gThankYou! | Celebrating Work » Gratitude

Should Super Bowl Monday be a Holiday?

Liz King — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:08:01 +0000

Did you know the Monday after the Super Bowl is notoriously unproductive?

Consider human resources expert Susan M. Heathfield’s article, “Make the Super Bowl a Workplace Win.” It cites interesting statistics from an employee survey by career community Glassdoor, which asks: “Is the Super Bowl good for the workplace?”

The results:

20% of employees say employee morale is typically better in the office the day after the Super Bowl.
22% of employees notice, however, that the Monday following the Super Bowl is commonly a less productive day than usual.
(Need some last-minute productivity boost suggestions? Check out the blog Workplace Productivity.)
8% of employees plan to take the day off following the Super Bowl.
9% of employees plan to take the Monday off as a vacation day.
3% of surveyed employees admit that they plan to call in sick the day after the Super Bowl.

Some Companies Offer Perks on Super Bowl Monday
The survey asks employees if their companies offer perks for Super Bowl Monday:

Several employees say they’re either allowed to work from home or use the Monday as a flex day.
Another employee says their weekly Monday morning meeting gets bumped until later in the day on Super Monday.
Other survey respondents say their employers buy breakfast for employees on the Monday after the game.

Should Super Bowl Monday be a Holiday?
Some even say Super Bowl Monday should be a national holiday and not just sports fanatics. In her article, “Do We Need a National Holiday on the Day After the Super Bowl?”, Lisa Johnson Mandell argues it’s a lost day anyway. She notes that in 2010, “1.5 million Americans didn’t show up for work the next day at all, and an estimated 4.4 million showed up late. Then there are all the people who do show up on time who are fuzzy, drowsy and blurry-eyed.”

What Can You Do?
For one, take advantage of the high morale employees have on Monday. Chances are your employees are in great moods the day after the Super Bowl—or horrible ones, if their team lost—but nonetheless they’re engaged and talking about the game and how they spent Super Bowl Sunday with family and friends. It’s something almost everyone in the workplace can relate to and chatter about.

You’ll make the whole day more productive if you allow employees an hour in the morning to gather and talk. Consider hosting a simple breakfast for everyone to share or make it a potluck event. A simple gesture such as this not only provides a needed transition for employees to focus for the day, but also builds long-term morale and goodwill too.

Be sure to announce special plans in advance, so those thinking of taking the day off or calling in sick will have an incentive to attend. If you restore normal productivity on Super Monday, it will be well worth the time, effort and money.

What do you think? Do you see diminished productivity on Super Monday? What kinds of perks might work well in your workplace?

About gThankYou, LLC

gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificates are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.

gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime. gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo, and ship same day.

gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin. Contact: Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog – “Celebrating Work”.
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Filed under: Empolyee Engagement, Management & Leadership, Showing Gratitude to Employees, Trends

Six Ways to Plan a Winning Super Bowl Party

Liz King — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:49:51 +0000

With Super Bowl Sunday just a few days away, we know the players—the New York Giants and the New England Patriots —and party planning is in full swing.

Whether your team is in the big game or not (ours isn’t—Go Packers!) it’s hard not to watch the spectacle of the Super Bowl, if only for the halftime show (are you a Madonna fan?) and the commercials.

Indianapolis is prepared for the Super Bowl, are you?

If not, check out these six tips for planning your own “winning” Super Bowl party:

Prepare some of the best Super Bowl recipes for parties of all sizes.
Read up on Super Bowl history so you can regale your party guests.
Download a Super Bowl countdown clock to keep up guests’ anticipation for the game.
Have these Super Bowl trivia questions at the ready.
Plan some fun Super Bowl party activities for football lovers and non-football lovers alike.
Queue up the Top 10 Super Bowl games for everyone’s enjoyment.

If your workplace is focused on the Super Bowl, it’s the perfect time to consider distributing gThankYou! Pizza Gift Certificates to employees as a thank you for a great holiday season or as a winter pick-me-up. Order today and receive them tomorrow if you want.

