Even in challenging financial times, employee motivation doesn’t have to take a backseat. In the recent economic downturn, hundreds of employers faced difficulties in budget cuts, layoffs, outsourcing and much more. While employee recruitment and retention strategies have become difficult for HR professionals, many are beginning to find the benefits of the low-cost employee motivation tools and resources that are available.

Monetary rewards are not the only successful method of improving employee motivation. According to research by Bob Nelson. Ph.D., author of 1001 ways to reward employees, one of the main ways to enrich employee loyalty is through effective team building and public recognition. The following article offers top 10 ideas for motivating employees in the workplace.

Ideas for employee motivation

Organized from free to low-cost activities, the following list offers 10 creative ideas for motivating employees in your office.

1. Just say thanks. Praise can come in many forms, but the simplest method of all is to express it verbally. Be sincere and genuine when saying thank you during a moment of exemplary employee performance. Sometimes people get overlooked when the company or department is praised for an achievement. Find an opportunity to highlight people for their great work.

2. Put in more personal face-to-face time. On a day-to-day basis, managers and HR professionals in the organization can motivate employees by becoming more mobile around the office. Take the time to greet employees in the morning and get a better idea of ​​the conversation going on in the office. When you can’t greet employees in person, you should also use other communications (company emails, newsletters, focus groups, surveys, and bulletin boards).

3. Write personal notes by hand. Adding your personal touch communicates that you take the time to connect with a person and that you put thought and sincerity into the gesture. When an employee receives a raise, is praised for an achievement, or has a one-year anniversary with the company, take the time to write a personal note.

4. Fosters team spirit and competition. A great way to motivate employees would be to create a feeling of team pride and belonging to a group. You can start a friendly competition with a small prize awarded at the end of the day, or encourage teams to create their own banner, slogan, and name.

5. Schedule brainstorming sessions. A popular team-building exercise, the effective use of brainstorming sessions allows employees to feel more powerful and valuable in their roles. Host a small or large group brainstorming session to get new marketing ideas or foster a spirit of collaboration across teams.

6. Schedule routine feedback opportunities. Performance reviews are typically the only time of year that employees get a chance to say what they enjoy (or don’t enjoy) about the job. Try to schedule more frequent sessions, either one-on-one or in small groups, to get feedback from employees. This would also be a beneficial time to ask employees about the type of low-cost rewards and work incentives they would like to see in the future.

7. Offer teleworking as a work option. Not only does this serve as a great benefit for employees, but allowing telecommuting also equates to savings on electricity and other overhead costs in the office. Offering a little flexibility and independence to the employee will go a long way. Telecommuting is an effective benefit in the workplace, while it is a non-verbal way of expressing trust between employer and employee.

8. Bring the fun to the workplace. There are thousands of fun and inexpensive (or free) ideas that make being at work more enjoyable. Does your company currently host an annual picnic, luncheon, or holiday party? Perhaps this is the time to consider those activities. You could spend very little by hosting a company potluck, where everyone signs up to bring their favorite dish. Plus, you can start a Bring Your Pet to Work Day to bring a sense of fun to the office.

9. Host a free breakfast/brunch. Food is a common reason for people to come together, both in their personal lives and at work. Encourage the spirit of conversation by hosting a free breakfast or lunch every month, or even just during commonly celebrated holidays like New Years and Independence Day. You can stretch your money by bringing in donuts or cakes instead of catering.

10. Host an annual company retreat. The opportunity to host a company retreat can be cost-effective if held locally, for example, in a hotel conference space or other meeting venue. Sometimes simply hosting an off-site staff event can be effective in motivating employees and building a positive team. An employee retreat is often the one time of the year to gather new ideas and get a sense of potential new opportunities for growth.

As you’ll see, there are endless ways managers can motivate employees and build loyalty all year long, and without spending a significant amount of money. Most of the best ideas are free, and the important value they all share is a focus on personal interaction and public recognition.