According to the CIPD, the average cost of filling a vacancy in the UK is £6,125.

Therefore, it makes sense for a business to optimise its engagement levels in order to retain a dedicated workforce. HR managers have a pivotal role to play in this area.

The most successful HR professionals know gestures are integral to employee engagement. Something as simple as a thank you is valuable if it’s given in the right way and does not feel false or forced. People feel good if they receive thanks for the work they do, as it helps them feel valued and promotes an inclusive organisation.

Other gestures that rate highly with employees

A thank you is not the only gesture that employees appreciate. They also value other simple signs of appreciation, such as being offered a hot drink when they’re completing a time-consuming task, receiving birthday good wishes, and being included in team activities.

These are just examples of basic measures that can have a positive impact on engagement in an organisation. Experienced HR managers realise that making people feel valued is not necessarily about grand gestures and financial rewards. Simply showing people they are recognised for their work and valued is significantly impactful.

The value of various appreciation measures

Proactive HR managers know that simple gestures should be part of a business’s appreciation and reward strategy. This strategy will differ between businesses and can include features such as,

• Prizes for achievements and performance
• Rewards for employees who receive ongoing positive feedback
• An appraisal system that presents opportunities for praise and constructive feedback
• Employee surveys
• Employee suggestion schemes

These features can all have a role to play in employee engagement. They help create an inclusive culture that makes people feel as though they belong and that their contribution is appreciated. However, these measures do not work as well if they are not supported by day-to-day gestures, such as a thank you for hard work or an enquiry as to how someone is getting on.

HR Managers understand the role they play in ensuring that the value of these gestures is understood and that their use is embedded in the culture of the organisation. This role involves supporting managers in understanding how best to show appreciation for their teams. This support may involve training on how to offer regular and authentic appreciation that is seen to be genuine by employees. HR managers also suggest platforms within an organisation that make gestures and recognition more regular and valuable.

Overall, engagement is an essential consideration for any business and HR Managers are pivotal in devising ways to optimise it. A simple thank you is amongst several small gestures that can produce excellent results in this area, as long as they are considered to be genuine by employees. Top HR managers know that ensuring this is the case Is a vital aspect of employee recognition and engagement processes within the organisation that help to retain talented individuals by making them feel valued.