November has always been one of my favorite months. The trees are changing colors, the air is cool, and turkey…lots of turkey.  With November comes my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving! I love spending time with family and friends, eating all different kinds of food, but most importantly the message of the holiday: thankfulness.

A popular practice during the month of November is the “30 Days of Thankfulness Challenge” using personal social media like Facebook and Twitter.  To participate, simply post something you are thankful for each day leading up to Thanksgiving.  Posts can be serious or funny.  For example, you can express thanks for the Starbucks coffee you had this morning, your family, your employees, your pet hamster, the turkey baking in the oven…the list goes on.

Following that same thought, what about your employees?  My challenge to you is to find some way to express your thankfulness for each one of them.  Let your employees know that you don’t just appreciate the work they do, but that you are genuinely thankful for them. Thankful means: “glad that something has happened or not happened, that something or someone exists, etc.”  In other words, you appreciate the hard work the employee puts into the job, and you are thankful that he/she is there, working at your company.

Employee recognition, years of service, and safety incentive programs are valuable and effective ways to improve performance, recognize career milestones, and keep your employees safe.  They also provide ways to express your thankfulness for them during special times  — “Thank you for working with us…We are glad you are here.”

If you currently have an employee recognition program, think of creative ways for employees to earn more points this month (turkey drawing contest, anyone?). Create a ‘Thank You Award’ for an employee that goes above and beyond for the month of November. Write a thank you note to each employee and be specific. Want to go all out for the ’30 Days of Thankfulness Challenge’? Give employees a way to earn points or rewards for all 30 days.

Be creative and be thankful!

If you don’t have an employee recognition, years of service, or safety incentive program, check out these best practices and contact us to find out more.

by Alison Newman

Alison provides program sponsors and administrators with relevant program data, analysis and insight at QIC. She is also involved in developing program marketing methods and materials. In addition to her account support functions, Alison is involved with QIC’s social media initiatives and external marketing efforts. Alison earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Mississippi College, where she was a member of the equestrian team.