May it be a great football game!

About gThankYou, LLC

gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificates are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Filed under: Fun with Gratitude, Pizza Gift Certificates, Workplace Gifts

Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou!

Liz King — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:08:29 +0000

Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates – The Perfect Holiday Gift for Employees!

Recognize your employees’ achievements this holiday season with a gThankYou! Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificate.

Everyone likes to feel appreciated, especially during the holidays. And a thoughtful gift of food this time of year is especially appreciated by all. Imagine your employees’ warm feelings when you hand them a gThankYou! Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificate, along with one of our cheery seasonal Enclosure Cards.

Joyful Snowman

Employees appreciate the convenience and practicality of your holiday gift—recipients can redeem their certificates for either a whole turkey or half or whole ham, at just about any store, anytime. You’ll be front and center in recipients’ thoughts as their gThankYou! gift of a ham or turkey enlivens their holiday tables. And the gift will keep on giving as they enjoy delicious leftovers, courtesy of you.

It’s not too late to share your gratitude with employees this holiday season. Give the perfect holiday gift: a gThankYou! Turkey Or Ham Certificate of Gratitude gift along with one of our free customizable Enclosure Cards with your personal message and company logo.

And during this season of gratitude, we at gThankYou! wish you, our readers, the happiest of holidays this year and always. Peace and joy to you and your families, and Happy New Year!

About gThankYou, LLC

gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificates are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Filed under: Employee Gifts, Showing Gratitude to Employees, Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates, Workplace Gifts

Five Ways to Feel Grateful

Liz King — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:36:12 +0000

According to Mike McCullough, Director of the Evolution and Human Behavior Laboratory at the University of Miami, it seems gratitude soothes the savage beast in all of us. Not that anyone is actually a beast, but research supports that by showing your employees gratitude, not only does it help them – it also helps you feel happier and remarkably, sleep better.

The New York Times posted this interesting data in a fascinating article by John Tierney, “Findings: A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day“.

“Cultivating an ‘attitude of gratitude’ links to better health, sounder sleep, less anxiety and depression, higher long-term satisfaction with life and kinder behavior toward others, including romantic partners. A new study shows that feeling grateful makes people less likely to turn aggressive when provoked.”

Show Gratitude During the Holidays
A Clinical Psychology Review study by Alex Wood et.al lays out the details if you are interested. So if you missed the opportunity to show employees your appreciation at Thanksgiving, the upcoming Holiday season gives you a second chance.

Gratitude Lite
Not feeling it? The Times quotes the University of California, Davis’ Robert Emmons , author of Thanks! and other books on gratitude. Emmons recommends starting out with “gratitude lite.” He and colleague Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami conducted experiments, asking people to keep a brief, weekly “gratitude journal” listing five things they felt thankful for, like a beautiful sunset or a friend’s kindness.

After two months, the journalers were more optimistic, felt happier, reported fewer physical problems and spent more time working out, than control group members . They also fell asleep more quickly at night, slept longer and woke up feeling more refreshed. Wow!

Five Ways to Feel Grateful
The New York Times article includes five tips experts offer for getting in the spirit:

Do something nice for a family member:
Do one small kindness for a relative at your holiday celebration – listen attentively to yawn-worthy recollections, say thank you for a thoughtful gesture, or express admiration for a talent.

Turn the other cheek:
If you count your blessings, you’ll be less likely to retaliate if a coworker or family member delivers a typically snarky comment. Say something positive instead and awaken that person’s empathy—they’ll pass the gratitude along.

Share the wealth:
When you show gratitude, people realize they mean a lot to you, perhaps more than they thought. It’s a great way to uplift yourself and others.

Pay a gratitude visit:
Write a very specific 300-word letter to someone who has changed your life for the better. Deliver it in person and read it aloud. “You’ll be happier in one month,” guarantees University of Pennsylvania’s Martin Seligman in a New York Times quote from his book, Flourish.

