30 Easy & Low Cost Ways To Reward Employees

Being paid well for the job we do helps, but it’s not everything!  Research shows that feeling appreciated is one of the top drivers of employee engagement and retention.

So, with that in mind, we’ve complied a list of low cost ways to reward your employees that will make them feel valued and appreciated.

1. A sincere word of thanks costs nothing and is very effective.
2. Take interest in their lives.  Ask about their family, friends and holidays.
3. Reward them with a long-lunch, an extra break, or let them our of work early.
4. Buy them a coffee
5.  Invite them to a one-on-one lunch
6. Gift them flowers, a book, or another small gift
7. Give them a meal voucher
8. Arrange to have their car washed and valeted
9.  Buy buns for the entire department/floor and say they are in honour of such and such for their hard work
10.  Honour them at the start of the next staff meeting in fact get into the habit of recognising someone who deserves it at the start of every staff meeting.
11. Write about them in a company-wide email acknowledging their efforts
12.  Call them in for a one to one and thank them personally
13.  If they’ve been repeatedly performing for you then offer them a day off pass to use whenever they want.
14. Celebrate their birthday, the simple gesture of buying in a birthday cake can make a huge difference.  Decorate their work space and basically make them feel special to detract from the fact that they are working on their birthday.
15.  Let them leave an hour or two earlier on their birthday.
16. Bring in a catered breakfast for your team, and designate yourself as the main waiter, serving all your deserving employees.
17.  Get them a catered lunch, in a picnic basket, and invite their spouse or significant other to enjoy it with them during an extended lunch break.
18.  Fill their car with fuel
19.  Get them tickets to a show, concert or other event
20. Many employees sit for at least eight hours a day. Reward their exceptional effort with a new comfortable, supportive chair.
21.  Give them the chance to win millions by buying them a lottery ticket and putting it in a thank you card.
22.  Feature them in your company newsletter if you have one.
23.  Introduce a Family Day. Set aside one afternoon a month/a quarter for employees to bring in family, kids or friends for a pizza party, or other activity. Set up tours of the company so their family can see where they work and what they do.
24.  Every so often, stock the kitchen.  Most companies supply tea, coffee, sugar and milk but once and a while go a step further and fill the fridge with goodies.
25. Pick up the tab for them to have a family portrait taken
26. Allow them to dress casually on Fridays
27. Provide them with a formal letter of appreciation for their personal file
28. A bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates
29. Free haircut or beauty treatment
30. Amazon gift certificate

More often that not a staff member only really hears what was thought about them in their leaving speech, so avoid the staff turnover, take steps toward appreciating your staff today!

It really is that simple.  Introduce just one of these initiatives and you may just surprise yourself with the results!