overall success of a business. Let’s discuss how!
The Benefits of Employee Recognition
If you want to make great strides in your business, nurture your employees before reimagining your strategy. After all, the African proverb reminds us that “if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” The benefits of employee recognition are never-ending for both the employee and the employer, and it’s all about going further together.
Additionally, with 83% of HR leaders saying employee recognition strengthens their organizational values, it’s apparent that a happy workforce bolsters a strong and appealing company.
Here are more ways employee recognition can elevate your organization.
Higher Workplace Morale
One of the most immediate benefits of acknowledging your employees’ work is a boost in workplace morale. By showing your employees that you appreciate their hard work and effort, they’re more likely to be happy to show up for work, support their coworkers, and put their best foot forward in getting their job done. This also leads to their willingness to help the company in more ways than the minimum (e.g., extended shifts or additional tasks)!
Increased Productivity
Employee recognition can also cause a boost in productivity. A recent study found that employees who reported that their managers were great at recognizing them were 40% more engaged than those with managers who were not. Increased employee engagement often shows in workers’ tasks, relationships with coworkers, and overall mood in the workspace—all things that create an ecosystem of sustainability for any organization.
Improved Retention
One final (and the most beneficial) reason to focus on and participate in employee recognition is improved retention. When employees feel valued and appreciated, they’re more loyal to an organization and thus more likely to stay with them. Recognizing your employees and showing them they’re valued also makes them feel more open to airing grievances. This way, when they’re unhappy, they’re more likely to want to find a path forward with you rather than immediately jumping ship.
Employee recognition provides a host of benefits. However, while it’s easy to see its importance, effectively showing recognition has become a struggle for many organizations.
3 Ideas for Employee Recognition
Ideas for employee recognition can sometimes feel overwhelming for companies that are desperately trying to hold on to good talent. If that sounds like you, here are a few old-school employee recognition examples to consider.
Newsletter
If your organization currently sends out a newsletter to your employees with updates on what’s happening inside your organization, this is a great place to inject employee recognition. For example, many organizations include an employee highlight at either the beginning or the end of a newsletter that congratulates an individual on a recent win and tells others a little about them.
Awards
Employee recognition awards can be given out every quarter, every year, or at predetermined times. They can be announced at the beginning of the year so that employees have something to work toward, or they can be something you acknowledge spontaneously at a company party. Whether by trophy or certificate, these awards are easy ways to give employees recognition in a tangible way.
Surprise Acknowledgement
Another way to practice recognition is by incorporating surprise acknowledgments. This could be done by bringing treats for a birthday party or after completing a challenging project. You could also leave a note of appreciation for an employee’s work or even send out an email to a particular team member praising something they accomplished. Surprise acknowledgments are always a welcome experience for employees.
These excellent employee engagement ideas recognize valued workers and give organizations the benefit of happy employees. The only problem is that these ideas can fall flat amongst employees. Newsletters aren’t read, awards collect dust, and surprises may be fleeting.
This is why it’s important to reimagine your employee recognition programs.
Implementing Video-First Employee Recognition Strategies With Reimagined Experiences
At Reimagined Experiences, we help you recognize your employees through a medium they’ll love: video. Through a video-first approach, we produce content that connects with your employees on deeper, more personal levels.
When we create experiences that help your team feel seen, heard, and understood, they know they’re appreciated and valued in the workplace. This helps you give them a career experience like none other so you can retain your top talent.
For more information about how Reimagined Experiences can support your employee recognition efforts, reach out to us via our contact page.
