Employee Recognition Enhances Psychologically Healthy Workplaces
By Elaine Boltz, CEAP, CLL, eboltz@lifemanagement.cc

Everyone wants to fee valued and appreciated, especially in the workplace.  According to the American Psychological Association's "Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program," employee recognition is one of the five important components in the workplace.  The others are employee involvement, work-life balance, employee growth & development, and health & safety.

Many times management focus is on performance issues rather than recognition and appreciation.  However, the return on investment of recognizing employees for their contribution to the organization can be powerful.  According to the 2007-08 Employee Job Satisfaction & Retention Survey by Salary.com, lack of employee recognition accounted for 1 in 5 employees leaving an organization.  Nearly 4 million employees (65%) completing the Gallup Organization's "Q12" survey said they received no on-the-job recognition in the past year.

While fair monetary compensation, benefits and awards for years of service are important, they may be perceived as company policy.  Demonstrations of individual recognition and appreciation have a greater perceived emotional value.

Giving recognition across the organization is important but appreciation from the top is especially valued.  A handwritten note from the CEO thanking employees for individual contributions can show employees that the organization cares.  Teaching and encouraging managers to give positive employee feedback and recognition can result in creating a company culture of addressing the universal need to feel valued.

Here are some ways to recognize and appreciate employees:

• Create a "Wall of Wow," a display of certificates from management recognizing employees for positive comments from customers and clients.
• Do an internal newsletter recognizing employees for a job well done.
• Celebrate employees "caught in action" going above and beyond expectations.
• Encourage peer to peer recognition.

Employee recognition and appreciation can increase motivation, reduce employee turnover, strengthen commitment to the organization, and attract and retain high quality people.  Employee appreciation and recognition is good for employees and good for the organization.

Elaine Boltz, B.A., is the Employee Assistance Services Account Executive at Life Management Associates.  Contact Elaine at 717.394.6688 / 800.327.7770 or email eboltz@lifemanagement.cc

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