Rewarding employees is incredibly important to do, especially after a year of hard and successful work. This lets your subordinates know how much you value everyone’s contributions. It can also provide motivation to continue working hard. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to choose a reward. You may be struggling to brainstorm various options. So, here are six ways to reward employees
for a year of good work.
1. Go on a Trip
This may not be the easiest option to organize, but going on a trip can be highly rewarding for your employees. For one thing, it allows everyone to get away from the office. Work can be all-consuming, which may result in anxiety, depression, insomnia and general exhaustion. While your employees will still be together, taking a trip allows everyone to shed these stresses and relax. If you decide to pick this option, you’ll need to figure out some specifics. First, how long will this trip be? A large factor in this will, of course, be company funds. However, you’ll also need to consider everyone’s schedule. Many workers may be unable to attend a long trip. You may also run across specific scheduling conflicts. Because of this, it’s essential to touch base with your staff before making any big decisions. While a surprise would certainly be fun, it could cause some issues. Next, you’ll need to decide what the trip will be. If you want to save money, you can visit a landmark or a famous museum. On the other hand, you could also treat your employees to a more substantial adventure. Try looking for the best cruise ships or a similar option. Once you’ve chosen these particulars, all that’s left is to lay down some rules and have fun!
2. Give a Gift
If you’re looking to reward employees without spending too much, you might consider providing a gift. This option is both easy to organize and open to a multitude of interpretations. If you decide to give out gifts, remember that everyone is different. Your employees will appreciate a personalized gift more than a general one. So, take the time to learn about your staff’s interests. See what everyone’s favorite books, movies, hobbies etc. are. Actively listen when an employee is chatting with you, especially if the conversation steers towards something said employee wants. Keep in mind that the gift doesn’t need to be one thing. If you’re struggling to think of the perfect present, it’s hard to go wrong with a care package. Fill the package with snacks and baubles that you’ve seen your employee enjoy. You could even add a work-related trophy to create some humor. No matter what you decide on, be sure to complete the gift with a personalized note. This ensures that the worker knows how appreciative you are.
3. Provide Time Off
Sometimes, the best reward is a break. This is especially true when it comes to the workplace. After all, if your employee produced good work this year, that individual is probably stressed and exhausted. Time off is an excellent remedy for this. The break doesn’t have to last for long, especially if your business is struggling at the moment. Even short breaks can be effective. Before giving time off, be sure to conference with your workers. If an employee has a busy significant other or a child, you’ll want to give that worker the most optimal days possible. When an employee is on a break, try to avoid staying in contact. The point of time off is to relax and recharge, not to continue getting stressed. Find other ways to fix any problems you come across. If possible, it would also be best to create a smooth transition after the break. Don’t throw a mountain of work at your employees when a vacation is over. Instead, delegate the workload. Essentially, your employees should experience a relaxing and stress-free vacation from work.
4. Cover Expenses
Getting to work isn’t easy, not to mention the expenses involved with eating, drinking etc. So, you may want to reward your employees by covering expenses. If you’re able to choose which expenses to assist with, you may want to check with your workers first. Not every employee will be contending with the same monetary issues. For instance, you might have some workers that live farther away than others. In that case, the closer staff members will likely find commuting funds less beneficial. Another thing to think about is your business’s specialty. Is there anything you make that can be discounted? An excellent example of this is a restaurant. Since these businesses make food, you could easily provide workers with free lunches. No matter what you do, ask your employees if anything you sell could be of value. After all, you never know who may need a toaster or a winter jacket. Also, consider the costs that are incurred by working at your business. This may include anything from daycare to parking. These costs would be especially fitting to help with. While you may not be able to cover expenses for a long time, helping out for even a week could be highly beneficial.
5. Have In-Office Activities
If you want to provide a fun reward without leaving the office, there are lots of options available! Think about some activities your workers enjoy. If you’re coming up blank, it’s always a good idea to ask. In fact, you could even hold a vote throughout the office. Before doing this, however, you’ll want to consider your budget. This will tell you whether hiring entertainment is possible. If it is, you’ll want to spend your money wisely. Consider bringing in someone that can widely benefit the office. For instance, a massage therapist could be very helpful, especially if your workers sit in chairs all day. On the other hand, your employees may prefer a more entertaining activity. With or without spending money, you could try a yoga session, provide a buffet, show a movie, play some trivia or even have a board game competition. No matter what, be sure that the activity is something your employees will enjoy.
6. Express Thanks
While providing various rewards is certainly effective, you may not have the time or money to do so. If this is the case, don’t worry! A heartfelt thank you can often suffice. There are many ways to provide thanks, so you’ll want to analyze the situation before going through with it. One thing to think about is the worker in question. Would that individual or group feel comfortable with a public thank you? Does each employee like embellished prose or concise sentences? Since the worker is being rewarded, it’s important to consider said worker’s preferences. You’ll also want to think about your office culture. If possible, giving a public thank you can be very motivating for the rest of your staff. However, your office may not be conducive to it. For instance, you might find yourself dealing with some annoyed or even jealous employees. Once you begin crafting the thank you, be sure to spend ample time on it. The employee in question should know how much appreciation you feel. At the very least, try to make it longer than a paragraph. By the end, your worker should feel seen and ready for the next task at hand.
When it comes to giving rewards to employees, it’s hard to go wrong. Simply display your gratitude in the best way you can.
