No matter where you work, everyone enjoys being recognized and rewarded for the hard work they do. The same holds true for employees at your workplace. In my experience, team happiness spurs productivity and adds to the company’s overall success. By making your work environment happier, you can take care of your team and encourage them to keep up the good work. Positive reinforcement sets an example for everyone, demonstrating the kind of work you value.
Recognizing your team doesn’t need to be elaborate. The key to productive employee rewards is being thoughtful and creative. To give you a better idea, here are 5 ways how you can start rewarding your employees today so they stay happy, motivated and continue helping your company thrive.
The Way to Your Team’s Heart…
Food is one of those timeless forms of caring guaranteed to delight almost everyone. In a recent survey of millennials, almost half of them admitted that the availability of free snacks in the office is an important factor in their decision making when looking for a new job. So, keeping your office stocked with some yummy snacks will keep your team feeling cared for and productive throughout the long workday.
Another way to reward a certain employee and celebrate their success is by setting them up with a delivery service that will bring their favorite meals for dinner for a week or a month. This will take away the burden of cooking and let them concentrate on something more important (like, work).
If some of your employees actually like to cook, or want to learn how to do it, reward them with a cooking class one day after work. They’ll learn a lot, get to know each other better and bond more as a team.
Want to celebrate a special occasion in the life of your team? Take your employees out for dinner on the house. Everybody loves food, and getting a meal on the boss in their favorite local restaurant is much more rewarding than ordering in. Step up your game by turning these outings into a monthly ritual and you’ll have one happy (and productive) team.
If the occasion doesn’t call for a special celebration outside the workplace, you can always send your team a corporate gourmet gift basket straight to the office. Everyone will enjoy a range of sweet and savory snacks as well as a great liquor assortment. A wine hamper is a great alternative to a gourmet gift and will be a hit with those who like to relax with a glass of wine after a long day of work. Regardless of your choice, everyone will find something to satisfy their cravings.
Team Happy Hour
Something like having regular nights out with your employees is not only loads of fun for everyone involved, but also an amazing team-building exercise. It allows your co-workers get to know each other outside of work and form new relationships that could inspire collaboration back in the office.
Need another great reason to let the team go out for a drink and have the company pick up the bill? People have lots of great ideas that never get to see the day of light because we are usually too busy to explore them. And I’m a big believer that some of the best ideas are hatched with a drink. Having a regular dedicated time to generate new ideas for the company over a few drinks with your co-workers is priceless.
Even if no new business ideas are hashed out, this is a way to help new and old employees mingle. The informal setting helps everyone feel like equals. They can bond in a way a formal business meeting would never allow.
Home, Sweet Home
We spend at least 40 hours a week in our office, so it’s extremely important to feel comfortable at your desk. If you want your team to enjoy being at work, make sure you provide a workspace that’s attractive, comfortable, cozy, as well as conducive to productivity.
Apart from well-thought design your office should be a reflection of your brand’s aesthetics which will help your team stay in touch with the company’s identity. But most importantly, it should make them feel like home. Having bouquets of flowers in your office is a great way to add a homey feeling and attractiveness to the space. Fresh natural smell associated with flowers will contribute to a more positive environment and elevate the mood of the employees.
A great alternative to fresh flowers are plants. They are not only long-lasting, but have a number of other benefits, including air purifying and mood boosting properties. Actually, there’s a whole study that proves that plants and flowers improve workplace productivity, problem-solving skills and creativity. How many more evidence do you need?
You can go for a real multitasking power house and get edible plants. Mint not only looks and smells great, but can be the perfect addition to tea or water. Smaller fruiting plants like lemon or oranges can make colorful and delicious additions as well.
Bring Your Pet Day
If you don’t already have a pet-friendly office, it’s definitely something worth considering. Why? According to a number of recent studies, pets, especially dogs, lighten the mood, relieve stress, and increase productivity. Pets in the office can even help your team become better collaborators. By encouraging people to bring their pets to work you spark new conversations and friendships. And getting your employees to know more about each other enables them to connect on a brand new level.
For those with allergies, offer PTO, to work from a remote location, or offer an alternative space on Bring Your Pet to the Office day.
There are no dog lovers in your team? Hopefully there are at least those who love babies! Another great way to reward your employees is letting them bring their child to work for a day. What can be more homey that that!
A Healthy Mind In A Healthy Body
And the last, but not the least, is taking care of your employee’s health, both physical and mental. Doing short “health” breaks during working hours is a great way to relieve stress, recharge your batteries and offer your team a chance to bond over common interests.
There’s so much stress associated with working in an office setting. Focusing on mindfulness lets your team know you are aware of the difficulties they face on a daily basis. Meditation is extremely beneficial for tracking your emotions and living them through instead of avoiding or suppressing them. It teaches people how to be more in harmony with themselves and, ultimately, with others. That leads to happier and more harmonious teams.
If a weekly yoga class in the office is something unrealistic, you can offer membership to nearby yoga classes. Or try phone apps with short, daily meditation practices. Another fun way to stay in shape and keep the brain healthy is a free dance lessons at the office.
Everyone appreciates the gift of good health. Consider giving employees a free month at the gym where they can take advantage of a number of health-related activities.
Optimize your company’s performance and attract the best talent by creating a culture of recognition. The best way to reward employees is to make them feel valued and individually recognize their needs and efforts. Remember, the ways you reward your team will set your company apart from the rest.
Ready to reward your employees?
– Recognize their hard work by sending a corporate gift
– Learn about Leveraging Employee Birthday Recognition for Loyalty
– Share with friends by pressing your favorite social media buttons below