Why is employee recognition important at work?

Employee recognition is a key driver of engagement, productivity, and retention. When employees feel seen and appreciated, they are more likely to stay, contribute at a higher level, and positively influence your culture. Data shows that employees who feel recognized are more likely to go the extra mile and remain with their current employer.

What are practical ways to give thanks to employees?

Effective ways to give thanks include a mix of public and private recognition, structured shout-outs, peer-nominated awards, small monthly rewards such as gift cards, quarterly recognition programs, and larger annual experiences. Thoughtful programs also acknowledge back-office teams and even the families who support employees working nights and weekends.

How can outsourced HR help with employee recognition?

Outsourced HR partners help companies design and implement scalable recognition programs that align with their culture, values, and budget. They provide strategy, policies, tools, and training so managers know how to recognize employees effectively. They also track adoption and outcomes, ensuring that appreciation programs support engagement, performance, and retention goals.

What does a fractional Chief People Officer do for recognition and culture?

A fractional Chief People Officer (CPO) acts as a strategic People leader, even if you do not have a full-time CPO. They translate business goals into People strategies, including how your company designs rewards, recognition, and appreciation. A fractional CPO can help you build a culture of appreciation, connect recognition with performance and values, and ensure programs are fair, inclusive, and sustainable as you scale.

How often should employees be recognized?

Recognition works best when it is frequent and consistent. Many companies aim for a mix of daily or weekly micro-recognition, monthly or quarterly programs, and larger annual rewards. The goal is to embed appreciation into everyday culture, rather than saving it only for performance reviews or year-end events.

Giving Thanks, at Work: How to Build a Culture of Appreciation That Actually Works

Nov 13

Written By Lee Bellon

Employee appreciation isn’t just a nice idea; it’s a measurable business driver. As companies close out the year, the question leaders should be asking is:

“When was the last time we truly thanked our employees in a meaningful way?”

Today’s workforce expects more than a quick “thanks” in Slack or a line in a performance review. Recognition has become a core component of retention, engagement, and organizational health, plus it plays a direct role in effective HR strategy and the strategic role of People Operations.

Why Employee Recognition Matters (and What the Data Says)

39% of employees feel underappreciated at work, and 77% say they’d work harder if they felt better recognized.
53% want more recognition from their direct manager.
63% are more likely to stay at a company if they receive regular acknowledgment.

In other words, appreciation is one of the highest-ROI HR strategies companies can implement.

For startups and growth-stage businesses, an outsourced HR partner or fractional Chief People Officer (CPO) can make a measurable impact. Outsourced HR doesn’t just manage compliance; it helps build culture, implement recognition systems, and keep your company aligned as you scale.

How to Give Thanks at Work: Practical, People-First Ideas

1. Public vs. Private Praise: Use Both Strategically

Some employees prefer low-key recognition, while others thrive when celebrated publicly. However, research consistently shows that acknowledgment in front of peers and leaders has a longer-lasting impact.

Pro tip: Recognition is more meaningful when it comes from outside someone’s immediate department. Cross-functional gratitude goes a long way.

An outsourced HR team or fractional CPO can help design a recognition program with the right mix of public and private acknowledgment — tailored to your culture.

2. Level Up Your Appreciation Program

A modern recognition program should be multifaceted, consistent, and embedded into your culture, rather than something that happens only once a year.

Consider creating structured touchpoints:

Daily: Public shout-outs, Slack highlights, micro-recognition
Monthly: Spot bonuses, gift cards, peer-to-peer nominations
Quarterly: Team awards, recognition lunches, special acknowledgments
Annually: Larger rewards such as retreats, trips, or experience-based rewards

A People Operations expert, including an outsourced Chief People Officer, can design these programs, implement tools, and ensure adoption across the org.

3. Don’t Forget the Back-Office Heroes

Finance teams, HR teams, operations, IT, and facilities (the people who keep the business running) are often the least recognized.

A well-run HR function (in-house or outsourced) ensures these employees aren’t invisible by building programs that highlight behind-the-scenes impact.

4. Thank the Families Behind the Employees

Employees who regularly work nights and weekends make a sacrifice — and so do their families.

Ways to show appreciation:

Pay for dinner and a movie
Provide childcare credits
Offer a weekend getaway
Send a thank-you package to their home

A fractional CPO can help formalize family-inclusive appreciation, making it a thoughtful part of your People strategy, not an afterthought.

5. Make Sure the Reward Fits the Person

Not everyone values the same rewards. Some employees prefer cash. Others prefer equity. Many value flexibility, time off, or personal growth opportunities above all else.

A strategic HR function will segment appreciation programs just like you would segment your customers:

What motivates the employee?
What stage of life are they in?
What reward supports both engagement and well-being?

A well-designed, outsourced HR program helps leaders match rewards to the individual, not just the company budget.

How Outsourced HR & Fractional CPOs Bring This All Together

If your company doesn’t have a full HR team or your People Ops leader is stretched thin, an outsourced partner can:

✔️ Build a scalable recognition program

✔️ Benchmark rewards & develop culture-first incentives

✔️ Train managers on effective appreciation

✔️ Implement People Ops systems for ongoing recognition

✔️ Create alignment between recognition, retention, and performance

✔️ Ensure recognition programs support fairness and transparency

An experienced outsourced Chief People Officer can transform employee appreciation from a reactive to a strategic approach, helping companies reduce turnover, improve engagement, and protect their culture as they grow.

A Simple ‘Thank You’ Goes Further Than You Think

As the year comes to a close, this is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and express genuine gratitude. Appreciation is free. Recognition is powerful. And when designed thoughtfully with the right People strategy behind it, it becomes a strategic advantage.

If your company needs support in designing or scaling a formal Appreciation & Recognition program, partnering with an outsourced HR team or a fractional CPO can help you build a culture that employees are proud to be part of.

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Lee Bellon