Seek “deep gratitude”:
The New York Times quotes Emmons: “As a culture, we have lost a deep sense of gratefulness about the freedoms we enjoy, a lack of gratitude toward those who lost their lives in the fight for freedom, a lack of gratitude for all the material advantages we have. The focus of [the holidays] should be a reflection of how our lives have been made so much more comfortable by the sacrifices of those who have come before us.”

Recognize Your Employees
Got your gratitude on? This holiday season, thank your employees for their diligence. Be specific about how their efforts have fostered your organization’s growth and success in 2011. We’ve said it before, but a holiday Turkey Or Ham Certificate of Gratitude from gThankYou says “We appreciate all you do for us”. Pass along the gratitude – you and your recipient will both benefit.

Happy Holidays!

About gThankYou, LLC

gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificates are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Filed under: Gratitude, Gratitude Research, Management & Leadership, Showing Gratitude to Employees

Putting the “Thanks” in Thanksgiving

Liz King — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:06:29 +0000

Your employees work hard for you all year, and what better season to show your appreciation and gratitude than now, as we celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends. Whether it’s with a gift of a Thanksgiving Turkey or a handwritten thank-you note, your gratitude will be appreciated. It’s the perfect time to put the “thanks” in Thanksgiving.

1. Deliver Your Gifts Personally
If your budget allows for a Thanksgiving gift, and you can, deliver your gift personally to employees, with a handshake, a smile and a thank you. After all, as Doug Conant , former Campbell’s Soup CEO and the architect of a successful turnaround there says, “You’re on display 24/7. It’s not the words on the wall; it’s how you show up in every interaction.”

In an interview on Rules for Leaders at ChiefExecutive.net, Conant urges CEOs to recognize the importance of every exchange with employees, no matter how small. He’s so passionate about this topic, he co-wrote a book around this subject that you might enjoy, TouchPoints: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments.

2. Send Them with a Personal Thank You Note
If a gift isn’t in the budget this year, or personal delivery isn’t practical, send a handwritten thank you note to each employee. Making that connection early with employees, and always looking for opportunities to celebrate them, is a great way to strengthen your relationship.

A personal thank you means a lot to employees. Says Conant in his HBS blog “Secrets of Positive Feedback”, “believe it or not, I’ve sent roughly 30,000 handwritten notes to employees … over the last decade”. While some react that thank you notes are a waste of time, Conant says in his experience they “build goodwill and boost productivity”.

Include a Quote
For a change, consider using an inspirational quote to express your thanks. Although you’ll probably want to echo William Shakespeare’s tone in the play Twelfth Night,

“I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks,”

rather than former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli…

“I feel a very unusual sensation—if it is not indigestion,
I think it must be gratitude.”

Sorry, we couldn’t resist—these quotes and more are available at The Quote Garden. Another favorite resource is Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations.

Thank You Note Templates by Lynn Gaertner-Johnson
Not sure where to start, or looking for a different approach for your thank you note? Lynn Gaertner-Johnston, founder of Syntax Training, offers these and more thank you note templates in her Business Writing blog:

“Employee “Thank You”:

Dear ______________ [name],

During this month of Thanksgiving, I have been reflecting on the things I am most grateful for. Primary among them is our talented group of employees.

Thank you for the work you do to make our organization great. You help us provide award-winning services to our clients. Without your commitment, creativity, and high standards, we would not be the thriving company we are. I am very grateful for your efforts.

I wish you a Thanksgiving filled with abundance and bright moments.

Warm wishes,
______________ [name of senior executive or manager]

Brief “Thank You” to Employees:

Thank you for everything you do to make this a successful, terrific place to work. Have a wonderful, long weekend filled with good things!

Happy Thanksgiving!”

In addition to Lynn’s examples, you can also find sample employee thank you letters online at Thank You Notes & Cards.

3. Show Your Thanks
If you prefer, show your thanks by dedicating an initiative desired by employees and hold a “thank you” party to roll out introduction. Or, poll employees as to their top choice for “giving back” to your community and organize an all company (that means Management too) community service project. A great way to put the “thanks” into Thanksgiving is rolling up your sleeves with employees to work together to help those in need.

