Low Cost Ways to Reward Employees

It is the thankful time of year.  And we have so many things to be thankful for, such as family, friends, and Netflix (we love some binge watching!)

One of the things we are most grateful for here at Hardee is our staff.  Why?  Because they are the best!  We have awesome employees who care about our customers and each other. 

Unfortunately, 70% of American workers are not reaching their full potential, 52% are not engaged, and another 18% are actively disengaged.

So how do you engage and reward employees?  Here at Hardee, we do a lot of little things like house beverages at our favorite local coffee shop, auto detailing, hand-written notes, and the occasional lunch.  And it works like a charm!

So what are some ways you can reward your employees without breaking the bank?

A little money

·         Gift Cards – People will work harder for a $25 gift card to their favorite restaurant than they will for $25 in cash.  Consider rewarding employees for reaching goals.  Consult your CPA on tax implications.

·         Let your staff decide on a training event – Training is one of the most overlooked ways to reward employees.   Allow them the opportunity to select the type of training they feel like they need and you give the time off to do it.  The employee receives a sense of empowerment and improved skill set and you get a more productive and happier employee.

No money

·         Offer public praise – We always take the time to correct an employee when they are doing something wrong, but how about taking a minute and offering the employee praise when they are doing something right?  Public praise can go a long way toward improving an employee’s confidence and can also motivate other employees.

·         Offer flex time – If you work in an industry where flex time is an option, you should strongly consider this.  Flex time gives employees a sense of empowerment and an opportunity to get their work done during times that may work better for them. 

Funsies

·         Wash their car with everyone watching – You don’t have to hire a mobile auto detailer to come to your business to wash cars.  You can do it!  Ok, not everyone’s car, but you can have a contest for the employees and the winner gets the boss to wash their car.  Embarrassing?  Yes!  Fun, free, and good for morale?   A bigger yes!