Low cost, easy ideas to show appreciation
 

	Write a “thank you” letter and send a copy to the Director.
	Treat an employee to lunch or coffee.
	Select one day each month as Employee Appreciation Day and provide snacks for break time.
	Buy a barrel of popcorn for the office.

	Treat the team to snacks at Ferdinands or a pizza party.
	Send a note to the family of the employee telling them how important their loved one is to the success of our department.
	Take out an “advertisement” or write an article for the Evergreen or WSU Today newsletters thanking staff for a special achievement.
	Give an office “life saver” a gift bag full of life saver candies
	Bring an employee a gourmet bag lunch when they can’t get out of the office at lunchtime.
	Send electronic thank-you cards with sound attached.
	Include team members in decision making.  Sponsor a “chips and chat” session where you provide the chips and dip and discuss an upcoming project.
	Make a banner of appreciate to hang in the workplace.
	Update area message boards to display public recognition.
	Create fun computerized certificates – “Cool Under Pressure Award”, “You Rock Award”
	Give a basket of home-baked goodies.
	Make personalized note pads with your colleague’s name on them.
	Display pictures and a short write up of a successful project.
	Leave a surprise “Kudos” candy bar on the employee’s desk/locker with short note thanking them for being a part of the team.
	Provide your team with “silly string” to let off steam during a stressful situation.
	Write “letters to the editor” for the Facilities Operations newsletter thanking staff members.
	Set up a flip chart in a common use area to record “thank you’s” – legit graffiti.
	Provide a gift certificate to wash a colleague’s car in the parking lot at lunch time.
	Give “gift certificates” for a latte or espresso.
	Bring a thank you balloon to an employee.
	Write several “thank you’s” on post-its and hide them among the work on his or her desk.
	Give a symbolic gift (decorated stapler, funny hat, Cougar trophy, candy jar) and start a tradition of passing it on to the next “super achiever”, “unsung hero”, employee who “makes your day”.