Developing Workplace Gratitude, Culture, and Well-being

Immerse yourself in a wealth of insightful articles designed to nurture workplace gratitude, enhance employee well-being, and foster a thriving workplace culture. This category presents innovative strategies and practical tips that will bolster employee engagement, encourage team building, and boost overall productivity.

Cultivating Connection and Positivity in the Workplace

Discover the transformative power of regular check-ins and small gestures of appreciation in strengthening workplace relationships. Explore how incorporating elements of happiness, like pet-friendly policies or the surprise delight of cat videos, can enhance employee well-being and inject joy into your daily work environment. Additionally, understand the role of nutrition in promoting both individual and collective happiness in the workplace.

Harnessing Gratitude and Celebrating Values

Uncover the profound effects of practicing gratitude in the workplace, from expressing heartfelt thanks to planning appreciation events. Get inspired by thought-provoking TED Talks that reveal how gratitude can rewire the brain, foster positive relationships, and increase happiness. Moreover, learn the importance of celebrating teams and organizational values to underscore that your business is about people and values, not just work and the bottom line.

Navigating New Ways of Working

With the evolving work landscape, learn how to adapt to new ways of working and retain top talent, particularly in remote and hybrid environments. Appreciate the significance of random acts of kindness and gratitude in creating a supportive workplace atmosphere. Furthermore, understand the critical role of mental health and well-being, especially in the current mental health crisis.

Reboarding with a Focus on Gratitude and Well-being

As you reboard employees, seize the opportunity to reinvigorate your workplace culture with a focus on gratitude. Find out how to make employee appreciation a central pillar in your workplace, fostering a positive and engaging culture as you navigate the new normal.

Embark on the exciting journey of cultivating a vibrant and grateful workplace, where every employee feels valued and motivated. Happy reading!



  • Begin the Year Strong with Gratitude

    Start the year with gratitude

    As the new year kicks off, it’s a wonderful opportunity to assess what employees achieved and overcame during 2023. Organizations everywhere have worked hard to reassess priorities and make significant changes after the pandemic-related pandemonium.

    At gThankYou, we are advocates for weaving gratitude through the entire year. Stay tuned for our 2024 calendar, which provides a variety of ways to illustrate appreciation every month of the year. In the meantime, let’s take this opportunity to start the year on a high note. Here are some applicable tips to help foster a sense of appreciation in the next few weeks.

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  • Gifts for Onboarding New Staff

    Welcome aboard!

     

    Giving small, thoughtful gifts to a new employee is a great way to show them that you’re excited to have them on board. It can also help them feel more welcome and connected to the company culture. Onboarding gifts for new hires are always a friendly way to extend your kindness to someone who is entering into unfamiliar territory.

    When choosing a gift for a new employee, it’s important to consider what you know about their interests and personality. You also want to make sure that the gift is something that they will actually use.
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  • Back to School: Appreciate Your Friendly Custodian

    Back to school - thank a custodian!

    As we head back to school, it’s a good time to take a moment to appreciate the hard work of custodial staff who keep our schools clean and safe. These essential workers often go unnoticed, but their contributions are vital to the success of our schools.

    National Custodian Day is officially October 2, but why wait?

    Kick off the school year with an abundance of gratitude for those who helped clean up and get our schools ready for staff and students. Hang a giant custodian thank you card and hang it up for everyone to sign and set the tone for everyone who enters the building.
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  • 15 Quotes for a Workplace Culture of Gratitude

    gratitude rocks the workplace

    Motivational posters may be a little outdated, but sharing positivity in the workplace never gets old. Whether it’s simply sharing a quote to conclude a meeting or a classy sign in a conference room, there are many famous — and not so famous — quotes that can impact how employees feel about the culture of an organization. We’ve pulled together 15 quotes for a workplace culture of gratitude that may inspire or encourage you and your teams.

    The most important application is for leaders to model an attitude of gratitude, taking the time and effort to thank and acknowledge what deserves praise. Flippant usage of “thanks” isn’t the goal … it’s providing a positive space to allow people to acknowledge and support each other.
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  • Excellent TED Talks on Building Workplace Gratitude

    TED Talks offer insights into leadership and workplace gratitude


    Building a culture of workplace gratitude could be the best thing you ever do for your business. In fact, author and speaker Toni Powell calls gratitude at work the key to success in “Why Gratitude in the Workplace?

    “Gratitude has the rather extraordinary power to change just about every aspect of life—in very surprising ways.”

    When you practice workplace gratitude, you transform relationships, minimize complaints, and see satisfaction levels skyrocket. The effect is profound and long-lasting, Powell says, because gratitude rewires the brain to see and process the world differently.

    Gratitude:

    • Increases resilience.
    • Reduces stress.
    • Facilitates positive relationships.
    • Makes people happier.

