According to a very recent study by the Santa Fe Group, nearly 83% of employers rely primarily on e-mail as a means of assignment communication in their organizations. With the ever increasing importance of employee retention, this could raise serious concerns for several companies. In addition, almost half (49.7%) of such companies rely solely on the Human Resources department to communicate with their employees. Businesses should be looking for new ways to communicate with their employees that does not involve a technological road block. But what do employees really want?
The truth is that employees want interaction. It’s not enough to e-mail Joe Smith and tell him what a great job he did on that report. It becomes much more personal and meaningful for a manager to reach out to him in person and thank him for his efforts. Joe might be a very valuable member to the team that the company can’t afford to lose. What if he is considering leaving? What if his LinkedIn account has become so impressive that your competition is contacting him with attractive opportunities? Going that extra mile to make him feel appreciated could make all the difference.
But what are the other options for companies that do not have the time to walk around and thank every employee for their achievements? What are some creative ways to make employees feel appreciated? If it’s in the budget, how about taking employees out for a monthly dinner? Even a newsletter hi-lighting high achievers can create healthy competition and valuable recognition in the office. Whatever creative method you choose to employ, make sure your employees are valued and appreciated frequently.