Hearts and flowers? A waste of hours.
If that’s your opinion about celebrating Valentine’s Day in the workplace, you might want to wipe that surly scowl off your face and try to see the upside of the occasion.
Look, nobody’s saying you have to shower your employees with roses or chocolates — those kinds of gifts are primarily just for romantic couples. Nor is it necessary to give each worker a syrupy, sappy greeting card with a love poem from the 1800s printed inside. But with the much-heralded holiday quickly approaching, it’s a great opportunity to show your employees some love — or at least some serious like — for what they do.
“Why not use Valentine’s Day to recognize your team in a fun and appropriate way?” wrote Bonusly, a human resources consultancy dedicated to improving workplaces’ company culture. “By making your team feel appreciated, you can increase engagement. Research shows that engaged employees are more productive and less likely to seek out a new job.”
Bonusly listed five things that celebrating Valentine’s Day can do for your team:
Improve camaraderie
Boosting team morale and making employees feel more engaged aren’t such bad things, are they?
Promote appreciation
Employees feel more motivated when they know they’re appreciated.
Increase positivity
“Simple team activities, like decorating cookies and playing bingo, can decrease stress levels, encourage creativity and, most importantly, increase positivity in the workplace,” Bonusly wrote.
Encourage a caring environment
“By celebrating Valentine’s Day in an inclusive way, teams can foster a caring environment, where individuals feel psychologically safe,” the consultancy points out.
Brighten the mood
The workplace doesn’t have to be a torture chamber, so lighten up — and allow your employees to lighten up, too.
Read more BedTimes features.
