How can you make employees feel valued at work?

Lack of support from managers is big contributor to employee burnout, finds report

How can you make employees feel valued at work?

Just how important is employee recognition to workers? Very, according to a recent report.

Recognizing workers’ accomplishments (36%) is the top thing that managers do that make workers feel valued and supported, according to a recent report from Robert Half.

This far surpasses other items on the list, including listening to and valuing workers’ ideas (26%), encouraging their development (23%) and respecting their time off (16%), based on the survey of over 290 respondents on LinkedIn conducted just ahead of the International Boss’s Day, which will be marked on Oct. 16.

“Recognition is a powerful feedback tool. When employees feel valued, they’re more engaged, motivated, and likely to go the extra mile for their company,” says Quantum Workplace. “Organizations with formal employee recognition programs have 31% less voluntary turnover than organizations that don't have any program at all. And they're 12x more likely to have strong business outcomes.”

A previous report detailed the power of a “Thank you” and how that’s affecting employee wellbeing.

Boss’s Day is an annual observance that “provides an opportunity to appreciate and show gratitude to employers, supervisors and bosses for their leadership, support, and guidance in the workplace,” says Awareness Days.

“This day acknowledges the role of bosses in fostering a positive work environment and motivating their teams. Boss’s Day is a time for employees to express their thanks and recognition for the contributions of their superiors.”

Managers need to step up

However, it seems managers have some improving to do when it comes to their relationship with their people, according to another Robert Half survey of 1,148 professionals.

Over two in five (41%) of workers are currently looking for a new job, and 15% among them cite being unhappy with their boss as the main reason for their search.

Also, of the 36% of workers who are experiencing burnout, 29% say a lack of communication and support from their manager is the biggest contributor. And nearly a quarter (23%) say their manager has taken no steps to help alleviate burnout.

Women are more likely to quit because of burnout, according to a previous report.

Recognizing workers’ efforts is a key solution to these problems, according to Quantum Workplace.

“Employee appreciation is a fundamental human need. When employees feel appreciated and recognized for their individual contributions, they will be more connected to their work, their team, and your organization as a whole.”

They also shared the following tips for creating a successful employee recognition program:

  1. Be detailed and specific.
  2. Be prompt.
  3. Recognize employees who demonstrate behaviour that aligns with your company values.
  4. Make sure the recognition of employees is known company-wide.
  5. Recognize both big and small accomplishments.

Here’s how many times you should recognize people in a year.