Every year when November rolls around, companies begin planning parties, sending employee appreciation gifts and bringing surprise perks to the office.

It’s important for every company to take the time at the end of a long year to thank its employees. The gratitude can be shown in the form of luxury gift boxes and baskets or by taking them on retreat to appreciate their sincere hard work. After all, they are the building blocks of your organization without which your institution would fail to stand strong. Employees work year-long, selflessly not just to earn money but also to contribute to your organisation and help it climb up the ladder of success.

That is why it is imperative that you, as an employer, thank them for their contributions. That said, there are many ways to do this. For instance, you can, either gift them with digital rewards, which can be sent using gift card API, or you can simply treat them to a team lunch. Even better, send them hand-written letters that express your gratitude, thankfulness, and gratefulness for them (praise them as well). Or perhaps, arrange a game of lunchtime foosball tournament and gift the participants trophies (you can buy custom trophies from 1525!) that have a few words of appreciation engraved on them. However, this is not just it; there is more on the list than these, and you can learn more about them by going through resourceful blog posts on the Internet. Remember that all you need is a kind heart to execute any idea that can help you show your appreciation!

Anyway, as you can see, there are several ways to appreciate your employers, but this time, as 2017 draws to a close, try to appreciate them differently. However, for that, you might have to ask yourself these questions:

• What will I do to show my gratitude during the rest of the year?
• Are my high performers recognized for the value they add to the company?

A company culture that encourages high performance doesn’t just happen. It requires careful planning and dedication. In order to achieve high employee engagement and participation throughout the year, occasional rewards like these tend to be necessary. Therefore, as an employer, you can fuel your team’s desire to perform by showing your gratitude all year long.

Need a Little Help Jumpstarting Your “Gratitude Plan”?

Start by asking the following questions:

• Whose work is going un-noticed or overlooked?
• What do my coworkers value? What drives them?
• How can I demonstrate their work has value?

Creating a culture of gratitude doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does need to be consistent and authentic. Check out the links below for ways to say thank you without breaking the budget.

• 11 Really Effective Ways to Show Your Gratitude
• Clever Ways to Show Employee Appreciation
• 3 Easy Ways to Show Gratitude at Work
• Ted Talk: Dan Ariely – What Makes Us Feel Good About Our Work