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  • The Importance of Checking In

    checking in can be as easy as a quick text

     

    In today’s fast-paced workplace, it can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day. So, how often do you take a moment to check in on colleagues and employees? Taking the time to check in with people can have a number of benefits for both individuals and organizations. The power of a text, brief email or even a quick phone call can make a tremendous difference.

    Research Supports the Power of Checking In

    There was an article in the New York Times, “Text Your Friends. It Matters More Than You Think.” It outlines research that states that “most of us underestimate the power of the casual check-in” and it got us thinking. We are firm advocates for small gestures – a thank you note, a social media shout-out, a favorite snack. A check-in can be a simple but powerful move.
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  • Manifest Happiness at Work

    Cat videos can make people happy at work

    Manifest Happiness at Work

    How does happiness manifest at work and what can business leaders do to increase it? Cat videos. You think we’re joking, but we may not be! Infusing happiness into the workplace IS your job — and it matters. What are you doing to bring joy to employees?

    In a recent video with Katie Couric and Dr. Laurie Santos, professor of psychology at Yale University and host of “The Happiness Lab” podcast, they discuss “how wellness influences consumer behavior, how it can be prioritized in the workplace, and why it matters to businesses and brands.”

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  • Pets in the Workplace: Work Perk?

    There are pros and cons to having pets in the workplace

     

    It has become increasingly common to allow pets in the workplace, given the right environment and permission. Dogs, especially, can lighten the mood, relieve stress and offer a friendly face. In most cases, a cat will decline the invitation, but there are exceptions. However, a pet-friendly environment shouldn’t serve as an employer branding ploy – the policies need to be thoughtfully considered and respectful to everyone.

    Should pets be allowed in the workplace? Some Pros and Cons.

    Dog in glasses readingPros: (more…)

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  • The Connection Between Happiness and Nutrition

    Nutrition and happiness are connected. Apples make a great snack!

     

    A great workplace starts with healthy employees. Plus, there is a strong connection between happiness and nutrition. Why not make work a healthier, happier place to be, one step at a time? We’re here to help.

    Many organizations have committed to a healthy workplace, and wellness programs continue to flourish in businesses of all sizes. However, even with strides in tech-based wellness initiatives and other fancy programs, nutrition is a fundamental piece of wellness. Don’t leave nutrition-based education to personal trainers, dieticians and nutritionists. A healthy lifestyle can start at home AND at work. (more…)

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  • March: Time to Build Workplace Happiness!

    Happy Girl
    Get out your calendar and start scheduling some fun – and happiness will follow! March is the ideal time to build workplace happiness. Winter is dragging on and, for many of us, spring still seems a long way off. Luckily you still have opportunities to share workplace appreciation and inspire some easy fun this month.

    Hopefully you have already downloaded our free Day-to-Day Employee Appreciation Calendar for 2024 so these celebrations may already be on your radar. If not, download it today and let’s get started!

    Don’t forget St. Patrick’s Day on March 17! It’s always a fun occasion to wear green and have a little office fun. But the MOST important day of the month is …… March 20!
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  • Finish the Year Strong with Gratitude

    Finish the year strong!

    It’s not too late to finish the year strong with gratitude!

    Year-end can mean different things to people, depending on industry, role, personality type … and a million other factors! We hope you are thoroughly enjoying the holiday season with your friends, family and employees. Here are a few suggestions to finish the year strong as a leader who understands that appreciation is the greatest gift.

    5 Ways to Finish the Year Strong:

    Say THANK YOU to everyone you can. From your trusted advisors to the delivery folks to the administrative teams who make your world work. Who can you thank today? (more…)

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  • Celebrating Teams and Organizational Values

    Spikeball Players Celebrating Teams

    Photo by Spikeball on Unsplash

    When leaders understand the importance of celebrating teams and organizational values, important messages resonate beyond an “event.” There are many opportunities to bring people together to underscore that your business is about people and values, not just work and the bottom line.

    We’re in a time of heightened pressure to recruit and retain happy, committed employees and this big-picture thinking is critical. Here are a wide variety of ways you can incorporate “celebrating teams and organizational values” into your workplace. We hope this sparks inspiration for gifts of connection, belonging and shared joy.

    Give the Gift of Connection

    • Welcome new employees with a memorable first impression. Schedule coffee or lunch with the head of the company on their first day at work.
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  • How to Navigate New Ways of Working

    navigating the new world of work

    Photo by Ali Bakhtiari on Unsplash

    NEWS ALERT: The work world has shifted. Priorities have changed, hybrid and remote working has become status quo, and flexibility is key. Collectively, we are figuring out how to navigate new ways of working.

