It’s always important to take time to show your employees that you care about them and appreciate the work they do for you. After a difficult year like 2020, the need to show appreciation is bigger than ever. Here are some ideas of ways to show your employees how important they are to your organization in 2021.
Some of these ideas may be beyond your scope for a while if your company suffered dramatic financial setbacks due to the pandemic, as so many did. Offer your employees what you can when you can. Some ideas won’t cost you anything, and you can focus on them until your business rebounds enough to offer other options.
Give Employees Extra Off Days
Between time spent in lockdown, self-isolation, and working from home or being laid off, most people have developed some level of cabin fever over the last year. Give your employees an extra day or two this year to take an extended vacation to help make up for the trip they were unable to take in 2020. Everyone needs a bit more time this year to help recover their mental health. Your employees will greatly appreciate this gesture.
Take the Time to Express Your Thanks
An encouraging word can go a long way and costs you nothing. Be sure to let your employees know how much you appreciate their hard work. Let them know that you are aware of how difficult the last year has been for them and how grateful you are that they were able to push through and help your company to survive the disaster.
Whether you thank each of your employees individually in a format that allows you to express your appreciation in front of the whole company depends upon your personal management style and the company you run. However, whether you express your gratitude in front of everyone or not, you should certainly thank each employee personally through private communication.
Bonuses and Gifts
While words can go a long way, expressing your gratitude towards employees by means of bonuses or gifts is a case of putting your money where your mouth is. If it is within your means to provide your employees with a little something extra, you can help make their day. While you can’t go wrong with a bonus, gifts can be a bit trickier.
It’s best not to get unique gifts for each of your employees as there is a high possibility that they will read bias view bias in the gift choices, even if none exists. At the same time, getting a single gift that all your employees will enjoy can be tough since everyone has different tastes.
Everyone has received a present before that they really didn’t like. You know the disappointment you feel when you get a gift, you would never want. Make sure not to add that disappointment onto your employees’ already difficult year. When in doubt, stick to a cash bonus.
Throw a Party
The beginning of the year won’t give you much of an opportunity to thank your employees in this manner. However, as the year goes on, the world should begin to open back up again. Once we get back to a state of normalcy, throwing an employee appreciation party is one of the best ways that you can thank your employees for sticking with you and making adjustments in a difficult situation.
If your employees have generally been working from home during the pandemic, then you will also be giving coworkers who haven’t had much interaction over the last year the time to catch up in a fun and relaxed environment. You can provide food and alcohol and maybe have some prizes. You can recognize anyone who went above and beyond in the last year.
There are many different ways in which you can show your appreciation during a company party.
While providing your employees with a good time, you also need to protect them and yourself. As the last year has made abundantly clear, insurance is profoundly important. Familiarize yourself with the special event insurance purchase process. Nothing will bring morale down more than if, while celebrating the return to normalcy, a fire breaks out and leads to financial damages that force you to lay off employees.
Set Up a Fund for a Struggling Employee
If one of your employees was particularly hard hit by the pandemic, you can set up a fund to help them get back on their feet. You can agree to match any donation made by one of your other employees. This not only shows your employees your appreciation for them but lets them all know that you are a family and will take care of each other when things get tough.
Interesting Related Article: “4 Tips for Keeping Your Remote Employees Happy and Healthy“