No Good Deed Goes Unnoticed

By Jane Rivera, Founder, Sew Plain Jane

Employees work hard; well, the majority of them work hard, right? Believe it or not, the No. 1 complaint from employees about their employers has to do with feeling unappreciated. If an employee feels valued at the office, he or she is more likely to work harder. That is why frequent recognition of accomplishments and hard work can really pay off when it comes to a company’s bottom line. 

Below are five “out-of-the-box” and creative ways for employers to recognize their outstanding employees. 

1. For all those employees who go above and beyond, why not make them superhero of the day or week? Now your company’s “Wonder Woman” or “Superman” can not only don the official “SUPERHERO” title but can even wear a personalized cape with the employee’s initials or company logo. (Visit www.sewplainjane.com to find out more.
2. “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!” Who doesn’t like ice cream? There’s no better way to bring a smile to your employees’ faces than by bringing a local ice cream truck to work and letting staffers pick out their favorite ice cream treats for the day. It’s a chance for them to get away from their desks for 20 minutes and enjoy a sweet and unexpected treat. 
3. Wash the employee’s car in the parking lot during the lunch hour. Sometimes seeing a CEO or manager complete a task such as washing a car makes managers seem more human and close to their staffers. Rolling up your sleeves and getting dirty on their behalf can go a long way.
4. They say BBQs bring people together, so why not have one in the parking lot of your company? Seeing the CEO or president actually cooking burgers and dogs on the grill brings camaraderie to the whole group. 
5. Everyone loves shorter work days. Create a “leave-early” or “wake-up-late” program where you pass out vouchers allowing people to leave an hour or two early for the day or show up and hour or two later than normal for the shift. 

Recognition for a job well done can be a terrific motivator for employees at every company. Make sure that your employees know they are valued, appreciated, and recognized, and your company will reap the benefits for years to come. 

Jane Rivera is the founder of Sew Plain Jane, which makes “specialty capes”; it has had an influx of orders from corporations and businesses ordering capes to recognize “superhero” employees. For more information, visit www.sewplainjane.com.