What are your cheap tricks for boosting motivation and morale?
Times are tough and employees are getting tired of doing more with — and for — less than they have in the past. Still, employers don’t have the money to hire more people, hand out bonuses or hike salaries. So what are they doing? The answer, as reported in The Wall Street Journal this week, is getting creative and finding cheap perks to cheer employees on. These perks run from free thank yous to inexpensive gift cards. I find it refreshing to learn that in spite of some legitimately tough times, there are employers who are making an effort to do what they can to show staff members that the company appreciates their hard work. It would be easy to say — and I’m sure plenty of employers do — “just be grateful you have a job.” But that isn’t nice and isn’t helpful at a time when we all need to work together to pull through. I’m glad some people are doing what they can to show a little appreciation for a job well done and for extra effort in these difficult times.
What inexpensive means are you using to thank and motivate your employees? If the answer is that you aren’t doing anything different, do you think you should be?
Image credit, DNY59 via iStock
Posted by Diane Klucznik on January 6th, 2010 at 10:13 am
I make them food from scratch at my house and bring it in to them. Like on New Years, I brought them a pot of black eye peas.
Posted by Derek Irvine, Globof on January 6th, 2010 at 10:25 am
Funny you should ask. I blogged on precisely this topic just today (http://bit.ly/7FroRY). That "just be grateful you have a job line" only teaches employees to care less about their work and the company as a whole. Simple (but specific and authentic) appreciation goes a long way in reversing that trend. And I don't mean just a quick slap-on-the-back "Thanks!" I mean truly specific praise (http://bit.ly/2JEkqA) and recognition that shows the recipient how what they do matters to team/division/company achieving strategic objectives.
Posted by Dave Will on January 6th, 2010 at 10:58 am
Below are some things for our employees to create a fun work environment:
- 3 in 1 Conference table: Pool table/ping pong table/conference table.
- Peach of the Week awards – $10 gift card and recognition to 1 person a week that has exceeded expectations. Every week employees nominate other employees. We announce all the nominations and the winner in our weekly staff meeting. At the end of the year all the winners are put into a drawing to win $1000.
- Considering 4 weeks vacation for everyone starting day 1 and 1/2 day fridays in the summer.
- recently added on to our benefits a 401k plan which we didn't have before.
- Weekly Employee Satisfaction surveys with 1 question: "How do you like your job this week?" and a place for comments and Peach of the week nominations.
- Planning a company-wide cruise towards the end of the summer – not cheap, but thought I'd add it anyway.
Looking forward to see other people's comments.
Posted by Jim on January 6th, 2010 at 11:00 am
Working for a municipality, I don't have the ability to give bonuses or raise salaries, other than at annual performance reviews. However, early in my supervisory career, after my boss delivered my 5 year service pin to me via envelope in my mailbox, I decided to recognize my employees' employemnt anniversaries with personal notes. As you noted, it may seem cheap, but I've always found in other jobs, that when the boss says "thank you," it makes you feel good. I like to think that this small act at the very least lets my employees know that I appreciate the work they put in, especially in these trying budgetary times.
Posted by Susan Hamann on January 6th, 2010 at 11:18 am
We are a small company. In order to continue personal interaction and to boost moral we have had 2 ice cream parties. The first was a Sundae party with several containers of different flavors of ice cream, whipped cream, nuts, etc. Everyone made the Sundae of their choice.
On the second occasion, we had several varieties of ice cream novelties available. That was an especially quick and easy thing to do. Employees appreciated the break and the opportunity to hang out with each other.
Posted by Bruce Burks on January 6th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Being of supportive of my employees is my biggest asset. I let my employees know that I work for them and that we work for our customers. I listen to their ideas and we discuss their ideas, if things are workable we go it. After obtaining goals that we set we usually have lunch, dinner, or some other small token of appreciation. Listening can go a long way.
Posted by M.C. Dunn on January 7th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Jim's initiative with the anniversary personal notes struck a cord with me. When I reached my 5 year anniversary with my first company I received a note from my bosses' boss and one from another VP with my company. They were on display in my office for quite a while. Twenty plus years later and now at a different company I still have those notes, although the are not on dislay.
Posted by Gary on January 8th, 2010 at 2:58 am
During my career I have worked for fortune 100 companies where the incentives ranged from a year off with full salary for volunteering to support a worthwhile cause, to a voice mail recorded thank you, and small non-profit ones where again monetary rewards as well as a thank you was given. Motivation varies from individual to individual. Individuals are each motivated differently. Pizza the traditional standby is well received by some, and then others complain, “Oh gee, pizza again, big deal”. During this economic downturn more, than ever when companies cannot afford salary increases, bonuses, or even the loved /hated pizza a sincere and I do mean sincere thank you can go a long way to motivate employees. There are some people who you cannot motivate, no matter how or what you offer they are the ones where the company can soon terminate the employer, employee relationship to prevent the one rotten apple from spoiling the whole barrel.
Posted by Jackie McCuskey on January 8th, 2010 at 4:05 am
What we are talking about here is discovering what makes people tick – bonuses or cash might be nice – but it's a short lived euphoria. Keeping employees engaged and intrinsically motivated requires an ongoing, sustained effort. Genuine thanks coupled with small "surprise and delights" goes a long way in filling an employees emotional bank account.
Posted by SmartBlog on Workforce » Blog Archive » How do you give feedback? on January 8th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
[...] tough times such as those we’re facing now, feedback is a valuable cheap trick to boost motivation and morale in the workplace. And I’m not just talking about positive feedback. When you only tell your [...]
Posted by SmartBlog on Workforce » Blog Archive » What little things are you doing to make a big impact on your staff? on January 27th, 2010 at 11:54 am
[...] of employees with just a little money, time and effort (see previous SmartBlog on Workforce posts What are your cheap tricks for boosting motivation and morale? and How do you give feedback? ). Earlier this week, business strategy coach Tanveer Naseer used the [...]
Posted by Jack Pallet on July 23rd, 2010 at 2:42 pm
A few ideas that can help build or maintain employee morale include providing free coffee, pizza for staff birthdays, 'bagel Fridays', a holiday party, Christmas bonuses when feasible, being flexible about dentist and doctor appointments, and making sure equipment and work stations are ergonomic, up to date, and in good working order.
Posted by SmartBrief on Workforce on January 4th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
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