In early July, FGIA is hosting all our staff, including both Chicagoland area employees and remote workers in the U.S. and Canada, for a fun week of events at our Schaumburg, IL headquarters. While we are a relatively small company of just under 30 people, opportunities for all of us to be together in person can be hard to come by. But I know the importance of workplace recognition and ensuring our employees know they and the work they do are valuable and contribute in large part to FGIA’s success. So, we’re celebrating our efforts and achievements with some dedicated social time together.

Positive recognition can not only boost employee engagement. It has also been tied to increased productivity as well as stronger company loyalty. FGIA recently conducted an employee survey about recognition, which studies show can motivate workers and provide a sense of accomplishment. A 2024 Gallup poll mirrored what FGIA’s survey found: employee recognition does not have a one-size-fits-all solution. Successful, effective workers need to know their efforts are recognized and valued.

Here is what Gallup’s polling shows:

“When asked what types of recognition were the most memorable, respondents emphasized six methods in particular -- and money isn't the only (or the top) form of recognition:

• public recognition or acknowledgment via an award, certificate or commendation
• private recognition from a boss, peer or customer
• receiving or obtaining a high level of achievement through evaluations or reviews
• promotion or increase in scope of work or responsibility to show trust
• monetary award such as a trip, prize or pay increase
• personal satisfaction or pride in work

It is essential for leaders and managers to keep these employee recognition examples in mind when acknowledging their team members’ successes or accomplishments.”

We in our industry are all too familiar with the skilled labor shortage. Recognizing your employees is a large part of being able to retain that talent at your company. Implement some of these changes now before your workers consider leaving for one of your competitors. After all, according to Gallup's analysis, only one in three workers in the U.S. strongly agree that they received recognition or praise for doing good work in the past seven days. Plus, polling showed that employees who do not feel adequately recognized are twice as likely to say they'll quit in the next year.

At FGIA, we’ve allocated time for Staff Appreciation Week July 8-11 to thank our team for their dedication, talent and achievements. This week allows the team time to get to know one another outside of work conversations and to reward everyone for their contributions. Here’s what we have in store:

• Staff dinner at a restaurant near the office
• Tour of an Atlas Weathering Services facility
• Outing to a Kane County Cougars baseball game
• Breakfast and a fun staff activity on the last day before an early dismissal

I am grateful to the FGIA Board of Directors, whose members recognize the value of employee appreciation and acknowledgement and I would encourage you to think about how you can make this a priority in 2024.