Dive Brief:
- It's clear that pay and benefits are important, but they are not enough to ensure employee engagement. The key is gratitude, according to Glenn Elliott, founder and CEO of Reward Gateway, writing at Employee Benefits News.
- Elliott writes that efforts such as open and honest communication,; purpose, meaning, and values; leadership and management; job design; recognition; learning and development; and workspace all factor into engagement.
- He believes that simply saying "thank you" more often can drastically increase employee engagement. He writes that feeling appreciated means people will work harder, and certainly if they feel unappreciated, they won't.
Dive Insight:
Elliott writes that recognition doesn't always need to be attached to extra cash or other rewards. He cites a case where he received such a reward, but by the time he got it, he'd forgotten why he received it in the first place.
Instead, he writes, HR should encourage managers to offer something simple, a thank you note or a quick email. His company uses e-cards internally to say “good job” or “thanks!” The effort "creates a sense of community and shows that we appreciate each other."
Apart from boosting engagement, this type of recognition also helps with retention, he writes, adding that a culture of gratitude and appreciation are likely to keep people in the fold. They will care more, work harder and help the company succeed.