Regardless of your style and how you do it, connecting with employees and taking the opportunity to thank them, when ever you can, pays dividends for everyone.

All the best for a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Send Us Your Stories
How do you put the “thanks” into Thanksgiving at your workplace?

About gThankYou, LLC

gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificates are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.

gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin. Contact: Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658. Follow the company blog “Celebrating Work” at blog.gthankyou.com.

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Filed under: Employee Gifts, Gratitude, Management & Leadership, Rewards & Recognition, Showing Gratitude to Employees, Thank You, The Art of Thank You, Turkey Gift Certificates, Workplace Gifts

Turkey Gift Certificates for Thanksgiving – Show Employees You Care

Liz King — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:06:06 +0000

The gift of a Thanksgiving Turkey to Employees is an American Tradition

Gift Certificates are the Leading Thanksgiving Gift for Employees
“Gift certificates for food items are the Thanksgiving holiday gift of choice for employers, followed closely by the holiday turkey,” says a Bureau of National
Affairs (BNA) report, “Workers to Enjoy Less Thanksgiving Holiday Paid Time Off in 2010″. “For eight of the past 10 years, gift certificates for food items have been the leading Thanksgiving gift and 2010 was no exception.”

According to the BNA, while the percent of employers providing a Thanksgiving gift to employees is down from its high in 2004 of 23%, current gift giving levels are similar to other post-recession periods. Budgets today are tighter for everyone.

Thanksgiving Gifts of Turkeys Reinforce an American Tradition
A New York Times article says some historians speculate that passing out turkeys to workers during the holidays began in 19th-century England with bosses who had read about, and did not want to be compared with, Ebenezer Scrooge.

In this country, Thanksgiving turkey-giving was a way to “introduce immigrants to an American tradition,” says Mitchell L. Moss, a professor of urban policy at New York University. “It was a way to do holiday spirit for people who weren’t familiar with the holiday.” It’s still an affordable and meaningful way to thank employees and celebrate the gratitude of the Thanksgiving season.

Turkey Gift Certificates make Employees think of You as they Celebrate
A thoughtful gift of a Thanksgiving Turkey puts you as an employer, front and center as your employees celebrate this special holiday with family and friends. And that’s something to be grateful for.

It’s Not Too Late to Buy Your Employee Turkey Gift Certificates
Thanksgiving may be just a couple of weeks away, but there’s still plenty of time to share your seasonal holiday gratitude with employees. Simply order much-appreciated Turkey Gift Certificates from gThankYou!

More About Scrooge….On a related note, Harvard Business Review discusses “The Economic Legacy of Ebenezer Scrooge” and Forbes names him No. 6 in the Forbes Fictional 15.

About gThankYou, LLC

gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificates are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.

gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin. Contact: Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658. Follow the company blog “Celebrating Work” at blog.gthankyou.com.

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Filed under: Employee Gifts, Management & Leadership, Rewards & Recognition, Showing Gratitude to Employees, Turkey Gift Certificates, Workplace Gifts

What Employees Want Most

Liz King — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:12:34 +0000

Knowing what’s important to employees and meeting those needs helps employee morale, retention and your bottom line!

HR expert Susan Heathfield emphatically believes retaining top performing employees is key to the long-term health and success of your business. “Managers readily agree that retaining your best employees ensures customer satisfaction, product sales, satisfied coworkers and reporting staff, effective succession planning and deeply imbedded organizational knowledge and learning,” she writes. “If managers can cite these facts so well, why do they behave in ways that so frequently encourage great employees to quit their jobs?”

Maybe it’s because managers don’t really understand what’s important to employees says Susan Cullen, president of Quantum Learning Solutions, Inc., who cites several important research surveys showing:

the No. 1 thing employees say they want from their employers is….full appreciation for their work!

