Investing can mean many things, including money, benefits, vacation time, hours of work, appreciation events, or even training and career advancement. Everyone has different expectations. So, how do we show appreciation to the staff without breaking the bank or losing interest? I’m here to share some ideas that have worked well for me! 

Showing Appreciation One Slice at a Time

I know we all see the jokes on social media about pizza parties and how “lame” they are, but sometimes something small like that can really make a difference within a workplace. In fact, a productivity experiment led by behavioral economist Dan Ariely found that pizza was a very positive motivator for increased productivity. It brings everyone together! 

If you already have those pizza parties every once in a blue moon, try to change it up. Ask your employees if there’s something else they would like to eat or possibly do as a team-building activity.  A day of hands-on training paired with a free lunch could really encourage a positive learning space and give your employees a much-needed break from the field. 

Respect and Praise Go a Long Way

On to my next point: Ensuring field staff are welcomed and invited to these spaces is very important. It’s a considerable sting when the people putting in physical work out in the field are disregarded while those in the office have their own special events being shared across social media. Including out-of-office staff helps highlight their place in the company and lets them know they are appreciated.

Another thing that costs nothing is giving thanks to someone who has put in extra time and effort.  This can be done by implementing programs like Employee of the Month. Giving credit to hard-working employees' actions and wins can motivate them. This can cause a ripple effect and create drive and motivation for others around them! 

Growth and Empowerment are GOOD Things

The last thing that business leaders and managers in the drilling industry can do to improve morale and show investment in their teams is to allow them the opportunity to grow in their careers. Don’t keep them in a box that you see fit — allow your employees to try and learn new things. Let them attempt to train others in something they have mastered. Let them run a safety meeting, have them help with a presentation, and allow them to give feedback to managers. Have them get involved! 

These people see and live your operation daily; their feedback and input could not only assist the company, but they might appreciate that they were able to help make a change and stay on your team for the long haul.  

Obviously, there is no way to please every person, but setting a standard of what kind of support the company can provide will help attract and retain employees long-term. It doesn’t always need to involve a raise!  Every workplace is different, but whether it’s a big or small gesture, we can always do something to ensure that our staff are consistently appreciated while they keep operations running.