All Articles
Employee Performance4 min to readFebruary 28, 2023

Making Employees Feel Appreciated

Written by Jeff YoderReviewed by Aisling Teillard

Products used

March 3rd is Employee Appreciation Day. Some companies even choose to recognize employees throughout the month of March. But does a pat on the back really make all that much difference? What would? Can it be repeated and scaled? 

A lot of companies can’t answer these questions, and struggle to find the best way to show their appreciation—or just don't get around to it. Why and how can you leverage recognition to make for an inspiring and productive workplace?

We have long said that compensation is far from the only thing that motivates employees. At beqom, we believe that happiness is the best driver for success because happy people lead to better performance. But happiness doesn’t come from paying your employees more money. It comes from making sure they understand:

  • The company direction
  • Their individual goals and how they relate to the company’s direction
  • How they are rewarded and recognized for achieving these goals, and 
  • If the rewards are fair.

A compensation and performance platform should be able to provide this level of understanding to employees regarding their performance and pay, and that recognition component is crucial.

The deep need for recognition

Employees are humans and humans like to be acknowledged. Yet it is sometimes surprising how stingy we humans can be with our acknowledgment of others, given that it costs nothing and takes so little time. 

An article in Psychology Today notes that for the majority of people “wishing to be explicitly recognized for what you do relates to the fact that validation from others just feels good. Reaching all the way back to childhood and your need for your parents’ reassurance and approval, being acknowledged by others helps you feel more accepted and secure.” If it’s such a deep-seated need, it only makes sense that it would be a strong motivator. Yet often people, including employers, peers, and managers, withhold praise.

The PT article posited reasons that a person might hesitate to acknowledge another: 

  • they themselves are recognition-deprived
  • they are competitive and praising another might make them feel diminished
  • they feel the accomplishments of the person were to be expected and therefore undeserving of recognition
  • they think the recognition will unnecessarily feed the person’s ego
  • they’re in denial about their own unmet need for acknowledgment; or, 
  • they have a strong sense of entitlement and take recognition for granted. 

Ouch.

None of those reasons are very flattering to the person who is withholding the acknowledgment. In a business setting, it may have more to do with the corporate culture. Every business has a culture, whether it is spoken or unspoken, intentional or unintentional. If a culture of recognition is not consciously nurtured by management and HR, the culture may default to the typical command and control model. Perhaps it boils down to a background fear that if we acknowledge an employee they will (a) not strive to do better or (b) ask for more money or a promotion. 

Research suggests that a scarcity mentality around recognition is counterproductive.

According to O.C. Tanner’s 2022 Global Culture Survey, when you show employees they are valued, “you increase employee engagement, boost employee morale, become an even greater place to work, and build a company culture where employees thrive. When employees feel appreciated, there is an 84% decrease in the chance they will experience burnout.” 

The report finds that “When companies celebrate together, employees are 20x more likely to feel connected and want to stay.” Research shows that acts of courtesy, helping, and praise are predictive of productivity, efficiency, and lower turnover rates.

What form should recognition take?

According to a survey by Aon Hewitt and OCT, 46% of employers responded that both monetary and non-monetary awards are equally effective; 43% believed monetary awards are more effective than non-monetary awards; and 12% reported that non-monetary awards are of greater value. The survey found that the most popular vehicle is a thank-you from peers or managers (74%). Next was public recognition by senior management (66%), followed by gifts/merchandise (64%) and trophies and symbolic awards (55%).

The benefits of a feedback culture

Creating a culture of feedback whereby peers support each other through regular, positive feedback can go a long way toward making employees feel appreciated and cultivating a sense of belonging. Here are three important benefits of including feedback and recognition in your performance management system.

Create a learning culture. Giving employees feedback and recognition can increase self-awareness about opportunities to develop and strengths they can lean into. Providing opportunities for employees to learn and recognizing their effort and time spent focusing on self-improvement can be the foundation of a learning culture and shows the importance of employee feedback.

Increase happiness. A workplace where positive reinforcement and constructive feedback are embraced creates happy employees. Happy employees are productive employees. Recognizing individuals and teams can boost their confidence, promote collaboration, enhance loyalty, and boost the overall morale of the organization.

Improve employee retention. Hiring an employee is a significant investment. Once they are hired, they need training, development, and motivation to perform. A great way to show appreciation to your employees and keep them motivated is by creating a rewards and recognition program.

A culture-led employee experience can transform your performance management systems and inspire your employees to reach their potential and your organization to improve overall performance on metrics you can measure.

Compensation is recognition too

For most workers, compensation provides the means to pay the bills and improve the standard of living for themselves and their families. It’s tied to survival and aspirations, making it a powerful motivator and sensitive topic. But an often overlooked aspect of compensation is that it serves as a proxy for recognition and acknowledgment. It is a way of expressing the employer’s opinion of the value of the employee. In that light, compensation is also related to the need for recognition and acknowledgment.

People want to produce work they are proud of and be recognized for it. Both compensation and other forms of recognition can serve that end. In the final analysis, employee satisfaction is linked to knowing what contribution they made and having that contribution recognized. Manage compensation well, but don’t be stingy with recognition. It can transform your workforce!

New call-to-action

 

More insights from the beqom blog

Explore other recent blog posts to stay updated on key trends and strategies in HR. Our blog provides expert insights to help you drive success in your organization.

A Complete Guide to Compensation Management

8 min to read

Learn the basic building blocks of compensation management and how it impacts the organization.


Read more
Woman smiling and a half circle graphic device behind her.

The Role, Impact, and Main Examples of HR Software

8 min to read

Explore the types of software available to support HR functions, promote fair practices, and enable efficient HR processes.


Read more
A man talking to a woman at work.

A Guide to People Analytics: What Are They and How to Use Them

10 min to read

Unlock the potential of your workforce by harnessing people analytics to drive smarter decisions, improve employee engagement, and fuel long-term business success.


Read more
Hand drawn Tin can telephone.

Our newsletter

Sign up for the beqom newsletter to access exclusive resources on topics like Pay Equity, Compensation Management and Sales and Employee Performance. Our regular updates ensure you’re always informed on the latest trends in HR and compensation.

Some of our latest resources

Broaden your understanding with our curated selection of recent articles. Explore best practices, gain insights from industry thought leaders, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends to help drive success in your field.

Two people looking at a laptop screen.

The benefits of investing in Pay Equity Software: ROI Calculator

Pay equity is more than just identifying pay gaps—it's a strategic approach to understanding and optimizing your pay structures. By pinpointing what factors drive pay at your organization, you can make informed decisions and maximize your return on investment.


Calculate the ROI
A hand drawn graphic showing 2 birds on a line.

Get to know the beqom product line

For over a decade, we’ve partnered with some of the world’s leading organizations to tackle their unique compensation and performance challenges. We understand that every business has distinct needs, not a generic approach.

Connect with a beqom expert to arrange a personalized demo that addresses your goals directly.

Request a demo today

The beqom products

Unlock the full potential of your comp.

beqom has been purpose-built to handle the breadth and depth of global total compensation management, with a proven track record of success for leading companies across all industries.

Compensation Management Software graphic
Pay Management iconPay Management

Total compensation without compromise.

Pay Transparency iconPay Transparency

Clear reward, clear purpose. For every employee.

pay-equity iconPayEquity by beqom

Put fairness first: close pay gaps for good.

pay-intelligence iconPay Intelligence

Always pay the optimal amount.