All-4-HR Blog Spot: REMEMBER TO APPRECIATE!

You know one of the reasons employees are so loyal to their company or employment is not money. Yes pay is critical and important. However what is most important is not how much an employee’s compensation is, as much as how an employee felt. In other words, how an employee is made to feel, i.e., how good an employee was made to feel about going above and beyond in their job. Rewards and recognition is the NO. 1 reason for employee retention. We have all been there, when a supervisor or co-worker simply said Thank You for what you did; or Thank You for your suggestion. There is nothing like that warm fuzzy feeling…

We have always encouraged suggestion boxes – yes suggestion boxes. Where the problem comes in is when employees offer their suggestions and ideas in suggestion boxes and no one’s suggestions are never, ever used. It can be a huge blow to employee morale and employee engagement. Put a simple suggestion box up. Be sure to thank every employee for their EVERY suggestion or idea. Be sure to consider suggestions and how they can be implemented if it can be done. You NEVER Know!

Good reward and recognition programs are often overlooked or conducted improperly, but if done correctly and consistently, it can have a dramatic and lasting positive impact!

Keep these thoughts in the forefront of your mind with your reward and recognition program:

Total compensation is a major factor workers consider when choosing an employer, but employees usually won’t continue to work for money alone.
Once a worker has established a relationship with a company and has ironed out compensation issues, his or her concern switches to the amount of recognition and appreciation he or she will receive.
Employers cannot put a price tag on a quality employee or on continued superior performance. Money isn’t the only form of recognition – non-monetary gestures can be equally appreciated.

Employee Retention can be encouraged in many ways:

Recognition – Showing appreciation of a job well done.
Communication – Communicating the goals of the company, department and supervisor(s). Keeping employees involved in projects, decisions and plans.
Stay Interviews – You have heard of exit interviews. There is no reason to wait until an employee is leaving. Employers conduct stay interviews with current employees to identify what they like or don’t like.
Training – Training is a part of employee development.
Giving Recognition – Whether private or public, recognition is important. However whenever possible, public recognition is the best!