The first survey, conducted by the Labor Relations Institute of NY, was published in Foreman Fact in 1946, and has since been repeated with results replicated many times since then, most recently ending in 2001. It shows the top three things managers believe employees want, contrasting with what employees actually say they want.

Top Three Things Managers Believe are Most Important to Employees

Good wages
Job security
Promotion and professional growth opportunities

While those are all in employees’ top ten list (No. five, four and seven, respectively), they’re not the top three.

Top Three Things ACTUALLY Most Important to Employees

Appreciation for their work
Being in on things
Understanding of their personal problems

The discrepancy, writes Cullen, shows the value of intangible rewards: appreciation, involvement and understanding. What Bob Nelson, author of 1001 Ways to Reward Employees calls the the “secrets of successful employee recognition”. Importantly, the three things most important to employees involve their relationships with their direct supervisors.

Cullen also notes research shows a manager’s ability to communicate with, coach and engage staff has a direct link to retaining top talent in the workplace. Once again research shows us recognizing and appreciating employees’ contributions is of vital importance to employees’ workplace happiness and business success.

Do your managers understand employees’ need for recognition and appreciation? What do you do to show employees your appreciation for their work?

About gThankYou, LLC

gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificates are one of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand whole Turkey, at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.

gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin. Contact: Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658. Follow the company blog “Celebrating Work” at blog.gthankyou.com.

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

Filed under: Gratitude, Management & Leadership, Showing Gratitude to Employees, Thank You

5 Tips for Taking Work-Life Balance Seriously

Liz King — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 02:02:07 +0000

The evidence is clear, as our previous post illustrates, that helping employees balance their work and home lives pays off for them—and for your business.

October is National Work and Family Month (NWFM), so what better time to plan communications, events and programs to recognize employees and empower them to manage both family and work responsibilities? You’ll improve their job satisfaction, productivity, morale and commitment.Consider picking a few of these ideas to show employees you’re serious about helping them improve their work-life balance:

Conduct a work-life needs assessment

Start by determining which of your existing work-life programs are working and which need improvement. Alliance for Work-Life Progress offers a simple self-assessment tool you can use. Promote your findings on your Intranet.

Survey your employees to see what programs, offerings and rewards you should implement, expand or discontinue. Curt Coffman, co-author of “First Break All the Rules” shares his perspective on why it might be time for you to update your employee survey. Again, promote your findings and your response plan.

Start new work-life programs

Based on your self-assessment and survey results, implement at least one new program that addresses employees’ top concerns. Employees need to know you take their feedback seriously. Include an employee recognition and engagement initiative as part of your plan. Your actions should be tailored to your specific issues, but a couple of examples are:

Periodic employee luncheons with guest speakers offering solutions to common work-home conflicts
Free or discounted fitness and wellness classes
Institute job-sharing or more flexible work rules

Host social events that enable employees to bond and celebrate National Work and Family Month

Try an ice cream social or pizza night for staff and their families.
Arrange a group outing to a sports event, such as a minor league baseball game.
Hold a company all-family sports and game night at a local park.

Say “Thank You!” to Employees

Send employees a letter thanking them for their work and reiterating your organization’s commitment to their well-being. A sample letter is provided by the Alliance for Work-Life Progress. Be open and candid, your employees will appreciate it.

Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!

Post information about National Work and Family Month on your website. Invite employees to submit their stories and pictures about managing work and home.

Promote work-life balance discussions on your company intranet, blog or Facebook along with HR participation. Promote successful strategies and suggestions to the rest of the company.

Use these great free materials from The Alliance for Work-Life Progress including a sample press release, newsletter articles, a poster and logo—to get the word out about NWFM.

Encourage participation in WorldatWork’s National Work and Family Month blog fest to run from September 12-November 5. Contact Marcia.rhodes@worldatwork.org for participation guidelines.

What does your Company do to show you take work-life balance seriously?

Employers: Tell WorldatWork how your company recognizes work-life effectiveness as a business imperative.

Employees: Tell WorldatWork how you are finding a balance among all your responsibilities in October.

