March 1, 2024

Employee Appreciation Day

The Helens

Employee Appreciation Day – is this a thing now??

Apparently so.

Our advice is that you appreciate your employees every working day of the year, but if you’re the type of business who embraces the opportunity to eat cake and celebrate for no real reason, here are some things you could do to make your employees feel even more warm and fuzzy than they usually do:

Half a day off – additional annual leave is always a welcome perk. Just make sure you have a plan in place for your entire work force to be off at the same time.

Guest Speaker – doesn’t have to be work related, although we wouldn’t advise a comedian – the risk of offending someone is way too high.

Silent Disco – much like karaoke, the thought of it makes you want to scratch your eyes out, until you start doing it then there’ll be no stopping you or your team.

Awards – we’re not in primary school so there’s no need to give everyone one.

Lunch – arrange for lunch to be brought in – make sure you cater for every single dietary requirement. It might be easier just to give them cash to buy their own.

Quite honestly, the most effective way to make sure your employees feel appreciated isn’t by carrying out any of the above, it’s by carrying out the following:

Meet with each employee regularly (at least every 2 weeks) to discuss their workload, challenges and any assistance they may need;
Provide positive feedback as and when appropriate – this will require you having knowledge of exactly what they’re doing;
Be flexible when needed – perhaps an employee is having an unusually tricky time personally – be patient, talk to them about it and find out how the business can help;
Talk to them about any changes to the business – make them feel like they’re part of the business not just paid workers;
Ask for feedback – this is the most effective way of finding out how happy your employees really are. Make sure you act on the feedback.

Helen and I are off for our weekly catch up. In the pub. Because that’s where we feel most appreciated.

Need any HR advice? Get in touch – thehelens@complexhr.co.uk

Stay Connected

More Updates

Flexible Working Legislation April 2024 – What’s Changed

All employees now have the right to request flexible working from DAY ONE of employment, removing the 26 weeks qualifying service requirement. The amendments

April 4, 2024

Relationships at Work – do they really matter?

With the average person spending 90,000 working hours over the course of their lifetime (eek!), it’s highly likely romantic relationships will begin at work. But

February 14, 2024

New Year Resolutions for the Workplace

Thank goodness that’s over with (HM is writing this one – don’t panic – HKB is still very much bubbling over with Christmas joy). Now

January 16, 2024

Testimonials

WE Love! our clients! x

I first discovered the Helen’s through their really warm and informative socials. I was immediately attracted to their companies values and professionalism so when a complex ad hoc HR issue arose I didn’t hesitate to reach out. And I am so glad I did. Every question was answered promptly, even outside of work hours. I felt informed and supported. They were experts on the subject and I would not only use them again but highly recommend to other businesses. Thank you the Helen’s.

Jessica HampsonCEL Solicitors

Your advice, insights and laughter are a welcome addition to Skout. I think that you’re worth every penny we pay. It’s a pleasure working with you!

Claire Lamb Skout PR

The Helens have been instrumental in helping to ensure our staff at RLWC21 are treated with fairness and consistency. Their advice is timely, accurate and tailored to our business. They’re also great fun to work with.

Stephen BrownChief Operating Officer, RLWC 2021

I've now worked with ComplexHR on two different occasions. When I have needed HR support, they have been really quick to help and both times it has been so helpful. They have given me so much peace of mind that I am doing everything correctly. It's a great resource to be able to tap into as a small business.

Adam DownesPura Vida Financial

The Helens actually make HR very easy as opposed to ‘complex’. Being approachable, flexible and supportive in every way has helped our business accelerate the growth of our teams with as little disruption as possible.

Sucheet AminOwner | InCase

The ‘Two Helens’ from ComplexHR were asked to curate and deliver a session for our Board on how to handle complaints and grievances, not just from a technical perspective, but also from a people perspective, understanding how to treat everyone with dignity and respect, even though the situation could be complex and sensitive. The session delivered was engaging, informative and whilst the topic was clearly serious, we had real elements of fun in it too. Our Board agreed unanimously that the session had improved both their knowledge and skills in dealing with people issues going forward.

Chris Brindley MBEChair, Rugby League World Cup 2021