Recognizing and appreciating your employees, teams, colleagues, and peers is an essential part of fostering a positive work environment.
Workplace recognition motivates, provides a sense of accomplishment, and makes employees feel valued for their work. Recognition not only boosts individual employee engagement but also has been found to increase productivity and loyalty to the company, leading to higher retention.
On this page, you’ll find simple ways to recognize employees from a variety of perspectives.
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Recognition Ideas From All Sides
Supervisor to Employee Appreciation
For people leaders, consider writing a personal note or email for each of your team members. Include details and be specific in how you express your appreciation. Think about what they bring to the team, what you admire about them, or which projects they’ve worked on this year that made an impact. Highlight their individual achievements. They’ll be glad you took the time to notice what they do.
Leader to Team Appreciation
Leaders can demonstrate their appreciation by listening to the experiences of their employees, offering authentic praise, or engaging in a fun group activity to contribute to team bonding. If you can, treat them to a special lunch or group activity. There are so many ways to say, “thank you!”
Peer to Peer Appreciation
If you’re not in a supervisory role, you can still show the people you work with that someone cares and notices their hard work! Take a minute to encourage your co-workers and bring a smile to their faces.
Student Employee Appreciation
Showing appreciation to student employees is just as important! Offer your authentic appreciation, ask questions about how their work or school is going, provide ongoing support for their development, and don’t forget to have fun every once in a while!
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Supervisor to Employee Appreciation
Supervisor to Employee Appreciation
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Write a personal note or email. Be specific and share what you are most grateful for in that employee.
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Shoutouts/acknowledgments in meetings
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Treat them to Blue Donkey, the Whistle Bistro, West Village, or other campus spots
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Handwritten thank you card, Share what you are most grateful for in that employee
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Microsoft Viva badges via Microsoft Teams
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Thank you note/email from a senior leader
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A flexible schedule or compressed work week – If it’s a change to the normal schedule, don’t forget to submit a new Working @Tech Arrangement
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Check-in on a project to give encouragement
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Encourage employees to take advantage of development opportunities offered at Georgia Tech
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Leader to Team Appreciation
Leader to Team Appreciation
- Meet Buzz
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Bring in donuts/bagels/etc. for the group
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Team lunch
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Decorate office space
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Team morale building events:
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Team bowling at Tech Rec
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Team outing to Paper and Clay
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Acknowledge each team member’s contribution
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Peer to Peer Appreciation
Peer to Peer Appreciation
- Consider submitting a Show Your L.O.V.E. nomination for a fellow Yellow Jacket living the values of Georgia Tech.
- Shout outs/acknowledgements in meetings
- Microsoft Viva badges via Microsoft Teams
- Write a sticky note poem!
- Roses are red, violets are blue, you took on an extra project, and impressed the VP too!
- Handwritten thank you notes
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Student Employee Appreciation
Student Employee Appreciation
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Starbucks gift card
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This incentive would be from your own personal budget. View the Institute Gift Card Policy
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- Georgia Tech merch
- Mini Care Packages
- Post about them on department social media
- Shout outs/acknowledgments at meetings
- Silly awards (e.g. ‘Best telephone voice’, ‘Pop Culture Expert’, etc.)
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Have Questions?
Contact Mattie Smyth, Recognition Program Manager, for more information about these recognition programs and ways you can express gratitude for employees throughout the calendar year.