About Us
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, WI and produces America’s favorite meaningful, affordable and convenient employee gifts. gThankYou!® Certificates of Gratitude™ are one way savvy companies demonstrate commitment to valued employees and customers. The company is best known for its Turkey Gift Certificates, Ham Gift Certificates, Turkey or Ham Gift Certificates and Grocery Gift Cards. Other Favorites include our Ice Cream and Pie Gift Certificates.

Filed under: Gratitude, Management & Leadership

25 Ways to Improve Employees’ Work-Life Balance

Liz King — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:15:39 +0000

They say all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. And do you really want Jack the dullard working for you?

Wouldn’t you rather have Jack the well-rounded employee, engaged in his work because he has time and energy for a fulfilling family life and outside interests aside from work?

At gThankYou!, we think so. October is National Work and Family Month, as designated in 1993 U.S. Senate Resolution 210, so now is a great time to help employees balance their work lives and home lives. David J. Thompson, a noted author and speaker on work-life balance, cites a survey showing 70% of CEOs think they couldn’t remain competitive if they didn’t help employees do so.

Employees’ lives are more complex, hurried and filled with responsibilities than ever today, and you, as an employer, can help ease the burden.

As Thompson says, “Examine what you expect from your employees and what you can offer to help them balance work and personal lives. Consider adopting policies and programs that promote the life side of the equation. A little sensitivity and effort on your part can significantly help with morale and company commitment.” Here are 25 ways you can improve employees’ work-life balance starting today!

25 Ways to Improve Employees’ Work-Life Balance

Flexible work options

Flex-time and job sharing
Telecommuting
Part-time schedules

Manageable workloads

Make deadlines realistic
Use employees’ skills wisely
Review and improve processes regularly
Provide needed tools and supplies
Minimize interruptions

Time savers

Childcare
Concierge services
Shopping services
On-site laundry/dry cleaning pickup/delivery
On-site community supported agriculture programs

Quality-of-life-improving education

Wellness programs
Financial planning
Professional development programs

Family-friendly benefits

Gratitude

Show your employees you value them by offering timely, practical recognition.
Holiday gifts they can use.
Everyday gifts to reward peak performance.

Filed under: Gratitude, Management & Leadership

Top 5 Reasons to Send Your Employees Back to School

Liz King — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:12:48 +0000

The last post talked about the importance of recognizing and thanking your employees, and the value of education as a reward. It’s clearly an investment that benefits both your employees and your organization.

Here are the top reasons to school your employees:

1. They feel valued

As Beryl Companies CEO Paul Spiegelman explains in his Inc. com article Deliver Value to Your Employees—Your Most Important Stakeholders, “if you want employees to take a vested interest in the company’s future, you must take an interest in theirs—at work and at home.” When employers care enough to help employees develop professionally and personally, the employees feel valued. Valued employees are happier and more productive.

2. An educated employee is a confident employee

Without proper training, employees can’t fully use their skills and abilities and may become frustrated. With mentoring and education they can confidently serve clients, complete high-quality work, and contribute creative ideas. That makes any employee happy.

3. The work seems more meaningful

The more employees understand about how one workgroup interrelates with other departments, the more they understand their impact on the organization and the value of their work.

4. It’s fun!

A creative instructor can incorporate games and team-building activities into educational sessions, making even the driest-seeming topic lively and engaging. You can offer rewards to celebrate successes (ice cream, anyone?). We spend a lot of time at work; employees want and need to have a little fun.

5. Education assistance is a popular perk as it can be expensive

Offering tuition reimbursement helps employees prepare themselves for future opportunities, whether it’s a promotion in your organization or a career move.

After all, as business consultant Rick Kilton, President of RWK Enterprises, Inc., points out:

“Here’s a familiar question: ‘What if I train them and they leave?’

There are two answers:

‘What if you don’t train them? They will leave.’

Or worse: ‘What if you don’t train them? And they stay?’”

Education is the best investment you can make in your employees. And they’ll thank you for it.

Filed under: Gratitude Research, Management & Leadership, Showing Gratitude to Employees