Employee happiness has become a talking point for all sorts of businesses from chain restaurants to banks. But why should anyone care? I think the answer is simple. When employees are happy, they become more productive, and this is backed up well by research that says happy employees are 20% more productive than their counterparts.
Additionally, you really want to express gratitude toward your A-players. You can stand normal turnover among average employees. But for the rockstar employees that bring smiles to customers faces and solve complex problems on their own… It’s important to do everything in your power to keep these folks happy. Especially when it costs no money and minimal time on your end to do so.
It doesn’t even end there! Happy employees are shown to help move the needle with businesses. A key statistic shows that the stock prices of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work for” in the US increased by 14% per year from 1998 to 2005, while companies not on the list only had a 6% increase. That’s more than double the improvement.
If you’re looking for a simple way to demonstrate gratitude in a genuine way, here are some suggestions. You can send these little notes of appreciation by email, verbally, or a handwritten note.
The definition of gratitude.
Quotes about Valuable Employees
- “A reliable employee is the best gift a leader can ask for.” — Unknown
- “It’s a great relief for any leader to have a team member who manages themselves.” — Unknown
- “The ideal employee lifts others up instead of pushing them down.” — Unknown
“Organizations that remain vital show their new employees that they are needed. At the same time, they never forget the value of their long-service employees. And they always give both a second chance.” — Unknown
- “Our employees are our most valuable asset and we are dedicated to providing the safest work environment possible to ensure their health and safety.” — Marty Miller
- “Outstanding people have one thing in common: an absolute sense of mission.” — Zig Ziglar
- “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” — Pelé
“Take time to appreciate employees and they will reciprocate in a thousand ways.” — Bob Nelson
- “Without labor nothing prospers.” — Sophocles
- “Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” — Oprah Winfrey
Messages that Express Hard Work
- No one has put more blood, sweat, and tears into this company than you! Thank you for your grit and grace under pressure.
- Every single day, you show us what excellence and hard work look like. Thank you for setting such a fantastic example!
- Your determination and hard work are an inspiration to everyone on our team! Thank you for giving your all every day!
- We are fortunate to have a hard worker like you. We are extremely proud of you. Well done!
- The success of this company is a direct result of your hard work. We hope you realize how significant you are to the mission of this organization!
Related Reading: 201+ Email Recognition Messages of a Job Well Done to Copy and Use
- Your performance never ceases to surprise me. Thank you for your hard work!
- I am constantly amazed by your performance. We appreciate the hard work you put into everything you do!
- Your hard work and commitment are an inspiration to all. We are so grateful to have you with us!
- I can’t thank you enough for all of your hard work. Your willingness to go the extra mile is greatly appreciated. Bravo on a job well done!
- Thank you for being someone who keeps their word and can be relied on to complete all that is asked of them. It means so much that we can always depend on you!
- You continue to exceed expectations. Thank you for your unending hard work!
- With a staff like you, no challenge is too great, no mountain too high. Your hard work takes the company to new heights!
Message about Being a Team Player
What’s gonna work? TEAMWORK!
- Your unique perspective is extremely valuable to our team. We are so thrilled to have you with us!
- We just want to express how much we appreciate your unwavering dedication to the job. You work tirelessly for the team and the company every single day. Thank you for being an excellent employee and such a valuable asset to this organization!
- Your selflessness and dedication have not gone unnoticed! You have also inspired others on the team to do their best work. Thank you for always being a good team player.
- The team is grateful for your unwavering support and boundless enthusiasm! Your devotion pushes us all to work at our highest level.
- Every day, you come to work in good spirits and with a positive attitude, making it always a pleasure to work with you. Your optimism adds so much to our team!
Related Reading: 40+ Sample Thank You Message Emails to Send After an Interview
- With you on our team, we are confident that the future is a bright one. Thank you for your hard work and all that you do!
- We just wanted to let you know that having you on our team makes all the difference. Thanks for all that you do.
- You are the glue that holds this team together. Without you, we’d fall apart!
- Unity in a team and chemistry among team members are far more important than talent. Together our team will achieve more milestones!
- We can defeat failure when we’re united as a team. Our unity is our strength. We can definitely achieve wonderful things with teamwork!
Appreciation Messages for Colleagues
- I am extremely fortunate to have you as my colleague. You are, without a doubt, the best office colleagues in the world! Thank you for being there for me when I needed you the most.
