It’s not groundbreaking news that employees want to be recognized for their hard work. Nor is it surprising that employees’ performance, attitude and job loyalty tend to improve when they feel valued at work.
Be honest: How well are you performing at recognizing your employees’ efforts in recent weeks?
Most of our lives have been turned, at least a little, upside down since the C-19 outbreak, and many of us have been in pure survival mode when it comes to work, so it’s understandable that some things are slipping through the cracks, but it shouldn’t be employee appreciation. They need it more than ever right now.
So what can you do to show employees how much you value them right now? Stacey Engle, President of Fierce Conversations, offers this advice that works, especially now, but anytime you want to show remote employees how much you care:
- Start a “Remote Worker of the Week”award. Announce the week’s winner during a team or even company-wide meeting. Highlight the efforts being made during this tough time. This could be actual work product or doing their part to keep spirits up for their co-workers.
- Send a care package. Are there office snacks that are popular? Or something that might make a home office more enjoyable? Maybe a succulent or candle? Or perhaps new activity books for a working parent? It doesn’t need to be expensive, but a physical gift as a “thank you for surviving” is sure to be a welcomed gesture and ease some of the pain associated with the quarantine.
- Brag about them. If you are proud of your team, or an individual in particular, let your boss, or even company leaders know via an email, and copy the employee. It can feel even harder to gain exposure to the higher-ups while working remotely. Being recognized directly in this way can mean a lot to employees.
- Offer daily appreciation. A simple “thank you” can go far, and with the isolating nature of remote work, those words can mean more than you think. Finding a way to appreciate your employees on a daily basis can be motivating and inspiring. Recognition can happen during an early morning pep talk, in a daily email of interesting or positive news, or during a Friday afternoon ‘We Made it Through The Week” victory lap, for everyone on your team.
- Recognize this is hard. During a 1:1 conversation, recognize that what your employee is doing is hard, whether they are a parent or not. Ask what they need most, how you can help accommodate that and be sure to follow through. Now more than ever your employees need to feel less like “just” an employee, and instead as real human with a host of new priorities.
Recognizing employees is as important now than ever. As our world is turned upside down, knowing where they stand at work can do wonders in reducing employees’ stress and anxiety, and in turn, lead to greater loyalty to the organization.
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