Make sure your tech-savvy employees don’t just hear from you when the internet crashes! Oct. 3, 2014, is National Techie Day and the perfect time to show your information technology specialists how much you appreciate their hard work. A study from Bersin and Associates showed that personal recognition goes a long way toward motivating employees and keeping everyone engaged in the workplace. Plus, without your technical staff, the email system would always be crashing and the website would be a mess! Use these easy ideas to show your techies (and other workers) that they’re an integral part of your business.
Host an employee lunch
If your IT department is a reasonable size, treat the team to lunch. Take an hour and head out to a local restaurant, or take orders and have food delivered. Make sure to eat with them and keep the conversation away from work (as much as possible). Ask about their personal lives and let them know your door is always open if they have any problems. Fostering open communication will help establish a trusting relationship and keep staff happy in the workplace.
Designate special parking spots
If your office has a huge parking lot or mostly relies on street parking, give the best spots to your tech staff for a week. Post signs with each employee’s name and position. Make sure all your staff knows that those parking spaces are reserved for the week and the policy will be enforced. It’s a small gesture that will go a long way in thanking your techies!
Hand out great gadgets
You can also put together gadget baskets for your techies. Include some standard goodies like gift cards to Best Buy or Wal-Mart and the team’s favorite snacks. Spruce up the baskets with Silicone Smart Phone Wallets and Phone Holders with Screen Cleaners. Giving personalized gifts that your IT workers will use is a great way to say thanks.
Write personal notes
Handwritten thank you notes will never go out of style. Write a small note of thanks to each of your dedicated techies on a Thank You Business Greeting Card and hand deliver it to the recipient. Employees may appreciate the effort and have a little pep in their step for the rest of the day.