Haven't you heard? It's Employee Appreciation Day!
Every first Friday of March, our friends across the pond show their employees they care by giving a little back.
And although we're not formally involved in the UK - we still believe it's incredibly important.
That's why this week we've created an infographic full of good stuff to help you show your employees how much you value them.
If you haven't planned for it but want to get involved - that's okay, because we've got a few things on our list that don't cost a thing (or take time to prepare!).
In a bit more detail...
1. Get the drinks in
We like to get a couple of rounds in for our employee, because we all enjoy a drink or two! (Here's one of our night out team pictures...)
And it really does lift the mood of the office as well as bring us all closer together.
Just make sure that they know you're getting the bill (or even just the first round, but don't be too tight on your wallet!) as you're more likely to get more participants.
2. Go on vacation (or holiday...)
This one is on a much larger scale, so if you're going to do it, then make sure you do it properly.
It's important to remember that not everyone enjoys sharing personal space... so make sure you are aware of that before booking a stay away.
And ask around... what would people like to do? Are there any activities that everyone can get involved in?
I got this idea from Agency Central via their Twitter feed... and their employees seemed really excited about going!
Plus, they still continued the hype even when they'd returned, so obviously it went down well.
3. Get a pizza in
When I say "a" pizza, I mean six pizzas. Or however many you need to fill all the mouths at your place.
The best part about ordering pizza in bulk is that you usually get a good amount of money knocked off the total price! (Trust me, we order from Dominoes a lot).
Plus, you can get sides such as chicken, different types of breads, nachos or whatever else to satisfy everyone's preferences.
And the veggies can't complain either!
4. Personalised gifts
There's nothing that says "#Name# I appreciate you" like a card with those words written on it.
Or even a trophy, wallet, money box, glasses case... whatever you can imagine! You can find more ideas here.
It might be worth noting interests that your employees have, so that you can get them their favourite item with their name on it.
5. Give them money
This one sort of speaks for itself. "You're doing great, have more money!"
It's a little less personal, but no one is going to complain about having a little extra paper to throw around the place.
Plus, it means you don't have to keep up the special gifts... As in there's no favourable treatment and no complaints.
If your employee has particularly impressed you, you could even consider giving them a pay rise.
6. Flexible working
For parents, this will be a HUGE blessing.
There are a few people in our office who have reduced hours so they can fit their schedule with their children's.
And it is important for them to spend that time together - thus we're quite flexible with parents at Coburg Banks.
For other people, it could mean getting transport at an easier time, or generally meet personal needs and obligations.
7. A free day off
Reward your employees by giving them a Friday off!
Leaving early is great, but all in all - did they really even need to come in for those few hours of the morning?
Obviously this depends on the sort of industry you work in, but an alternative is letting your employees work remotely for a day!
8. Commute expenses
In today's world commuting is becoming more and more expensive.
The cost of fuel is going up, and so is the cost of using public transport too.
So, why not reward someone by covering the cost of their commute expenses for a month?
If you've got the budget, this one is a really good incentive for workers too. I mean, who wouldn't want their fuel paid for?
9. Say thank you
Ultimately, what are you trying to say to your employees?
I think sometimes it's best kept simple - your employees want to hear you say thank you.
It can be hard when you're slaving away, putting in the hours and thinking nobody notices.
Believe me, that simple thank you could even improve your staff retention.
Summary
It doesn't have to cost a lot to show your employees that you appreciate them.
And if you're an employee who's feeling underappreciated, just send your manager a link to our blog... I'm sure they'll get the message!
By the way, if you haven't already, you can subscribe to our Friday Funnies and get a weekly update directly to your inbox.
Happy Friday!
