We think of Valentine’s Day as a time to show appreciation for those who matter most in our lives, so why not bring that gratitude to the office? Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all about couples and romance. Instead, it provides a wonderful opportunity to show your employees that their hard-work and dedication haven’t gone unnoticed. After all, your employees are the heart of your business.

Katy Homik, the owner of Pure Barre Carlsbad said the simple act of showing gratitude can have a powerful ripple effect in both business and in the lives of those who directly and indirectly support your organization. 

“We opened our studio a little over a year ago, and my staff is what makes my business run, without them I couldn’t do what I love to do,” said Homyk. “I put myself in their shoes. If someone works really hard at something, they should be rewarded for it.”

When you think about it, your staff works hours on end to contribute to your organization’s bottom line — some even compromise sleep, time with their family or friends, and personal activities to complete their work. But is that effort being overlooked? Unfortunately, it is.

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, that’s according to a recent Gallup workplace survey. At any given company, it’s fairly common for employees to feel that their best efforts are continuously ignored.

In today’s search for talent, firms are looking for strategies to attract and retain top performers while increasing employee productivity. From offering new perks to designing flexible schedules, company efforts to optimize the workplace are as strong as ever. However, in their search for new ideas, firms could be overlooking one of the most easily executed strategies: employee recognition.

Workplace recognition motivates, provides a sense of accomplishment, and makes employees feel valued. Recognition not only boosts individual employee engagement, but it also has been found to increase productivity and loyalty to the company, leading to higher retention.

“I have five amazing teachers and a wonderful office manager. On Valentine’s Day, I give them handwritten notes, and I carve time out of my schedule to chat with them. We go for a coffee or a drink; it’s valuable time spent not talking about work,” said Homyk. “My goal is to create camaraderie between my staff. The studio is theirs as much as it is mine; our clients see that and that’s the reason they keep coming back.”

Gallup’s survey reveals the most effective form of recognition is honest, authentic, and tailored to the individual employee.

Employees were also asked to recall who gave them their most meaningful and memorable recognition. Overall, 28% of those surveyed say the most memorable recognition usually comes from a manager, followed by 24% saying a high-level leader or CEO, and 10% saying recognition came from a customer, while 9% mentioned their peers.

A simple gesture this Valentine’s Day can go a long way. Sometimes, just saying a hearty “thank you” is all your employees really need to hear. It shows you appreciate their contributions to your company’s success. Let’s not forget, “great companies, are made of great people.”