Employee Appreciation Day is celebrated on the first Friday of March.

The Sonic Promos office is about 10 miles from our house. On a good day, we can make the drive in less than 15 minutes.  During January's epic snowstorm, it took Seth four hours to travel those 10 miles. He was trapped in a car with (thankfully) a full tank of gas, some snacks, drinks, and a loaded iPod.

It got me thinking about different types of items that truly jump the curve on what a thoughtful gift can mean- taking gift-giving up a notch, serving multiple purposes and engaging the recipient during a highly emotional time. We spend a lot of time working with companies implementing health and safety campaigns. Investing in employees' well-being, both physical and mental, can actually save an organization thousands of dollars in lost time and wages. Having an employee's or client's back during a time of urgent need can have an immediate, positive impact, in addition to keeping that person healthy and whole.

Show your employees the appreciation they deserve today and every day.

Remember when I first wrote about office show-and-tell? At Monday's staff meeting, Seth shared a story particularly worthy of recognition.

Last week Seth received an email and attached press release from the United States Leaders and Entrepreneurs' Association announcing that he had been selected to receive the 2011 Outstanding Leadership Award. Though thoroughly honored to be recognized as our country's "up and coming leader and pioneer", Seth's intuition told him that something about this particular accolade didn't sit quite right. While musing why an unrecognizable organization with no real contact information would decide to choose him as a recipient, Seth diligently pursued the necessary steps to retrieve his award.

An embedded link took him to their designated website, where he discovered that his USLEA award and award recognition emblem (to proudly display in [his] business' print and web materials of course) was just a $149.99 payment away.

Though obviously a scam and a terrible example of marketing ethics, the Outstanding Leadership Recognition Award got me thinking about the lengths people will go for real, genuine recognition.

As a basic human need, our desire to have our efforts recognized shows up early in life. As children, we understand implicitly that a sheet of homework bearing a gold star is far more special than one without. Our need for acknowledgement develops with age, as we compete for merit scholarships, invest time, effort and money to wear varsity jackets and giddily choose the emblems on our class rings.

The funny this is most people don't like to talk about their accomplishments. No one wants to feel like they are boasting, which works out well, since no one enjoys hearing someone else boast. That's why a physical item or symbol is so meaningful; awards, plaques, pins and certificates are seen but not heard.

Think about the hundreds of miles that long-distance runners log to achieve the title of "marathoner" and the right to decorate their car bumper with a 26.2 decal. Heck, think about the car itself for that matter. For many people, a nice car symbolizes success. If you've ever done well enough to drive a Mercedes, getting in that car each day might provide the impetus to work even harder, do even better. People understand that you've accomplished something significant without you having to tell them.

Praise is good, but a totem of the success that earned that praise provides a lasting impact on the recipient. Just the promise of said item can be incredibly motivating.

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy knows what's what. The night before Sunday's Super Bowl, McCarthy had his players measured for championship rings. Some may call it intuition, all should call it smart coaching. McCarthy knew no locker room pep-talk could be as inspiring as the idea of wearing a Super Bowl championship ring for life. And man oh man did those boys sure knock it out (sorry, Steelers fans).

If you're looking for a way to motivate your employees, whether to hit monthly sales goals or to participate in a health-and-wellness program, you might consider an awards and incentive program.

Check out these unique recognition items:

 

However, I don't advise creating fake, meaningless awards like the Outstanding Leadership Recognition Award. Because as much as people love to be recognized, we all hate being patronized even more.

October and November, the months leading up to the winter holidays, are typically our busiest time at Sonic Promos.  Our corporate customers begin planning for client gifts, and our phone rings with requests for creative ideas.  Surprisingly, we receive far fewer requests for staff gifts; if remembered at all, the topic comes as an afterthought.

This begs the question… what do your employees mean to you?

It seems ironic that most business owners spend significant time, money and effort every day to impress their clients, all the while neglecting their single biggest asset- their employees.  Without a reliable staff of hard-working and talented individuals, you can bet there would be no business and certainly no clients of which to speak.

So often we forget to thank those closest to us.  A gift or bonus during the holidays offers a kind and generous gesture, but in truth your employees should remain foremost in mind all year long.  A positive and supportive work environment is critical to employee satisfaction, loyalty and retention.

The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) recently included Sonic Promos on their 2010 list of the 75 Best Places to Work in the ad specialty industry.  While we would never dare call ourselves the perfect office (hello dirty dishes, moldy mini-fridge treasures, habitual F-bombs and 80’s music), we do know a thing or two about staying happy and having fun at work.

We like to keep things light, without sacrificing productivity:

Set realistic goals and follow up with rewards.  While some contest that fear or punishment provide more motivation than reward, I prefer to side with the latter.  Earlier this spring, Sonic Promos instituted a new system for tracking sales in-house.  The staff was encouraged by the incentive of a health-and-wellness gift to participate and adopt the new system.  At the end of the contest, we were all on-board with the new procedure, bouncing on stability ball desk chairs and flexing P90X muscles.

Leave the office.  We celebrate surpassing monthly sales goals with a nice lunch out.  We find it to be a wonderful way to connect outside the office, where no one needs to be called away by a ringing phone. The flaming cheese and tequila shots are also much enjoyed.  If you have a particularly adventurous staff, you might look into an outdoor team-building activity in your local area.  Enjoy some fresh air, and return with improved team skills.

Lighten up. Work is where we go to work (duh, Lindsay?), but studies have shown that a little fun can go a long way toward increased productivity.  You don’t necessarily need to follow Google’s example and erect volleyball nets or install video game equipment, but you should do something to stir up a few giggles and smiles.  Fart machines, inappropriate YouTube videos, upbeat music, and Tic-Tac-Toe golf get the Sonic Promos seal of approval!

In the end, you will spend at least 40 hours per week with those in your office.  I promise that those 40 hours will be far more enjoyable if you can cultivate a work environment characterized by mutual appreciation, respect, and fun.  The return on your efforts will be invaluable.