Over the last several years as a CEO, company president or business owner, you have probably cut every possible expense you can think of.  Worked long hours and slept less to keep the business going.  You have looked at and implemented every efficiency that’s appropriate to your business.  You have reworked job descriptions giving your employees more responsibilities.  You have experimented with any and all ideas to make your business better, more profitable and more viable in the marketplace in order to survive the Great Recession. 

Now it’s time to take a look at something else. Though there are signs of economic recovery beginning to filter through, the country as well as the world is still in grasp of the Recession.  You’ve been through a lot the past few years.  But your business is still standing.  You are still in business. 

As a business person who is always thinking ahead and asking “what can I do better”, it’s time to think about what you can now do for your employees to make their lives better. 

These employees are the same people that stood by you in the most difficult, most challenging hours of the past few years.  These same employees made personal sacrifices to keep everything going at your company.  Your business has survived and prospered not only because of your hard work but because of your employees’ hard work and effort.    

So take a look around your company and think about who has really been with you over the past few years.  Who are the employees that you have depended upon in these uncertain economic times?  And once you have a list written down, think about how you can say thank you to each and every employee. What can you do individually and collectively to show your appreciation and to encourage continued employee retention, motivation and team spirit at your business? 

It doesn’t have to be a big raise in salary, a big bonus or a Caribbean cruise.  It can be something small that is appropriate such as bringing donuts into work every Monday morning, a special mention of recognition at a company or department meeting, sending a personal thank you note to an employee who went above and beyond expectations, a special company dinner or picnic, movie tickets or any other number of things that your employees may like and view as favorable recognition for work well done.  Just be careful that your employees don’t view your efforts to thank them as an entitlement.

And don’t just make this a one-time occurrence. Always be looking for ways to say something positive. To acknowledge and encourage dedication to good work.  So often today in business we hear the negative side of things.  It’s refreshing when business people take a positive approach to how they run their business.  And brings its own set of rewards including an energized, creative workforce wanting the company to succeed and prosper.

Have you thanked your employees for all their hard work, support and many efforts to keep your business moving forward as the economy begins to recover from the Recession?  If so, how?  Is there anything else you can do for your employees to show your appreciation?