We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: employee recognition is about much more than gifts. Don’t get me wrong, gifts are great – especially when they come from Award Concepts! But if you rely just on anniversary gifts to show your appreciation, you’re losing valuable opportunities to build a positive corporate culture and increase employee retention rate.

Just saying “thank you” or “nice job” goes a long way toward fostering good will among your employees. It’s fast, easy, effective and it doesn’t cost you a thing. Now, how about taking it a step further? Put that pat on the back in writing!

Written recognition only takes a little more time, and it’s time well spent. It doesn’t have to be anything formal or lengthy. The key thing to remember is: be specific. For instance, if your employee pulled an all-nighter or gave up a weekend to meet a tight deadline, spell it out. And tell them exactly how their extra effort benefited the company.

There are no set formats for written recognition. A “thank you” card is something an employee will keep on their desk or bulletin board as a reminder that they’re truly appreciated. An email lets you copy others in the department and higher up in the organization for that extra boost of recognition. Whatever written format you choose, be sure to make a copy for the employee’s personnel file.

The benefit? As with any recognition, positive reinforcement boosts good will and encourages continued excellence in job performance. And should you decide to provide a gift along with your written “thank you”, Award Concepts is right here with THE BEST selection in the business!