When you work hard and put in a strong effort on the job it always feels good to be recognized, and it’s pretty apparent that hearing an “at a boy” from the boss is really important to a lot of people.
A new OfficeTeam survey finds that 66% of employees say they’d probably leave their job if they didn’t feel appreciated, with 54% of senior managers admitting it’s fairly common for employees to leave a job if they don’t feel recognized by the higher ups.
But how those bosses express their recognition is a whole other story. Some execs have a strange way of showing their appreciation for employees, and workers have shared the odd ways they’ve been recognized at work. They include:
- “A loaf of bread"
- "A CD of music written and performed by a coworker"
- "A custom statuette of me"
- "Edible flowers"
- "A large carving of a polar bear"
- "An expired gift certificate"
- "A golden key to an executive bathroom that didn't exist"
- "Socks"
- "A misspelled plaque"
- "A plush toy"
- "Fresh meat from a hunting trip"
- "A foam tombstone"
- "A jacket that was too short with sleeves that were too long"
- "Grocery coupons"
- "A $0.03 raise"
Of course, some bosses know exactly what to do to make their employees feel appreciated. Some of the best forms of recognition include:
- "A handwritten thank-you card from the chief operating officer"
- "A new car"
- "Being named employee of the year"
- "An all-expenses-paid trip to Jamaica"
- "A donation to a nonprofit in my name"
- "A message sent to all employees acknowledging my work"
- "Baseball playoff tickets behind home plate"
- "A day off"
- "A fancy watch"
- "Being flown to corporate headquarters and receiving a plaque"
- "An awards show-style event"
- "A large bonus"
- "Lunch at a private club"
- "A key stakeholder sent a complimentary email to my supervisor"
- "A surprise party after completing a task"
Source: OfficeTeam