12 Creative Employee Appreciation Ideas

12 Creative Employee Appreciation Ideas

Found In: Activities Articles Volunteering

Employee recognition is all about acknowledging the dedication and hard work of individuals and teams. It's about making people feel appreciated and letting them know that without them you would be worse off.
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An essential ingredient in attracting and retaining quality staff is making your employees feel truly valued.

Employee recognition is all about acknowledging the dedication and hard work of individuals and teams. It's about making people feel appreciated and letting them know that without them you would be worse off.

When Hard Work Goes Unnoticed

A lack of employee recognition makes for a rather sad workplace. Who wants to stay and work at a place where their efforts go unnoticed?

People need encouragement and approval. They feel disappointed, to say the least, when their hard work is taken for granted. Employees giving their all should be rewarded for their efforts. A general 'thank you' in the speech at the end of the year is just not good enough.

8 Benefits of an Employee Recognition Program

  • Facilitates long-term relationships between staff and residents
  • Boosts self-esteem and confidence of employees
  • Reduces staff turnover
  • Reduces absenteeism
  • Improves teamwork
  • Fosters a 'go the extra mile' attitude among staff
  • Improves living environment for residents
  • Creates a positive and happy workplace

12 Employee Recognition Ideas


1. Online Appreciation: Utilize social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram to publicly praise and recognize employees for their achievements and contributions.


2. Verbal Acknowledgment: Express genuine gratitude and recognition through heartfelt verbal appreciation, highlighting specific accomplishments and efforts.


3. Thank-You Notes: Write thoughtful and personalized thank-you notes to show appreciation and acknowledge the unique contributions of staff members.


4. Celebratory Gatherings: Organize small events or celebrations to honor hard work and achievements, creating a joyful and supportive atmosphere.


5. Awards and Certificates: Present awards or certificates to highlight exceptional performance and accomplishments, publicly recognizing employees' dedication and success.


6. Professional Development Opportunities: Offer support for training programs and workshops, investing in employees' growth and skill enhancement.


7. Employee Spotlight:  Implement an 'Employee of the Month' initiative for peer recognition, encouraging staff to write notes of praise for their colleagues and selecting a monthly winner.


8. Throw a  Surprise party: Organize workplace surprise parties to commemorate staff birthdays, making them feel cherished, valued, and creating a lasting memory of appreciation.


9. Team Celebration: Organize special events, such as an in-house Happy Hour, to reward and appreciate the collective efforts of the team, fostering camaraderie and team spirit.


10. Vouchers: Provide vouchers for relaxing experiences, for example, a two-hour back massage, allowing employees to rejuvenate and enjoy some self-care during work time.


11. Sweet Treats: Buy a box of chocolates or their favorite sweets. Gather their peers to present it to them, expressing gratitude and fostering a sense of camaraderie.


12. Personalized Rewards: Enhance the impact of recognition by customizing rewards to align with each employee's unique preferences and interests to make them more meaningful.


Empowering Every Team Member

Employee recognition goes beyond management. Establishing a program to honor the contributions of staff, volunteers, or students under your supervision can create a culture of appreciation and value their efforts on a regular basis.

Building a Culture of Appreciation

To create an environment of appreciation and loyalty, it is important to make employee recognition a regular practice, occurring multiple times throughout the year and utilizing diverse forms of appreciation.

Whether it's the delightful surprise of bakery treats or the shared joy of celebratory lunches after successful events, these simple gestures play a significant role in enhancing employee engagement and cultivating long-term commitment.

By consistently demonstrating appreciation, you foster a positive work environment that nurtures employee loyalty and strengthens the bond between the organization and its valuable team members.

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Comments   Post a Comment

Janita 8th May 2021
Great ideas thankyou
Talita 10th May 2021
Thank you Janita x
Karen 12th Jun 2019 Activities Provider
Thanks for great information
Karen activities coordinater/Ireland
Owen 6th Feb 2019 Retired
I have just printed off the yearly calendar and as a Scout it was good to see Lord Baden-Powell's birthday listed. But I must add that it was also Lady Baden-Powell's birthday on the same date as well. I mention this just to placate the female gender as we are not Boy Scouts any longer in that membership is open to girls as well.

Owen - Life Member Scouts New Zealand
Talita 8th Feb 2019
Thanks Owen!
Violet 9th Jan 2018 Activity officer
Thank you for such wonderful ideas am going to share them with the RN. You make my work so much easier. Thank you, Thank you. Happy New Year to you and your staff, looking forward to do greater things with the seniors in 2018. Blessings
Solange 10th Jan 2018 Diversional Therapist
Thank you Violet, your feedback is very much appreciated. Happy New Year to you too!
Sandra 20th Dec 2017 Lifestyle Coordinator
Awesome resources, love Golden Carer's. Keep up the good work and thank you for getting our team through the year once again. Merry Christmas to all.
Talita 21st Dec 2017
Thank you Sandra! We appreciate your feedback. Merry Christmas!
Kee Ling 12th Dec 2017 Lifestyle Assistant
I love how Golden Carers provides ideas not only for the social activites, it also provide ideas and tips for other staffs, like the management team.
i check out all the contants before forwarding to my RAOs.
congradulations for providing so much ideas that everyone can use.
Talita 12th Dec 2017
Thanks so much for your feedback Kee ling!
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