When you’re a business owner or manager, it’s important to have a staff that enjoys their jobs and takes pride in being part of your organization. Harmony and contentment within the workplace not only make for a more pleasant working environment but it also keeps morale high and elevates on-the-job productivity. But how can you keep your team happy day in and day out, even when business is slow? A number of business owners and managers find employee gifts and incentives to be a great way to increase satisfaction and keep their staff happy and motivated.
Even an employee who loves his or her job can sometimes need a reprieve from the daily grind. After all, we’re only human! This can be especially true during slower sales periods when finding the right level of motivation can be difficult. Incentivizing employees with little “spiffs,” such as gift cards to a popular store or restaurant, can help you ensure that your team will keep trying its best even when it’s tough to find on-the-job motivation.
Small tokens of appreciation for your staff don’t always have to be performance-based, either: business owners can give small gifts to employees who are celebrating a special milestone, such as a birthday or a work anniversary. These little incentives go a long way when it comes to employee retention, which can help reduce your on boarding and training expenses for new staff, as well as bring a “family” atmosphere to your organization and create a close-knit community of employees. Not surprisingly, employees who enjoy their job and feel as though they are valued don’t tend to look elsewhere for employment!
Employee gifts and incentives don’t need to be extravagant or expensive to make a positive impact. Even a small $5 gift card to a coffee shop can brighten the day of a staff member who needs a little pick-me-up. Everyone loves getting recognized for a job well done or celebrated on a special occasion. By giving employees little incentives along the way, you’re helping to motivate them to bring their “A” game to work every day.
Need more ideas on how to use small gifts to motivate employees? Here are what some of the top ways managers and business owners are doing to incentivize their staff:
- Holding contests to see which employee can log the most outbound calls or close the most deals in a given period of time.
- Recognizing a specific staff member as Employee of the Month for exemplary service and commitment to his or her job
- Showing appreciation for achieving work-related milestones, such as a company anniversary or hitting record numbers for the quarter
Now’s the time to look into employee gifts and incentives to keep your team motivated. Your staff members are the lifeblood of your organization. By treating them well and keeping them satisfied with their job and their company, you’ll ensure greater success for your organization and your staff over the long term.
