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Why You Should Give Thanks at Work Beyond Thanksgiving

Time and again, we say it—employees love to feel appreciated! Appreciation is one of the most powerful tools in your workplace arsenal, as appreciated employees are great for a company; they are happier, more productive, and stay longer. So how can you create a culture of thankfulness beyond Thanksgiving?

A heartfelt “thank you” is always a powerful phrase to keep your top performers loyal and happy. But if you want to get creative, consider these ideas:

Release employees early before holidays. If business needs allow, your employees will be glad to start holiday breaks a few hours early, such as on the day before Thanksgiving. Who wouldn’t appreciate a jump-start to a long weekend?
Send a handwritten thank-you note. An employee can proudly pin this personalized effort to a bulletin board or cubicle wall, and feel good about their work long after receiving the note. For an added element of surprise, mail the note to the employee’s home address.
Offer public praise. At your regular all-staff or division meetings, recognize those team members who have done outstanding work. You can even solicit nominations from fellow team members. That encourages motivation and makes everyone feel like part of the process.
Give tangible recognition. Restaurant and coffee gift cards are great, but for more personalized recognition, consider a plaque or small trophy. This leveled-up version of the handwritten thank-you can be proudly displayed as appreciation of good work. You could even consider a traveling trophy inscribed with the names of each month’s top performers.
Hold a wrap-up celebration. At the end of the year or the end of a large project, a wrap-up celebration is a great way to recognize employees for a job well done. Try thanking employees with a catered breakfast or lunch. Offer special recognition for major contributors or employees who went out of their way to get the job done. For a twist, try working a fun theme into the event.

Always remember, when gratitude sparks with a leader, it can catch fire in the company, even spreading to customers. And a company can be grateful for a rampant culture of thankfulness all year long!

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