As an employer, keeping your staff engaged, motivated and productive is an ongoing process. Even your best employees will let their levels dip if they are not recognised for their efforts. So, you must have an established system in place to reward employees for their excellent work and to show your appreciation.
Putting together an effective rewards system takes time and requires some strategic thought. However, it’s well worth it. Many organisations make the mistake of thinking that a reward has to be big, extravagant or expensive to be effective, but that’s not the case. Simply being sincere and taking the time to recognise the important role of an employee is often the only reward they’ll need.
Note: Much of the advice here will generally work better in actual office environments rather than the current ‘work from home’ set up most of us currently find ourselves in. Hopefully we will see things return to normal sooner rather than later. With that in mind, here are four simple but effective ways to reward your employees in 2021 and beyond.
1. Send an email, or even better, a handwritten note
Taking two minutes out of your day to write an email to a member of staff who is performing particularly well can make a big difference to their levels of motivation at work. Not only does it show that you realise what great work they’re doing, but it also shows that it’s important to acknowledge it. Better still, why not write a handwritten thank you note or card. It might only be a small gesture, but it’s a gesture that’ll speak much louder than words.
2. Throw a party to celebrate reaching business goals
If your business achieves a goal, for example, hitting an annual turnover of £2million, it’s important you take the time to say thank you to your team. Business owners and managers cannot expect employees to be motivated to help the business hit its goals if they are not rewarded for their efforts. Office parties are a great way to say thank you. Although it might cost a little money, it shows employees that they will be rewarded when the business does well. It can also help to build bonds between colleagues that will drive you forward in the future.
3. Give employees more time off
The one benefit employees want more than anything is more time off. Many employers are creating more elaborate rewards packages than ever before, when really, the way to an employee’s heart is very simple. Closing the office over the festive period so employees can spend time with their loved ones without having to use up their annual leave entitlement is a very effective way to reward your employees. Giving employees an additional day off on their birthdays and offering a generous leave entitlement in the first instance will also be well received.
4. Provide healthy food at work
Eating well and exercising regularly has become a healthy preoccupation for many people, particularly your younger workers. You can help your employees achieve their goals and increase the wellbeing of your team by making it easy for employees to make healthy choices at work. There are plenty of online suppliers that can sort your team with a basket of fresh office fruit every week as an attractive alternative to vending machine food. You can get a quote for Manchester (or any other UK city for that matter) based office fruit deliveries for free on the Fruitful Office website. Subsidised meals from a canteen that serves wholesome, nutritious meals will be another attractive perk.
Rewarding employees does not have to be hard work
Recognising and rewarding your employees for their hard work can actually be a lot of fun. By choosing the perks you will offer together and taking the time to appreciate your staff, you will get back a whole lot more than you put in. We hope these tips help!
What rewards have worked particularly well for you in the past and which have been less successful? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
