The 1st of March is Employee Appreciation Day here in the U.S. and I can’t begin to express how important it is to show your employees how much you value them. Not only on this day– but each and every day! I’m especially grateful for all of my employees as I open my fifth Puff & Fluff shop this month! I certainly wouldn’t be able to keep up this momentum without my fellow pet-loving Puff & Fluffers! Their dedication means the world to me, and today I want to share with you five easy ways to show your employees how much you care. Check out the list below and please feel free to share your thoughts with me!
Be a better listener
As the boss lady, it can be easy to get wrapped up in your own goals and visions for your business. However, you’ve hired employees whom you trust (hopefully!) and you should utilize their capabilities! While you’re busy with a million different things, your employees are the ones who are on the battleground each and every day– from dealing with customers and vendors to handling training and more. These folks have a lot of knowledge to offer regarding the day-to-day operations. So, if and when they have suggestions, LISTEN to them! Not only that, but work to actually implement their ideas into your business. There’s nothing more satisfying, as an employee, than knowing that your voice is heard and that you can make a true difference in your workplace.
Value their time
As an employee, there’s nothing worse than feeling like your time isn’t valued. From lengthy meetings that go nowhere to long hours and limited vacation days, it can get quite easy to become burned out. So, as an employer, you need to be vigilant about working with your staff to create a schedule that allows them to have a life outside of the office. Of course, there will be days when you need folks to work a little later or put in some weekend hours, but make sure to balance that time out. Understand that life happens and appointments pop up– the more understanding you are, the greater your employees will feel!
Feed the masses
Let’s be real– folks love a free meal! Your employees spend a lot of time at work… so, treat them to a nice snack or even a full meal every once in a while! A box of donuts certainly won’t break the bank and it’s such an easy way to make your employees feel appreciated. Depending on the size of your company, planning a monthly or quarterly lunch outing could be a fun idea as well. Even something as simple as purchasing a coffee maker for the office can really impact how your employees feel about coming to work!
Give them a shoutout
What better way to show employees you care than to give them a proper shoutout every once in a while. If your business has social media accounts (and you should!), a shoutout can be as simple as tagging an employee in a story or a post to highlight their hard work. Additionally, you can create an in-office bulletin board or find another way to make sure your employees feel truly valued. Whether you have an “Employee of the Month” or you make a point to celebrate everyone’s birthdays, there are plenty of ways to give a proper shoutout!
Hand over the reins
Okay, so you don’t have to give away all of the company secrets, but letting your employees play boss for the day is a great way to increase engagement and show your trust and appreciation! No matter what position an employee is in, letting him or her become the boss can encourage them to work towards a greater goal. Plus, it’s a way to show folks what you actually deal with on a day-to-day basis. This can be an excellent way to strengthen the overall relationship you have with your employees!
Above are just five ideas, but there are countless ways to show your employees how much you appreciate them! Have fun and be creative with it! Start small and see how great of an impact this has on your workforce. The simplest of things can increase employee retention and create a really great buzz for your business. Don’t be the boss that your employees dislike and/or are afraid of– nobody wants to be that person. Create an environment that’s happy, healthy, and fun for all!
Have questions or want to chat more about this topic? Reach out to me here! I’m always happy to talk to other small business owners and entrepreneurs.
