Why? When employees feel genuinely appreciated and valued, their motivation and productivity soar. On the flip side, employees who feel undervalued can have lower levels of commitment. However, by proactively fostering a culture of appreciation, we can ensure that individual employee satisfaction remains high.
Why does employee appreciation matter?
Positive company culture
Employee appreciation helps foster a positive work environment. When employees feel appreciated and valued for their contributions, it boosts morale and creates a sense of belonging and satisfaction.
Managers who consistently recognize employees’ performance set a meaningful precedent. This fosters a supportive and inclusive work environment where individuals feel valued and motivated to perform their best.
Higher staff retention
Secondly, employee recognition is pivotal in lowering turnover and retaining valuable talent. Employees who feel appreciated are more likely to stay with the organization. Turnover reduces as do the associated costs and disruptions of hiring and training new employees.
The evidence supports this claim:
- According to Glassdoor, 53% of employees say they will stay longer in a company if they feel appreciated.
- SurveyMonkey also found that employees who are consistently recognized at work are significantly less likely (63%) to seek a new job within the next 3-6 months. In contrast, among the group of employees who feel unrecognized, 43% are extremely likely to explore job opportunities elsewhere.
Greater employee engagement
Employee appreciation positively impacts employee engagement and commitment. Recognized employees develop a stronger emotional connection to the organization, becoming advocates for its success. They are likelier to go above and beyond their duties, contribute innovative ideas, and actively participate in teamwork and collaboration.
Benefits for everyone
Overall, employee appreciation is not just a nice gesture but a strategic practice with tangible benefits for both employees and the organization. It boosts morale, improves retention, increases loyalty, and creates a positive and thriving workplace.
According to the study made by Gallup, if companies double the number of employees they recognize every week, there will be:
- 24% improvement in work quality
- 27% reduction in absenteeism
- 10% reduction in staff shrinkage
How do you recognize staff for good work – from afar?
Most offices now have a hybrid work policy. Yet, recognizing and motivating employees from afar is challenging.
How can we help remote employees feel more motivated and valued at work?
- Personalized Messages: Send personalized messages or emails to remote employees, recognizing their hard work, achievements, and contributions. Highlight specific examples to show that their efforts are valued and recognized.
- Public Recognition: Use digital platforms to acknowledge and appreciate remote employees’ accomplishments publicly. This allows others to see and appreciate their contributions as well.
- Virtual Team Celebrations: Organize social celebrations to honor milestones, project completions, or individual achievements. Consider virtual parties, team video calls, or sending surprise treats or gift cards to remote employees’ homes.
- Digital Appreciation Tools: Utilize digital tools and platforms with features specifically designed for recognition and appreciation. These tools allow colleagues and managers to give remote employees virtual badges, kudos, or shout-outs, providing a tangible form of gratitude.
- Professional Development Opportunities: Show appreciation by investing in the professional development of remote employees. Offer opportunities for skill enhancement, online courses, or workshops that align with their career goals and aspirations.
- Flexible Work Arrangements: Demonstrate appreciation by offering flexible work arrangements that accommodate remote employees’ unique needs and circumstances. Granting them autonomy over their schedules promotes a healthy work-life balance and shows trust and appreciation for their commitment.
- Care Packages or Gifts: Send care packages or surprise gifts to remote employees’ homes to show gratitude and appreciation. These can include personalized items, company-branded merchandise, or thoughtful treats to make them feel valued and recognized.
Remember, the key is to ensure that expressions of appreciation are genuine, consistent, and tailored to each individual. By implementing these gestures, organizations can cultivate a culture of appreciation and strengthen the bond between remote employees and the company.
Our employee recognition solution for the company intranet
Looking for a simplified way to share personalized messages and publicly acknowledge employees? Interested in the idea of a digital tool that allows this and more?
Well, look no further than Kudos from Powell Intranet.
We created “Kudos,” so you have an easy-to-use employee recognition platform directly in your intranet.
Where did the idea come from? After lengthy discussions with our clients, we discovered the need to add a simple recognition feature to the intranet. Our customers wanted a tool in their intranet that made it easy for managers and colleagues to share appreciation. They wanted to celebrate their peers.
What is the Kudos feature, and how does it work?
