3 Ways to be Thankful in the Office

November is National Gratitude Month and with Thanksgiving right around the corner, employees are gearing up for a holiday break with family and friends. With all of the challenges and stresses of the past 20 months, many employees may take their jobs for granted and forget to add it to the list of things to be thankful for this year. 

Now is the perfect time for employers to bring the holiday cheer into the office and promote a thankful and positive work environment. Here are a few ways to do that:

Thank your employees

According to Bizjournal.com, more than 50% of employees would stay with their organization longer if they felt appreciated by their manager. Show you are thankful by writing personalized holiday cards to employees, make giving employees public recognition for their hard work a priority, and let them know you have noticed their efforts on a face-to-face basis.  

Reward your team 

Give your team additional time off. Depending on the amount of paid time off currently offered by the organization, many employees consider extra time off to be a highly desirable feature of employment. Offer them training opportunities to show your commitment to their personal and professional development. You can even organize a team outing to show your appreciation and build office relationships. Having close friends in the office helps with stress, promotes engagement, and makes going to the office every day something to look forward to. 

Be positive & promote the spread of gratitude among coworkers 

Acknowledge and thank an employee  when you see them offer help to a coworker who has too much on their plate. Start a “pay it forward” initiative and buy a coffee for an employee who’s having a tough day and have them return the favor to another coworker. 

Keep in mind that the upcoming holidays can be a stressful time for many when it comes to balancing personal life and work. Being positive and thankful is contagious, and especially important during this time of the year.