by
Michelle Moore, Executive Assistant to Ellen Cooperperson, President, CPC
A pat on the back goes a long way. This is as true in business today when it comes to your employees as it has ever been in the past. With increased demands and high expectations it can be easy for employers to lose sight of the employees who help them day-to-day. Showing employees that they are appreciated for their contributions doesn’t take much and reaps great rewards in the long run.
March 4th was Employee Appreciation Day. Here at CPC we celebrated our employees because we believe everyone plays an important role in our company which deserves acknowledgment. Even in this tough economy, there are many inexpensive ways to show your appreciation. For instance, we created a CPC Graffiti Board. Each employee anonymously wrote special notes to their co-workers on the Board. Since it was anonymous, creative handwriting (like graffiti) was encouraged! This is a fun way to share positive thoughts about each other in a no pressure environment. Afterward, we displayed the accolades in our break room as a reminder of how we really do appreciate each other! Ellen also hand wrote a thank you card to each of us that was accompanied by a small gift. It truly was a day that made each of us feel very special and appreciated. Acts like this really do enhance company loyalty.
Throughout my career I have always been an employee who is morale motivated. At times I’ve been perplexed by how some employers consider a paycheck gratitude enough for employees. Well, it really isn’t. No one likes to be treated like they are just a number. It really doesn’t take much to show gratitude either if you have some creativity. It’s amazing how the words, “thank you”, “great job” or “keep up the good work” can have lasting effects on people. In my experience, employees respond to positive comments by wanting to achieve more. Thus becoming more productive and creating more profit!
In my role as an Executive Assistant, I can’t stress enough the importance of recognizing employees. I have coordinated, by committee and alone, many activities (both high and low budget) that were successful in lifting the morale and spirit of employees. At one particular Employee Appreciation Day, attended by 500+ employees, we had everyone vote on superlatives for their fellow co-workers. After tallying the votes, we awarded the highest voted individuals with special gifts and certificates acknowledging the recognition they received from their peers. The event was a great success and the event committee and I received many compliments. That’s what I call good morale coming full circle!
So a word from the ranks…take the time to acknowledge a job well done. If you are interested in creative ideas for hosting an employee morale event at your company, give CPC a call. Ask us for our checklist of inventive morale boosting ideas for your team!
Ellen Cooperperson is the CEO of 
