I think the SHRM weekly email distribution list may have been hacked because that’s that only acceptable explanation for what I found in my email box this week.
The subject line of the email stared with “Employee Appreciation Day,” and that was enough to get me to open the email.
The first bullet point in the email was this:
- Recognize your staff’s contributions on Employee Appreciation Day (March 6). Customize this sample appreciation letter.
Like bad HR tips from The Office
It was like driving past a car accident. I knew I shouldn’t look, but I couldn’t help myself. Here’s what I found when I followed the link:
On behalf of all the employees of (company name), please accept my appreciation for the excellent job you and your staff have done over the past several months in (enter the project or performance the employee is being thanked for). It was an enormous undertaking but went smoothly and efficiently!
Thanks to your leadership and dedication combined with your staff’s teamwork and energy, we are now enjoying (the result of the work). You and your employees should take great pride in this accomplishment.
During the next few days I hope to personally thank each member of your team but, in the meantime, please pass along my gratitude and that of all the employees of (company name).
Sincerely yours,
(President or CEO)
Oh. My.
To get HR advice this bad, you usually have to make time to watch an old episode of The Office. Where do I even begin?
1. Let’s start with “Employee Appreciation Day” itself
One day a year of appreciating your employees is enough, right? This is the wrong message to promote if you are the largest HR association on the planet. But, intentions were probably in the right place, so I’ll let this slide.
Our research into what employees feel makes a “best place to work” reinforces that among the most important factors is feeling valued and appreciated at work. If you are going to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day at your organization, it should be a grand gesture to employees that goes above and beyond the appreciation you already show EVERY OTHER DAY of the year.
2. Nothing says “I appreciate you” like a mass, template email
It’s devoid of any true thought from an executive leader who you probably don’t know. If sending this email at your organization would be viewed as a positive step, there are much deeper issues you should be concerned about.
Instead, maybe take a look at how to show appreciation to your employees all year long.
Maybe consider coaching your executives on sharing some individualized, sincere notes of thanks to employees throughout the year. Even better, consider a way of making appreciation a part of how you do business every day.
3. It’s an insincere, inauthentic communication
This does more damage than not communicating at all.
If your employees suspect that you don’t really care about them, don’t prove them right by sending out an awful communication like this one. As a society, we have developed a pretty finely tuned BS detection system to defend against the constant stream of lies and manipulation that flow constantly towards us in the media. We will see through your half-hearted attempts to trick us into believing you really care about us.
Spend some time to understand what really matters to employees when it comes to recognition and appreciation. For many, if you want to show true appreciation, give them a cash bonus or some unexpected time off or a throw us a party. Bottom line, don’t say anything that your (leadership, HR, management) actions don’t back up.
Bad advice you should never, ever follow
So here’s the bottom line, please do NOT, under any circumstances, follow this ridiculous advice from SHRM unless you are actually trying to make your culture worse.
Happy Employee Appreciation Day!