By Lisa Aharon

We’ve heard many a manager say, “I mean…I pay them well. Why isn’t that enough?”

Well, good salaries go a long way toward keeping employee turnover down and engagement up. Yet, people appear to need more. A huge key to happy employees is gratitude.
Why gratitude?
A very recent study by researchers at the Portland (Oregan) State University found that gratitude at the workplace causes positive physical effects. The simple words ‘thank you’ expressed sincerely can improve a person’s physical and mental health.

The study looked at acute care nurses (like those in a hospital’s Intensive Care Unit or Emergency Room). The researchers found that nurses who were thanked at work slept better, ate healthier, and had fewer headaches. They also felt less burnt out.

Taking it one step further, thanking your employees can help keep your business running smoothly. Think about all those sick days and ‘sick days’—employees who feel valued and physically well don’t need to take off so often. In fact, they want to come to work. Another item is turnover—you know the costs involved in finding and training new workers. Employees who feel appreciated tend to stay in jobs longer, even if things are not always easy.

Employee Appreciation Day
This concept of employee appreciation is so important that the U.S. has designated the first Friday in March as Employee Appreciation Day.

We think showing gratitude to your employees should be done more than once a year…especially since it doesn’t always have to be complicated or cost a lot.

Five ‘Thank You’ Ideas with varying costs (besides just saying ‘thank you’)

1. Public recognition
You’ve probably seen those ‘Employee of the Month’ pictures at supermarkets, department stores, and sometimes even banks. Perhaps you’ve even chuckled at them for being tacky. Laugh no longer. The Harvard Business Review reports that “40% of employed Americans say they’d put more energy into their work if they were recognized more often”. Second-hand stores sell elegant frames for only a few dollars each. Using your phone to take a picture and your printer to print it costs very little. We’re sure you’ve got some wall space. You could have one ‘winner’ per department, project team, etc.

Pro tip: When deciding on your ‘stars’ for the month, consider their out-of-work achievements also. Is one of your employees a first-responder in her spare time? Does another do volunteer community work during his?

2. Entertain them
Local singers, bands, comedians, and theater companies don’t cost a lot and might even perform for free for the exposure. As we’re sure you know, there’s a lot of excellent ‘amateur’ or ‘rising star’ talent out there. You can be sure your employees would really enjoy a ‘thank you’ hour of entertainment (during work hours, of course)—but only if the entertainment is good, so best to check it out yourself beforehand or get a recommendation from someone who has.

3. Have an office makeover
Big companies have been making the headlines with their enviable office spaces which most employees would love to work in. Yes, they are very creative…and also big budget, but it doesn’t have to be this way. As this article in Forbes points out, “even a small shift in well-being can have a dramatic impact”. Has your team had some spectacular results? Thank them with an office makeover.

Planning: Have a first group meeting. Discuss and set up some ground rules of what is allowed and what isn’t. Invite your employees to create drawings/plans/mockups of what they would like to see. One week later, have another meeting. Create one final design from all the ideas submitted—you will most likely see that there are many common elements such as a ‘chill area’ or more art on the walls.

Decorating: Start low-key by soliciting item donations from your workers. Most of us have good condition, nice-looking furniture, art, lighting, carpets, etc. that we would be willing to give to the workplace. If there is also a company budget for this makeover, discuss and agree on how the funds should be used. Making your employees a ‘home away from home’ usually pays off well.

4. Drinks are on you
In addition to being a really fun ‘thanks’, studies show that shared food and drink promotes trust and closeness. And if you could include good health in the mix, all the better.

Our mobile, corporate drinks bar offers a choice of Hawaiian Blend Espressos & Coffees, low sugar, non-or-low fat Smoothies, and Ghiradelli premium Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa. We also have a tropical Shave Ice option, and when you pair Hawaiian Shave Ice with our Smoothie Bar, you’ll get a 50% discount on your Shave Ice! Get a free, no-obligation price quote.

5. Flextime/Flexlocation
They’re not working less, just differently. In thanks, treat your employees to a one-time, rearrangement of hours or working location. For many parents, being able to work around a child’s school event or doctor’s appointment would be amazing. For most of us, the ability to work from home or at the pool for one day would mean so much.

And if you are not sure what to say when presenting your workers with one of these special thank you’s, here are some great ideas.