Are You Prepared for Employee Appreciation Day?

St. Patrick's Day isn't the only holiday on the calendar for March. Another holiday that's worth mentioning is Employee Appreciation Day.

As the name suggests, Employee Appreciation Day is an annual holiday that's intended to honor and recognize our nation's workforce. Statistics show that the average worker in the United States clocks just under 40 hours per week. Of course, some employees work even longer than the standard 40-hour workweek. Regardless, it's important for employers to recognize their employees and everything those workers bring to the table. Because without them, companies would cease to grow and expand.

But there are other reasons to recognize and appreciate employees, some of which may surprise you. According to one study, the #1 reason why workers in the U.S. quit their jobs is because they don't feel appreciated. When a worker doesn't feel appreciated, he or she may seek employment elsewhere. For the employer, this means spending additional time and resources to find a replacement for the worker.

A separate study, the Globoforce Employee Recognition Survey, found that organizations and companies with strategic recognition programs experience 28.6% lower frustration levels when compared to companies without recognition programs in place.

Furthermore, companies with recognition programs tend to have lower turnover rates. The bottom line is that every company, big and small, should have a recognition program in place. It's a simple way to tell workers thanks for everything they do on a daily basis. And with Employee Recognition Day right around the corner, there's no better time than the present to show your appreciation.

Here are some tips to recognize your workforce this upcoming Employee Appreciation Day:

• Consider implementing a recognition program into your company, such as an employee of the month program.
• Reward your employees with a party on Employee Appreciation Day.
• Personally thank your employees on Employee Appreciation Day.
• Provide employees with a reward on Employee Appreciation Day.

These are just a few ways to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day. Regardless of how you do, the bottom line is that employees should feel recognized and appreciated for everything they do. By recognizing your employees, you'll encourage them to continue working with their best foot forward -- and that's exactly what employers should be striving for.