THANKS, BUT NO THANKS: Survey Reveals Strangest Forms of Workplace Recognition; Research Also Finds Two in Three Employees Would Leave Their Job If They Didn't Feel Appreciated

MENLO PARK, Calif., April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- How important is recognizing your employees? Two-thirds (66 percent) of workers surveyed by staffing firm OfficeTeam said they'd likely leave their job if they didn't feel appreciated. That's up from 51 percent who responded that way in 2012. In contrast, just over half (54 percent) of senior managers interviewed believe it's common for staff to quit due to lack of recognition.

OfficeTeam is releasing the findings in advance of Administrative Professionals Week (April 23-29, 2017) as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging the hard work of office staff in support roles.

View an infographic of the research.

When it comes to giving thanks to colleagues, is it really the thought that counts? Employees polled were asked to recount the strangest form of recognition they've received at work. Here are some of their responses:

• "A loaf of bread"
• "A CD of music written and performed by a coworker"
• "A custom statuette of me"
• "Edible flowers"
• "A large carving of a polar bear"
• "An expired gift certificate"
• "A golden key to an executive bathroom that didn't exist"
• "Socks"
• "A misspelled plaque"
• "A plush toy"
• "Fresh meat from a hunting trip"
• "A foam tombstone"
• "A jacket that was too short with sleeves that were too long"
• "Grocery coupons"
• "A $0.03 raise"

Workers were also asked to describe the best form of appreciation a boss or colleague had given them. Their responses included:

• "A handwritten thank-you card from the chief operating officer"
• "A new car"
• "Being named employee of the year"
• "An all-expenses-paid trip to Jamaica"
• "A donation to a nonprofit in my name"
• "A message sent to all employees acknowledging my work"
• "Baseball playoff tickets behind home plate"
• "A day off"
• "A fancy watch"
• "Being flown to corporate headquarters and receiving a plaque"
• "An awards show-style event"
• "A large bonus"
• "Lunch at a private club"
• "A key stakeholder sent a complimentary email to my supervisor"
• "A surprise party after completing a task"

"All professionals like to be acknowledged for their contributions, and not just once or twice a year," said Brandi Britton, a district president for OfficeTeam. "While monetary rewards are always crowd-pleasers, companies don't need to spend a lot to show appreciation to their workers. Regular praise and even tokens of gratitude can go a long way."

For ideas on giving thanks to staff during Administrative Professionals Week and year-round, download 20 Easy Recognition Tips to Help Employees Work Happy at bit.ly/2nxQ3+cK.

About the Research
The surveys of workers and senior managers were developed by OfficeTeam. They were conducted by independent research firms and include responses from more than 750 workers 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments, and 600 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees, in the United States and Canada.

About OfficeTeam
OfficeTeam, a Robert Half company, is the nation's leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. The company has 300 locations worldwide. For additional information, visit roberthalf.com/officeteam. Follow the OfficeTeam Take Note^® blog at roberthalf.com/officeteam/blog for career and management advice.

SOURCE OfficeTeam