6 Ways to show employee appreciation during the COVID-19 era

Considering how difficult the last 18 months has been to most people, it's a good idea to go the extra mile when showing your employees that you value them. Because of the pandemic, many workers have had to adjust to a work from home setup. And while remote work offers plenty of benefits, some people may have to contend with distractions at home, such as child care and other chores. Others may feel burned out and in need of better work-life balance. But despite these challenges, your remote staff do their best to complete their tasks and meet deadlines.

Why is it important to show employee appreciation?

Let’s take a look at some benefits of doing so:

• It builds trust. If your employees can’t trust you, they might not love their job as much as you'd want them to. They want to feel like their superiors see them as human beings and have their best interests in mind.

 

• It protects your reputation. In the age of social media, it's easy for news to get around. If you treat your employees poorly, some of them may take to social media to vent their frustrations, giving other people a bad impression of you and your company.
   
  On the other hand, if you show appreciation for your staff, they may rave about your company on social media platforms. This will help you become a top choice among job searchers.

 

• It improves productivity. If your employees feel valued, they will work harder and put more effort into helping your organization achieve its goals.

If your employees feel valued, they will work harder and put more effort into helping your organization achieve its goals.

Ways to show employee appreciation

It doesn’t take much to show that you care about your staff. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Send out thank-you cards

Your team members would appreciate receiving more good news during these unprecedented times, so providing them with thank-you cards can go a long way.

Compose a short message for each employee expressing appreciation for the hard work they do. If you can, write each message by hand. Alternatively, you can use virtual card services, such as Paperless Post. eCards allow you to reach more people quickly and are a more environment-friendly option.

2. Meet employees where they are

Consider the impact of pandemic-related stress on your employees’ productivity. For instance, they may find that certain tasks that used to take a short time to finish are now taking them longer.

Show your staff that you appreciate them by regularly checking up on them and asking them about the challenges they're facing at work and in their personal lives. Ask them what support they need from management, and work with them on coming up with solutions that bring about good company output and improved employee well-being.

3. Have virtual lunch dates

Your employees may be longing for those days when they could eat out or have meals in the break room together. Fortunately, there’s a way for you to recreate those moments.

Give your staff an allowance to buy lunch from a restaurant that delivers or offers carryout. Then, set up a video call through a video calling app like Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams and have your team catch up over good food.

4. Give honest and thoughtful feedback

Giving feedback can help your team grow and push themselves beyond their comfort zone.

For instance, discussing an employee’s weaknesses one on one shows that you want them to improve. Including positive observations can boost their motivation and help them understand and develop their strengths. It also creates a positive impact on individual, team, and organizational performance.

5. Acknowledge employee achievements and milestones

Recognize diligent workers not just by giving them gifts, but also by acknowledging them during team meetings. Recognition boosts team morale and employee self-esteem, both of which have an impact on a company's overall productivity.

Make sure as well to acknowledge your employees during important milestones like work anniversaries and birthdays. According to a study by talent management insights company CEB, many workers reflect on their career and become more likely to look for another job during these dates, especially if they don’t feel appreciated enough at work.

6. Extend work flexibility beyond the pandemic

As the United States recovers from the pandemic, offices are starting to open back up. But while some of your employees may be ready to return to their workstations, others may want to continue working from home.

Consider allowing some of your team members to work remotely if it suits them, or offer at least one or two days per week for it.

Another way to show your employees that you appreciate them is by ensuring that their technology is running perfectly. Complete Document Solutions provides businesses in Los Angeles County or Orange County with reliable managed IT services that will ensure optimal network performance 24/7/365. To learn more about the benefits of outsourcing to us, download our FREE eBook today.