We hear it constantly: employee recognition is critical for engagement and retention. In a recent Top Workplaces survey, 60 percent of respondents said their organization has increased employee appreciation and recognition efforts post-pandemic.

Recognition reminds people of their value. So, let’s take a closer look at employee appreciation, what it is, and why it’s important to your employees.

Put simply, employee recognition is how a company appreciates people and their contributions. Recognition continues to be a leading driver of engagement, impacting employee connection, motivation, and pride.

Employee recognition and appreciation initiatives also are fantastic ways to reinforce company goals and values. Acknowledging and celebrating employees provides motivation for others to do the same, which is good for a business and its brand.

Top Workplaces Research Lab survey data shows that 95 percent of organizations rank employee appreciation and recognition as a top 10 priority. And it pays dividends: 63 percent of those that made it a top three priority post-pandemic indicated their employees feel more appreciated.

Creating an effective employee recognition program doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming.

Here are the most common types of recognition.

Formal recognition: This type of recognition is structured, official, well planned, and well documented throughout the organization.

Informal recognition: Informal recognition is often spontaneous, unstructured, and interpersonal. This type is all about boosting morale, without formalities.

Employee to employee recognition: Also called “peer-to-peer recognition,” this one refers to how employees appreciate and motivate their teammates.

Top-down and direct-report recognition: This recognition comes from someone in a more senior position.

Saying “thank you” more often is a simple start to spur more recognition.

Simple as it sounds, regular verbal appreciation is highly effective.

After that, it’s essential to ask employees how they prefer to be recognized. Explore different strategies to see what resonates most with your team. Once you find a strategy that works, incorporate it into team meetings, communication channels, and onboarding programs.

The Top Workplaces Research Lab recently asked Top Workplaces what they are doing to improve employee appreciation. Here’s what survey respondents shared:

• Employee wellness programs

• Individual and team awards

• Notes from executives

• Peer feedback programs

• Kudos channels on Slack or Teams

• Monthly newsletter and spotlights

• Third-party recognition

• Pep rallies

• Concert ticket raffles

• Promotions

• Family-friendly parties

Even if you already have a highly effective recognition program in place, it’s important to monitor progress. These six top tips can improve employee appreciation and recognition, no matter where you’re starting from.

1. Get leaders, managers, and peers involved

2. Be thoughtful about who – and what – your organization recognizes

3. Provide personalized forms of appreciation

4. Find ways to recognize remote employees

5. Provide various forms of recognition

6. Offer financial recognition

Bob Helbig is media partnerships director at Energage, a Philadelphia-based employee survey firm. Energage is The Denver Post’s survey partner for Top Workplaces. To nominate your company as a Top Workplace, go to denverpost. com/nominate.