Why Celebrating Hard Work Matters (and How We Do It)

Employee recognition isn’t just a feel-good policy.

When company leadership recognizes an employee’s hard work, the employee feels valued and in turn is willing to work even harder.

In fact, according to a 10-year study completed by O.C. Tanner Learning Group, the majority of people surveyed said recognition is the one thing their manager could do to cause them to do great work. Recognition ranked higher than more pay, job training, and promotions.

The survey also noted that 79% of people who quit a job stated “lack of appreciation” as the reason.

Here’s How Some Of The Best Places To Work (Including AIFP) Recognize Employees:

1. Spontaneously Thank Employees

Recognition doesn’t always have to be a big thing. Even a simple statement like, “great job on that report!” can go a long way in making your team feel appreciated. Bonus points if you do it in front of other employees--You’ll both inspire the others to step up their game and make the employee you’re recognizing feel valued.

2. Set Specific Goals & Acknowledge Progress

Don’t wait until major goals are achieved to acknowledge hard work. Speaking to an employee’s progress will make them want to achieve the goal and work harder to get it done.

3. Celebrate In A Big Way

If your employees are working hard, go big every now and then. A company trip or party shows your employees that you care. We celebrate our employees’ efforts with at least one out-of-the-office social event every month.

At American International Forest Products, we believe strongly in the concept of “work hard, play hard” and we do our best to actively celebrate employee achievements. If you’re interested in learning more about working at AIFP, visit our careers page to view our current opportunities or check us out on Facebook.