National Staffing Employee Week, held annually in September, celebrates "the contributions of the millions of individuals employed by U.S. staffing agencies each week. During this special week, staffing agencies from across the nation host special events honoring their greatest asset: their temporary and contract employees," as stated by the American Staffing Association (ASA).
According to the American Staffing Association, over the course of a year, American staffing companies hire between 13.6 and 16 million temporary and contract employees, with about three million working for American staffing agencies every week.
With so many individuals employed by staffing agencies, it is important to make sure every one of these employees feels recognized and appreciated for their contributions while servicing businesses across virtually all industries.
Humans desire to be seen, heard, and acknowledged, and recognition is a powerful way to show appreciation for others. Recognizing your employees' work and their impact on the team encourages a sense of purpose and shows them that their contributions matter.
Recognized employees are happy employees. A Reward Gateway study revealed that while 22% of senior decision-makers don't think regular recognition and thanking employees has a big effect on retention, 70% of employees believe that managers saying "Thank you" more would massively improve motivation and workplace morale. The American Psychiatric Association says that the workplace is the most common cause of stress. Showing your workforce that you see and appreciate their individual efforts helps employees feel good about what they do, and they will take those feelings home with them.
Appreciative leaders are appreciated leaders. Thanking your employees fosters an environment of trust. When employees know their efforts make a difference and are noticed by people higher up the food chain, they feel a deeper connection with leadership. According to a study by SHRM, when recognized within the last month, 86% of employees say they trust the boss, 82% say they trust senior leadership, and 91% say they are motivated to work hard for their organization and colleagues.
When employees feel recognized, they stick around. According to a recent Gallup/Workhuman study, when companies make recognition a priority, 73% of employees are less likely to feel burnt out and 56% less likely to be looking for a new job. When employees receive the level of recognition that matches their needs, they are three times as likely to feel loyal to their organization, four times as likely to feel that they belong at their organization, and five times as likely to see a path to grow within their organization. In addition to sticking around, recognition boosts employee engagement which leads to increased productivity.
With the importance of employee recognition in mind, take a look at some of the ways you can celebrate National Staffing Employee Week:
1. Plan Employee CelebrationsMake a point to celebrate your employees by planning a special event, such as a celebratory meal or appreciation lunch, sponsoring a raffle contest, or even a team-building event to bring employees and management together in a way that breaks the routine. This provides a fun opportunity for workers and managers to spend time together outside of their normal day-to-day.
2. Surprise Them with Gratitude
Even something as simple as a thank-you note can go a long way. Consider featuring a printed message of gratitude or a written personal note of praise in their paycheck envelope. Paycheck stuffers offer a simple yet personal way to express appreciation for your employees. If you use direct deposit in place of physical checks, placing the note of gratitude in their workspace is a good option, or even hand-delivering it to your employee can add an extra personal touch.
3. Offer Paid Time Off
Often, temporary workers don't get to take time away from work without sacrificing a portion of their paycheck. Offering your employees some paid time off from work, even if it's just for a day or an afternoon, is a great way to show them that their contributions to the team mean a lot.
4. Spotlight Them on Social MediaShow thanks to your employees by sharing your appreciation on social media - Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram all offer the perfect platform for employee spotlights. Highlight your top employee(s) with individualized posts featuring a picture and a quote, and maybe even a prize they earned due to their hard work! Other ideas include promoting a different well-deserving employee on each day of National Staffing Employee Week and having your employees share personal stories about their positive experiences with a staffing agency.
It is important to remember that the heart of our economy is not numbers or statistics but people. It is individual people working every day, full-time or part-time, temporary or permanent, that make businesses run and keep society moving. National Staffing Employee Week provides the perfect opportunity to show your temporary and contract employees that they are valued and appreciated.