Are you thinking of giving your employees a gift or holding a big Employee Appreciation Day party? That’s a great idea! More managers should take extra steps to show their workers that they care and appreciate their hard work.

But your efforts will only land if you know the right things to say. Many folks have trouble finding the right words, especially regarding employee recognition (some of whom you might not speak to every day).

That’s what this guide is for; read on, and we’ll break down ten of the best employee appreciation messages to send, including in personalized eGift cards.

What To Keep in Mind When Writing/Recording Employee Appreciation Messages

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Some employee appreciation messages are better than others. In many cases, what makes the difference is how thoughtful you can be when writing or recording your words of appreciation to each worker.

Here are some things to keep in mind when drafting your messages:

Mention Milestones To Make People Feel Important

Always mention important milestones or benchmarks in an employee’s professional career. For example, if an employee recently passed the anniversary of ten years at your company, why not mention it in an appreciation message?

Use Your Sense of Humor To Boost Engagement

For both employees and managers, meaningful messages can feel a tad awkward. But if you inject a little humor into your written or recorded message, you can put everyone at ease.

Humor absolutely belongs in the workplace — it decreases burnout and boosts creativity. However, workers must toe the line between laughter and liability. Use your best caution, and if you have doubts, ask your HR department.

Pronounce the Employee’s Name Perfectly

Depending on the size of your organization, you might have one or more employees you aren’t very familiar with, some of whom may have names you find difficult to pronounce. In that case, look up how to pronounce those unfamiliar names accurately.

Pronouncing an employee’s name incorrectly negates the kind intent behind the message. Asking their direct manager to help you pronounce the name properly is key to making the right kind of impact. Plus, it will help you avoid any future social awkwardness if you have a personal conversation with that employee in the future.

Go the Extra Mile — Write a Separate Message for Each Worker

Nothing says "I really appreciate you" than a manager writing or recording a separate message for each worker who they employ.

The little things count, and the effort to personalize your appreciation messages for your employees’ hard work can go a long way toward fostering more employee engagement, employee motivation, and an overall positive attitude in the workplace.

Write or record something personal and unique for every worker you want to connect with. This will help your workers recognize your brand as exceptional in its industry.

However, if you have dozens or hundreds of employees, this can get incredibly time-consuming. In that case, you can make an equal impact by branding company-wide emails with corporate logos, custom images, or even videos with Prezzee.

Highlight the Positive Impact the Recipient Has on the Company

Many workers — even high-performing, rock-star employees — fail to see how much of a positive impact they make. That’s why it’s your job to highlight their incredible work.

Speak specifically about the employee's major improvements to the company, the significant accounts they closed, or the other positive things they accomplished over the last year. In many cases, it helps employees recognize all the good they’ve done if they hear it from a manager or supervisor.

Or you can mention an employee’s work ethic, teamwork, and how they directly contributed to the company’s success. Regardless, it’ll improve their morale and self-esteem and might even lead to more outstanding work performance in the future.

Bottom line: the more specific you are when praising team members, the better.

Top Employee Appreciation Quotes
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Want to get started writing or recording the best employee appreciation messages? Below are some example employee appreciation quotes for you to try out.

Remember, feel free to tweak or adjust these messages — for example, you might make them a little more humorous depending on your audience, or you might make your message more sincere and direct to double down on your gratitude. It’s up to you!

• “You inspire the entire team and me — our company culture wouldn’t be the same without you.”
• “You don’t just do good work. You do great work and are a great employee. Keep it up, and we’ll fly high!”
• “Your outstanding performance showcases you as a role model to your coworkers and me. We couldn’t do this without you.”
• “It’s your #-year work anniversary! Just wanted to say how much we appreciate you and express gratitude for the light you bring to the workplace each and every day over your years of service. Kudos on a job routinely well done!”
• “Your presence makes every single day high-quality. Your unique perspective improves our work environment beyond measure. Thank you!”
• “(Name), you exemplify our company values and do excellent work. Thanks for your dedication and commitment.”
• “When we need innovative thinking and creative solutions, we come to you. Thanks for keeping us agile and ahead of the pack.”
• “Your candor, sense of humor, and intelligence are all vital to our business. Thanks for being a part of our team.”
• “(Name), our best day was when we decided to hire you!”
• “You go above and beyond each day, and we appreciate you for it! Thanks for your commitment to our company.”

Templates for Success: Incentives for Amazing Employees

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As you can see, you can tell your employees many things to show them that you appreciate all their hard work. Remember to tweak the above messages depending on your personality, the employees you’re speaking to, and the type of message.

For example, if you send a personalized eGift card from Prezzee, it’s a breeze to make every eGift totally personalized. Not only can you choose from over 360 brands (including REI, Nordstrom, Playstation, Chevron, DoorDash, and more), but the recipients can swap their eGift card for another if they want to. It lands in the middle of the Venn diagram between “the thought that counts” and “totally welcome gift.”

This is the best way to show genuine gratitude to the hard workers who keep your business running year after year. Sign up for free and send out eGifts today.

Sources:

If You Don’t Know How to Say Someone’s Name, Just Ask | Harvard Business Review

6 Ways to Show Your Employees You Appreciate Them -- Without Paying Them More | Entrepreneur

Using Humor To Build A High-Performing Workplace | Harvard Business Review