    What’s really keeping HR people up at night is how to RETAIN talented and hardworking staff. If we thought retention was important before, we have a tighter grip now. But what is the secret sauce to keeping employees happy, healthy and gainfully employed by you? Appreciation and recognition go a long way. Here are some ways to navigate new ways of working:

    Pay attention equally to employees regardless of their location.

    With a shift to remote and hybrid workplaces, it is important to “spread the love” to those who may be working elsewhere. “Out of sight, out of mind” is the wrong approach. Be sure to show appreciation equally for people across town or the globe. (more…)

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  • Randoms Acts of Kindness and Gratitude

    Photo by Adam Nemeroff on Unsplash - Sign that says be kind with a heart

    We honor Random Acts of Kindness Week every February (Feb. 13-19 this year) to celebrate small acts of goodwill. We all know that every day is a good day to build workplace gratitude through kindness. But how often do you think about random acts of kindness? How often do you actually do it? It’s a great reminder that little gestures go a long way.

    Where Did Random Acts of Kindness Begin?

    The phrase “random acts of kindness,” is believed to have been coined by the writer Anne Herbert in the early 1980s. Apparently, she scribbled on a restaurant placemat, “Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.” The phrase uses language of war (“senseless acts of violence”) in a call for the opposite.
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  • Summer Reboarding – Make it Fun!

    Summertime Reboarding Means Outside Fun!

    On the topic of “reboarding” employees, take advantage of being outside for social events to celebrate employees returning to the workplace or who have been there all along! Outside, it’s easier to socially distance and still have fun – perfect for summer reboarding activities.

    Who needs workplace fun? We all do after more than a year of COVID, societal tension and volatile politics. Social events are great for workplace culture and morale which are as important as ever right now.

    Parties and team building exercises may not look exactly like they used to, but with some creativity and agility, the fun committee is back in session!

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  • Reboarding: The Mental Health Crisis

    America's mental health crisis. Photo by Alex Ivashenko on Unsplas.

     

    Research shows that Americans are facing a mental health crisis. At gThankYou, mental health wellness is close to our hearts. We hope to help organizations make strides in sustaining a safe, welcoming environment. It will be noticed and appreciated.

    The Olympics has highlighted how pervasive mental health challenges are when even elite athletes are not immune. Michael Phelps reminds us in a recent article in support of Simone Biles that “…If we’re not taking care of both [physical and mental health], how are we ever expecting to be 100%?” True for all of us, not just the elite few.
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  • How to Prioritize Workplace Well-Being

    If workplace well-being isn’t on your priority list, now’s the time to put it on the top. Worksite wellness initiatives have been gathering steam for quite a while, but the pandemic wreaked havoc on health in a wide variety of ways. To truly appreciate your team members, be sure to provide a healthy environment where the whole being can thrive.

    exercise - how to prioritize workplace well-being

    Photo: Dylan Gillis, Unsplash

    According to a recent report by Gallup,

    “Organizations are responsible for the wellbeing of their employees — alleviating burnout is the right thing to do. And, it is essential for engaging and retaining top talent.”

    Burnout is real. And it’s costly. Intelligent leaders are in-tune with the signs are offer ways to address the problem.
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  • Rebuild a Culture of Gratitude as You Reboard

    Consider your culture as you bring staff back to work

    As you reboard, it is a fantastic time to check your overall culture. It is important to welcome back employees back with intention and positivity. But does employee appreciation take center stage in your workplace? If you feel tentative about your answer, this is your chance! Building (or rebuilding) a culture of gratitude begins when employees are valued and appreciated.

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  • Employee Appreciation is Key During “Welcome Back!”

    Welcome Back to Work

     

    Workforces are trickling back into office buildings and teams are rejoining in person after a long pandemic-related hiatus. It feels a bit like starting over, doesn’t it? While safety is the number one priority, it’s also critical to view this period as an opportunity for employee appreciation.

    What is Reboarding? According to HR Daily Advisor,

    “Reboarding is the concept of bringing individuals back who were previous employees but away for some period of time. The idea is to modify onboarding for someone who is already familiar with your company but has been away.”

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  • Secret to Easing Workplace Transition

    Learn self-compassion with Tess Hayes's new book

    As we emerge from the challenging pandemic to some sense of normalcy at both work and in our personal lives, it’s an ideal time to check in on how we are speaking to ourselves. Many of us had extra time alone with ourselves during the pandemic and while some people seemed to flourish, many of us struggled with added loneliness, stress, grief, and anxiety. Often our own internal voice during this time was our toughest critic and harshest judge. The transition back to an office or to a job can be rough right now.

    There is no better time to show ourselves some compassion and grace.

    The Language of Affirmation

    Affirmations are based in a belief that the frequent use of positive words (affirmations) can motivate, build self-esteem and replace negative thought patterns.
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