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Staff engagement can be a tricky issue. Get it right and you can see performance and attendance rocket; get it wrong and you can end up with an even less motivated workforce than before you started. However, it would seem that one element of employee engagement can do no wrong and that is ‘Employee Recognition’.
The power of employee recognition
A host of surveys have shown that showing appreciation can have a hugely positive effect on both the person giving and the person getting the recognition.
Refreshing for the receiver
A TimesJobs survey of 1,600 employees has shown just how much of a good impact being appreciated can have on employee churn and morale.
The survey showed that 82% of employees work harder if they feel their boss appreciates them. Furthermore, 90% said they would remain with the company for longer if they feel valued.
This survey is not alone in its findings. Another survey by jobs and recruiting website Glassdoor revealed that 81% of staff feel motivated to work harder when their efforts are appreciated by their manager.
Great for the giver
Another survey has shown that employee recognition is not just motivating for the receiver. It's also beneficial for the person showing appreciation.
The survey of 3,400 professionals, conducted by engagement experts, the O.C. Tanner Institute, found that 86% of UK employees who always give recognition are highly motivated at work.
Furthermore, employees who were happy to recognise the achievements of their colleagues had 22% better results in the workplace. This is why employee recognition is an important part of staff management.
Find out how to record and track your staff information and management processes effective with staff management software.
Time to show more employee recognition
With such clear benefits to both employees and their organisation, it is important that employers focus on recognition in the workplace. This is both in terms of encouraging an ‘appreciation culture’ and through understanding the sort of recognition that registers with staff.
According to the TimesJobs study, different employees feel appreciated in different circumstances.
- 70% said they would feel appreciated if offered opportunities to advance in their career.
- 37% felt a pay rise would be a better form of recognition.
- 20% said they felt valued when supported by a flexible working arrangement.
- 11% said they felt appreciated when given more power to make decisions.
This research underlines the rainbow of routes to employee recognition. It's clearly important for employers not to assume they know what makes their staff feel appreciated.
By attuning your work culture to the needs of your workforce, you will not only win in terms of business performance and productivity. You will also win the loyalty of your staff.
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Written by Fiona Sanderson
Fiona is Marketing Manager at myhrtoolkit. Her areas of expertise include HR systems, productivity, employment law updates, and creating HR infographics.
