Six Ways to Show Employees You Are Thankful

During November, we tend to spend more time reflecting on all the things we are thankful for, so why not take time to reflect on how thankful you are for those outstanding employees? The ability to show appreciation in monetary ways can be tricky for public agencies, so the need to be more creative in showing our appreciation is very important.

Below are a few ideas that public agencies can implement from what I call the “ASPECT” approach:

1. Ask - Ask questions about their family, their weekend, or a special event in their life. Be sure to be sincere in asking about the employee, or it could come across as uncaring or nosey.
2. Schedule - If flexible scheduling is possible, offer it to your employees, even if it is only for the holidays or summer breaks. This helps employees to balance work and family time and can make for happier, more productive employees.
3. Praise - Identify specific actions where the employee has gone over and above on a task. By picking a specific task rather than being general in praise, employees will know that the praise is genuine.
4. Eat - Who doesn’t like food? Potlucks, where the city provides the main course, are always a good time to encourage camaraderie and fellowship in the city.
5. Cultivate - Cultivate employees and allow them growth opportunities. If permissible, place employees on boards or committees where their talents can be seen. Allow them to attend professional association meetings and represent your city at civic and charitable events. When your city budgets allow, provide employees with as much training as possible. This is a win-win for both the employee and the city. Be certain to discuss the potential for advancement, as good employees want opportunities to grow within the organization.
6. Thanks - Say thank you. A little kindness goes a long way. Show your appreciation all year, not just during the holiday season.

There are many aspects of employee appreciation, so find one that works for your organization and don’t stop implementing it when the holidays are over. For questions on this or other personnel-related matters, contact KLC Personnel Services Managing Attorney Chris Johnson.