- Starting a new project can be intimidating. Thank you for reformatting the spreadsheets for the accounting department. Your spreadsheet wizardry is second to none in the office. I am so grateful to have all of you as we face these new challenges.
- I’ve really appreciated the opportunity of being able to work closely with you over the last few months. Thank you for always lending a hand when I need help and making it such a pleasure to come to work every day. I could not have asked for a better colleague.
- Every project I work on with you is always a pleasure. Thank you for your invaluable contribution to our team and for constantly pushing me out of my comfort zone and encouraging me to become the best version of myself.
- You set such an amazing example for everyone, and we don’t know what we would do without you. We are so lucky to have you as a coworker!
- We are so proud to work with such an amazing colleague. You saved the deal in the final hour, allowing our team to exceed the monthly quota. Thank you for your invaluable contribution to our team!
- How I wish all office colleagues were as great and hardworking as you! Thank you for never letting the team down. Here’s a gift card for $20 worth of free lunch at the cafeteria.
- I am extremely grateful to have the best colleague in the world. We’ve been through it all together, and I am confident that we can achieve even more. Let’s do it!
- To my dear colleagues: I am fortunate to work in an environment with such caring employees. Thank you for being one of the most interesting people I’ve ever worked with. You’re all fantastic.
- Thank you for working two hours late yesterday. That really proves your dedication to the company. Your values and worth ethic are appreciated and noticed.
- I’m proud to be a part of an ambitious team that continues to produce excellent results. I learned far more from your wealth of experience than you will ever know. I appreciate all the good times we’ve shared. I really mean it when I say you are simply the best.
Job Well Done Quotes
Stick an appreciation note to your employee’s desk.
- “We were created for meaningful work, and one of life’s greatest pleasures is the satisfaction of a job well done.” — John C. Maxwell
- “The universe is in the habit of making beauty. There are flowers and songs, snowflakes and smiles, acts of great courage, laughter between friends, a job well done, the smell of fresh baked bread. Beauty is everywhere.” — Matthew Fox
- “It’s nice to get invited to the parties and to be able to hobnob and celebrate a job well done with your colleagues.” — Quentin Tarantino
“Hang on the walls of your mind the memory of your successes. Take counsel of your strength, not your weakness. Think of the good jobs you have done. Think of the times when you rose above your average level of performance and carried out an idea or a dream or a desire for which you had deeply longed. Hang these pictures on the walls of your mind and look at them as you travel the roadway of life.” — James Whistler
- “Even without success, creative persons find joy in a job well done. Learning for its own sake is rewarding.” — Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
- “Good, that’s a job well done,” Grishmak said cheerfully. “Am I the only one who’s hungry?” — Stuart Hill
Related Reading: 152+ Genuine Thank You Messages for Bosses You Actually Like
- “A good man likes a hard boss. I don’t mean a nagging boss or a grouchy boss. I mean a boss who insists on things being done right and on time; a boss who is watching things closely enough so that he knows a good job from a poor one. Nothing is more discouraging to a good man than a boss who is not on the job, and who does not know whether things are going well or badly.” — William Feather
- “Things have a way of being richer in the end, a product better made, for the circuitous route we take to include all the elements that are necessary for a job well done.” — David Whyte
“The joyous cries he heard over the wall were all the reward he needed for a job well done and he smiled as he heard them.” — John Allyn
- “Allan praised Herbert for a job well done and for acting the part well. Herbert blushed, while dismissing the praise, saying it wasn’t hard to play stupid when you are stupid. Allan said that he didn’t know how hard it was, because the idiots Allan had met so far in his life had all tried to do the opposite.” — Jonasson, Jonas
Although there are numerous ways of motivating your employees, appreciation messages are one of the easiest ways to make sure the staff feels valued. A small thank you note or a verbal acknowledgment from a superior can go farther than you might think.
The question is, how does an organization make its employees happy? Of course a simple thank you note can’t solve all the problems. There are all sorts of contributing factors that contribute to workplace fulfillment including compensation, benefits like wellness programs, work life balance, environment, coworkers, and more. But all of these factors are likely out of your control even as a higher-level manager.
At the end of the day, creating a better workplace doesn’t have to be complicated. You have the power draft a handwritten thank-you card or verbal acknowledgment for any employee who is deserving of these remarks.
