Building a Grateful Workplace

How Gratitude Impacts Employee Well-Being and Organizational Success

Supporting efforts toward healthy employees includes evaluating policies, practices, and promotions to ensure the environment helps foster a successful wellness initiative. You might recognize this as Benchmark 6 of WELCOA’s 7 Benchmarks, “Cultivate Supportive Health Promoting Environments, Policies, and Practices.” Benchmark 6 is centered on the idea that wellness efforts are grounded in the core vision and purpose of the organization, and that the wellness culture is aligned throughout the organization to ensure consistency throughout resources, interventions, and the overall work experience. The goal is to create workplaces that support the basic human needs of autonomy, relatedness, and competence, resulting in new connections, strengthened relationships, and reinforced team collaboration.

One way to align wellness with organizational goals is by practicing gratitude in the workplace. Gratitude is a feeling or expression of appreciation for what we have, and it correlates with hope and optimism. In the workplace, gratitude can directly impact the overall organizational climate, boost individual well-being, and reduce negative emotions, stress, and anxiety. Research shows that the more experiences employees have with gratitude, the more likely they are to report increased happiness and life satisfaction, reduced stress, and fewer headaches and illnesses. Gratitude can increase employee efficiency, productivity, and loyalty. Employees who feel grateful at work are more likely to see others in a positive way, leading to improved employee engagement and enhanced team dynamics, according to research published on PubMed Central (PMC).

The Center for Creative Leadership reports that 80% of people say they would work harder for an appreciative boss. However, only 15% of people repeatedly say “thank you” at work, and 35% of people say their managers have never thanked them. It is further indicated that when gratitude is not prioritized, employee stress levels increase, motivation decreases, and employee retention rates drop. These studies suggest that practicing gratitude at the leadership level can have a profound impact throughout the entire organization.

The key to experiencing both the employee and organizational benefits of gratitude in the workplace is practicing gratitude consistently—not just once a year in November or during an employee appreciation event, but as an ongoing part of the company culture. To help make gratitude a regular part of workplace culture, consider trying these four strategies.

Say “Thank you”

Saying “thank you” is one of the easiest and most meaningful ways to show gratitude. This kind of acknowledgment not only benefits the recipient, but according to the Greater Good Science Center (GCSC), genuinely thanking a co-worker also boosts the giver’s happiness and sense of fulfillment. When giving thanks, know the audience, be specific, and make the message meaningful. For example, if a co-worker feels uncomfortable with public recognition, consider thanking them with a personalized email or handwritten card, ensuring the message clearly conveys what is appreciated.

Establish an Employee Recognition Program

An employee recognition program that offers opportunities for peer-to-peer recognition can create a designated space for gratitude within your culture. The employee recognition program can be a physical or virtual space for employees to express gratitude in the form of shout-outs, kudos, and thanks.  To strengthen the connection between wellness initiatives and organizational efforts, consider embedding company values into the program. To encourage employee participation, lead by example, highlight recognition in team meetings and internal communications, and celebrate the “wins” as an organization.

Incorporate Gratitude Into Meetings

Adding gratitude to meetings is one way leaders can model appreciation, which in turn makes employees feel more valued and motivated, as well as more likely to express gratitude themselves. Meetings offer recurring opportunities to prioritize gratitude, so it is less likely to get overlooked among competing tasks and responsibilities.

Here are some potential ideas to implement at meetings:

• Start or end meetings with opportunities for gratitude. This could include a message from the leader of the meeting, allowing 3-5 minutes for optional shouts-outs or kudos, or reviewing the employee recognition program.
• Complete a meeting recap and highlight key takeaways and learnings. This not only communicates value but also serves as an additional way to show appreciation for those involved.
• For one-on-one meetings, consider starting by celebrating a win or acknowledging a proud moment, either for the employee or for a shared project related to the meeting.

Maintain a Grateful Mindset During Challenges

Stress and workplace challenges are inevitable. However, the GCSC refers to psychologist Robert Emmons who indicates there is scientific evidence that grateful people are more resilient to stress. Gratitude helps employees maintain perspective and look beyond challenging situations. To foster a culture of gratitude, even during challenging or stressful experiences, it can be helpful to reflect on lessons learned. Asking questions such as, “What lessons did this experience teach us?” and “Can we find ways to be grateful for what happened now, even if we weren’t at the time?” can create opportunities for growth and meaning.

Gratitude does not have to be elaborate, but for it to be impactful, it does have to be intentional, genuine, and consistent. A workplace focused on gratitude can create an environment where employees feel valued, connected, and motivated to bring their best self to work.

Resources

Benchmark 6 Toolkit

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR ASHTON DEMOSS // Wellness Content & Information Specialist • IFEBP

Ashton DeMoss currently serves as a Wellness Content and Information Specialist at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, the partner organization of the Wellness Alliance. With extensive experience in the worksite wellness industry, she is passionate about promoting health and well-being in the workplace. To prioritize her personal wellness, she enjoys group exercise classes and participating in a monthly book club.