Kudos is a template in Powell Intranet, and the recognition software is available to current and future customers. It allows employees and managers to praise and congratulate each other for their actions, whether it’s good teamwork, a successful project, or any activity related to company life. Digital Communications or Human Resources managers predetermine the topics for which employees can get praised. Users can then select the “Kudos” topic and send it to a specific person.
To create a deeper connection between colleagues and boost morale, we’ve added a way to personalize messages when sending Kudos.
For example, Linda from Sales congratulates Mark on his excellent teamwork on his latest marketing project, as Mark has shown a fantastic ability to keep team members’ spirits high throughout. Marc receives a personalized message in Microsoft Teams from Linda. He will feel valued and appreciated by his peers and be more inclined to collaborate with Linda on future projects. This will create deeper bonds between these two employees. It also contributes to greater digital wellbeing.
The “Kudos” can be displayed anywhere on Intranet pages as a web part. However, we also offer “The Kudos wall” – a dedicated Kudo page letting intranet users view all the Kudos given and received by employees and managers. Employees can read all Kudos in one place. This will spark healthy competition and engagement.
How can you get the new Kudos feature from Powell Intranet and start showing employee appreciation?
Kudos are included by default on our standalone Gamification center template on Powell Intranet, and a space administrator can define them. On a user’s gamification profile, employees can view all their latest actions and points & badges earned for their participation.
If you’re a Powell Intranet customer, you’ll have Kudos included by default on our standalone Gamification Center template on Powell Intranet. On a user’s gamification profile, employees can view all their latest actions and points & badges earned for their participation.
*The Gamification Center is required to use this web part.
To add the Kudo web part to SharePoint, follow these instructions to deploy it on your page.
No settings are required. Thanks to the Gamification Center, it’ll directly display the available Kudos and allow you to give them to your colleagues. Deploy the Kudos functionality on your intranet and start showing employee appreciation. Explore the full process in our Help Center.
Benefits of kudos employee recognition
The benefits of employee recognition through Kudos are numerous. Here are some key advantages:
- Motivation and Engagement: Kudos recognition boosts employee motivation by acknowledging their hard work and achievements. It provides a sense of validation and satisfaction, leading to increased engagement and dedication.
- Improved Retention: Recognized employees are more likely to feel valued and appreciated, increasing job satisfaction and loyalty. This, in turn, reduces employee turnover and the associated costs of recruitment and training.
- Enhanced Morale and Productivity: Kudos recognition fosters a positive work environment where employees feel valued and supported. This positive morale translates into higher productivity levels as employees are more likely to go above and beyond their regular duties when they feel appreciated.
- Strengthened Team Dynamics: Peer-to-peer kudos recognition encourages a culture of collaboration and teamwork. It improves internal communication and builds positive relationships, creating a supportive work atmosphere.
- Boosted Employee Wellbeing: Recognizing employees’ contributions and efforts through kudos helps enhance their overall wellbeing. It promotes a positive work-life balance, reduces stress, and improves job satisfaction.
- Alignment with Company Values: Kudos recognition allows organizations to reinforce their core values and desired behaviors. By highlighting and rewarding actions that align with the company’s vision and culture, kudos help shape and strengthen the desired organizational identity.
Kudos employee recognition has a transformative impact on employee motivation, retention, productivity, and overall workplace satisfaction. It creates a positive feedback loop that benefits everyone.
Making the most of the kudos employee recognition program
Several actions will help you maximize Kudos to build a successful employee recognition program.
First, we’ve ensured the program is easily accessible and user-friendly, allowing employees to give and receive kudos seamlessly.
However, the tool itself can only do so much. You’ll want to back it up with a robust launch and maintenance plan.
- Provide clear guidelines and criteria for giving kudos to ensure consistency and fairness.
- Regularly promote and encourage the use of the tool, emphasizing its importance in recognizing and appreciating employees’ contributions.
- Celebrate and highlight kudos recipients, whether through internal announcements, company newsletters, or virtual team meetings. For example, at Powell Software, we choose a Kudos of the Month winner, whom we reward with a voucher.
- Regularly evaluate and assess the program’s effectiveness, gathering employee feedback to make necessary improvements.
- By taking these steps, organizations can maximize the impact of their kudos employee recognition program and create a culture of appreciation and engagement.
Employee recognition is just one arm of your employee engagement strategy! Download our whitepaper to improve employee satisfaction for a connected and engaged workforce.
