There are simple ways to help motivate your employees that won’t take much of your time or money. Here are three gestures that will show your employees how much you value them.

 

Helping to make your employees feel appreciated can go a long way in improving their productivity. And sometimes all it takes is a simple gesture and a few minutes of your time. Here are three small tokens to show your employees how much you value them.

Ways to Motivate Your Employees

1) Provide Snacks

It’s fairly inexpensive to provide free snacks for your employees. And we’re not talking vending machine fare. Online grocer Peapod recently conducted a survey in which 83% of respondents stated that having fresh and healthy snack options is a huge perk in the workplace. Further, Millennials, the largest demographic in the workplace, are nearly three times more likely to appreciate in-office snacks than those over 45. After all, who doesn’t need a mid-afternoon pick-me-up to help them get through the rest of their day?

2) Provide Small Rewards

Another relatively inexpensive way to acknowledge that you appreciate your employees is by rewarding them with free company swag for a job well done. And that doesn’t mean handing out pens or notepads. Your employees will value high-quality, functional gear and apparel that they can take pride in using or wearing. Items such as coffee mugs and hoodies will likely get plenty of use by recipients, and you will be helping to build brand loyalty. Another option is to provide gift cards for supermarkets or discount stores, which always come in handy. Or even free movie passes or tickets to local attractions.

 

3) Provide Regular Breaks

This is by far the least expensive gesture, but oftentimes it’s the most valuable. It’s healthy for all of us to take some time away from the computer screen, conference room, or assembly line during the day. Whether it’s something as simple as taking a half-hour walk outside or having a designated meditation space for your employees, being able to recharge is vital to their health and productivity.