According to recognition expert Dr. Bob Nelson, 58 percent of workers report that they seldom if ever receive a "thank you" from their boss for a job well done. This is a huge lost opportunity. Why? Because employees perform better, are more loyal, have improved morale and decreased absenteeism, and are happier on the job when their bosses recognize their efforts.
According to a poll conducted by Maritz Research, employees who are recognized on the job are:
- 5 times more likely to feel valued
- 7 times more likely to stay with the company
- 6 times more likely to invest in the company
- 11 times more likely to feel completely committed to the company
There's just no excuse for not taking the time to reward your employees for doing a good job. Here are 101 simple and effective ideas to get you started.
1. Personal handwritten note of thanks
2. Set up a brag board in the office
3. Wash an employee's car
4. Serve lunch to your team
5. Have an after-work get together at a local restaurant
6. Starbucks gift card
7. Throw an office barbecue during lunch
8. Have a family day at the office
9. Magazine subscription
10. Bring in a masseuse once a month to offer neck and back rubs
11. Limo ride to the office
12. Ride in a hot-air balloon
13. Services of a personal chef for an evening
14. Gasoline gift card
15. Special name tag
16. Tickets for a baseball game
17. $50 cash
18. Upgrade airline ticket to first class
19. House cleaning service
20. Lottery tickets
21. Grocery store gift card
22. Karaoke party
23. Bouquet of flowers
24. Movie tickets
25. Day off with pay
26. Manicure/pedicure
27. Bagels or doughnuts for the office
28. Company stock
29. Afternoon at a local spa
30. Reserved parking space near the office front door
31. Supervisor for a day
32. Dance lessons
33. Serve coffee and refreshments to your team
34. Customized company T-shirt or jacket
35. Box of chocolates
36. Pancake breakfast
37. Hoagie day
38. Engraved brass plate at employee workstation
39. Humorous certificate of recognition
40. Hot dog eating competition
41. Dry cleaning service
42. Office decorating budget
43. Elvis day
44. Fortuneteller
45. Ice cream social
46. Thank-you email message
47. Note of appreciation to employee's significant other
48. Company-paid iPhone
49. Verbal thank-you during team meeting
50. Name product after employee
51. Recognition in company newsletter or website
52. Balloon bouquet
53. Use employees in television or radio commercials
54. Donation to charity in honor of employee
55. Name building after top employee
56. Free haircut
57. Netflix subscription
58. Swiss Army knife
59. iPad
60. Spot in company Hall of Fame
61. Fruit basket
62. Chocolate-chip cookies
63. Round of golf
64. Letter of recognition
65. Champagne brunch
66. Parking fees for a month
67. Sports car for a week
68. Weekend at a bed-and-breakfast
69. Amazon gift certificate
70. Bus or subway pass
71. Tickets to zoo or amusement park
72. Silver dollars
73. Savings bonds
74. Year-end cash bonus
75. Pizza party
76. Flat-screen TV
77. Engraved pen-and-pencil set
78. Company coffee mug
79. Bottle of wine or champagne
80. Lunch with CEO
81. Trophy
82. Full-page announcement in local newspaper
83. Office Olympics competition
84. Bubble-blowing contest
85. Manager dunk tank
86. Afternoon at a bowling alley
87. Chili cook-off
88. Trip to Las Vegas
89. Confetti parade
90. Charm bracelet
91. Laptop computer
92. Gold medal
93. Fitness club membership
94. One month's mortgage or rent payment
95. Babysitting services for a night out
96. Night in a luxury hotel
97. Billboard public display
98. Scavenger hunt
99. Pool party
100. Field trip
101. Shopping spree at Walmart or Costco