A healthy work environment is a top priority for employees across the United States, and part of employee happiness is recognizing your peers’ hard work and accomplishments. Only 60 percent of employees in the US feel appreciated by their employers, though peer recognition ideas are an excellent and creative way to boost employee wellness.
It’s natural for employee happiness and productivity to drop when management doesn’t appreciate or see the hard work their employees do. A lack of positive feedback reduces the odds of employees wanting to pour their all into the next task.
Working with your HR team to develop unique ideas for employee recognition is the best step for a healthy work environment. Fortunately, you’re in the perfect spot to learn tips for recognizing your best employees.
Continue reading for several helpful recognition ideas today!
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Say Thank You
It’s a simple step in the right direction, but try thanking your employees for their hard work and dedication. A simple thank you goes a long way toward showing people that you see them and appreciate their efforts. It’s a simple way to show gratitude authentically.
Use empathy to look at the times you’ve worked hard to help someone else without getting thanked. It’s a disappointing and hollow feeling. Help your employees avoid that feeling by going out of your way to recognize the value they bring to your organization.
Use Gift Cards
Gift cards are another excellent way to promote employee happiness and recognize your team’s hard work and brilliance. People will always be happy and excited to receive free stuff, and gift cards are an excellent way to pass the value and benefits of hard work to your team.
They’re a perfect reward for your company’s top performers. The disappointment of not earning a gift card will push other employees to work harder and follow the examples set by their best workers.
You get to avoid the tax challenges of rewarding employees. It’s also an effective way to offer your employees the flexibility to determine where and how they want to use the gift cards.
Peer-To-Peer Recognition
Nothing feels better as an employee than being recognized by your peers for your hard work and kindness. Use peer-to-peer recognition to show employees they’re appreciated and their efforts are seen. It’s also a fantastic way to measure employee engagement within your department and organization.
Peer-to-peer recognition improves engagement and productivity at your company. Implement a system to make it easy for employees to recognize their peers.
A monthly award is an excellent way to progress with peer recognition ideas. Consider learning more about glass awards to hand out to your best employees each month.
Free Lunch
A free lunch on your dime is an excellent way to reward employees you see going above and beyond for the company. It’s an opportunity to get to know your employees better and for them to get your perspective on their future with the company. A simple thank you isn’t enough when an employee consistently goes the extra mile.
A private lunch with the managers at the company is a terrific reward for your employees. It shows appreciation for the employee’s work and provides a tangible award or benefit.
It’s also the perfect space for meaningful conversations to help your employees grow. Work with your HR team to plan lunch rewards for the best employees in your business. Use the time to provide actionable tips and advice to guide the individual toward a brighter career and future.
Time Off
Suprise time off is always a welcome reward for quality work within a business. It’s one of the best options for employee recognition and wellness since it rewards the individual with a break from work. They can use that break to spend quality time with family or decompress from their hectic work schedule.
If you want to improve productivity and employee engagement, using time off as a reward is an excellent place to start. It’s a thoughtful reward that boosts morale and helps the individual return to work happier and refreshed.
Office Outings
An office outing is one of the most effective ways to recognize an entire team or department. You can use this peer recognition idea to thank a group for their excellent work. It’s also a phenomenal way to build stronger bonds within the team.
The ideas for this event are endless, though bar crawls and escape rooms are strong starting ideas. There are also virtual events you can host if your team is remote-based. Get creative and find ways to thank everyone for their work and dedication.
Social Media Recognition
Most companies have a robust set of social media accounts. Use those accounts to your benefit by spotlighting the best employees in each department. A monthly announcement or social media post with a bio of the employee is an excellent way to make them feel seen and appreciated.
They can share the post with friends and family members, and they’ll feel proud of their accomplishments. Social media recognition is one of the best methods for peer recognition ideas. You’ll improve productivity and ensure employee happiness with this extra step.
VIP Parking
Nothing is worse than a long walk into the office on a freezing morning. One of the best peer recognition ideas is providing VIP parking to your best employees as a reward for their hard work. Having permission and access to the best parking spot for the office is a perk that many employees will love taking advantage of.
Try These Peer Recognition Ideas Today
Using the best peer recognition ideas is a crucial step toward improving engagement and employee wellness at your company. Rewards like gift cards, trophies, and VIP parking will improve productivity and show your workers that you see their hard work and dedication. A simple thank you, and lunch with management goes a long way toward building a solid relationship with your employees.
Taking your business to the next level is challenging, but the right advice will help you. Check out more of our Business blog content for the best tips and advice to grow your business today!
