Employee Appreciation During COVID-19

Ideas, Notes & Gifts to Show Staff Appreciation During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020 and changed the way many companies do business. Two years later, we are still feeling the effects, although many of the safety and health cautions the crisis brought have now become part of our daily lives. As the pandemic continues, showing your employees appreciation should remain top of mind for business owners. 

Here are a few ways to spread words of appreciation to employees during COVID-19:

• Communicate frequently: Information about the coronavirus changes rapidly. Make sure employees are kept up-to-date on what is going on within your organization and any changes happening.
• Mitigate risks: Employees need to know their safety is taken seriously. Whether that means providing facemasks or other protective gear, hand-washing stations or enforcing six-foot social distancing measures with customers, employees need to know you are taking steps to mitigate risks. Employers should also provide training to their employees so they know the new procedures.
• Be flexible and loosen restriction: Employers need to be understanding and flexible. Allow employees who can work from home to do so. Make sure employees know they can and should stay home when sick without any consequences, and trust employees when they say they aren’t feeling well.
• Send thank you notes: Sending personalized thank-you letters to your employees for their hard work during COVID-19 lets them know they are appreciated, which can go a long way in maintaining or improving employee morale, especially during a pandemic. Try something like this, and add in a personal touch: Thank you for your hard work. This past year has brought many challenges and you have risen above them all. You are a valuable member of the team and we appreciate your efforts – it hasn’t gone unnoticed! 
• Provide public praise: Celebrate employee accomplishments, such as when they’ve met team or company goals, by giving them praise in front of their peers and executives.
• Give extra time off: Award employees with a half or full day off that they can use later, or allow them to leave a shift early.
• Hand out gift cards: Give out gift cards to restaurants, grocery stores, or a type of service to your employees. This is a great way to support local businesses and show your appreciation to employees.
• Offer company swag: Gift company apparel, bags, pens and other swag to your employees.
• Provide food and drinks: Employers can provide lunch, snacks and beverages to employees in a safe manner.
• Connect as a team: Whether it is a video conference call or a group chat, keeping employees connected to each other and the business is important.

Courtesy of AmTrust Financial