National Gratitude Month: Reward Ideas For Frontline Workers

In 2015, inspirational speaker and author Stacey Grewal started National Gratitude month out of her belief that gratitude is an essential ingredient in a fulfilling and happy life. 

Driven by her belief in the power of gratitude, Grewal urged organizations to use this opportune time to express heartfelt appreciation to the frontline workers who selflessly serve society. This includes the dedicated individuals in:

• Healthcare
• Education and childcare
• Local and national governments
• Food and goods
• Public safety
• Transportation
• Utilities, communications, and financial services
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

Grewal's vision ignited a spark of gratitude that continues to inspire countless individuals and organizations to express their deep appreciation for these essential workers all throughout November.

Explore the significance of cultivating a deep sense of gratitude during National Gratitude month and discover how it can be incorporated into your rewards and incentive strategies, positively impacting and benefiting everyone going forward.

Why does National Gratitude month matter? 

During National Gratitude month, Grewal realized the importance of acknowledging the unsung heroes who dedicate themselves to serving others. She realized that frontline workers, especially those in essential industries, deserved special recognition for their tireless efforts in the face of challenging circumstances.

Employee recognition is crucial to workers feeling appreciated and valued in the workplace. But it’s even more important for frontline workers who often work thankless jobs with excessive hours and overwhelming workloads. While your organization may provide one-off rewards for employees throughout the year, celebrating an entire National Gratitude month takes the sentiment a step further. Your employees will see the effort you have put into your gratitude celebration and know you care about their satisfaction and well-being in their challenging jobs.

National Gratitude month serves as a reminder to celebrate and honor those who make a significant impact on our communities, uplifting their spirits and motivating them to continue making a difference.

Ways to celebrate National Gratitude month

As an HR manager, you should take the time to incorporate National Gratitude month into your rewards program for frontline workers and outside of it. Implementing creative methods of showing appreciation and gratitude to workers all month long will instill a sense of value in them that they can carry into the rest of the year. 

Here are a few ideas to help you celebrate this recognition month in your workplace: 

Send heartfelt thank you's

Kick-off National Gratitude month by sincerely thanking frontline workers for the hard work they have put into your organization. While sending out a mass email to all employees would be nice, you can go a step further by writing personalized messages to each employee. Take time to recognize their achievements and show your gratitude for the specific ways they have gone above and beyond.  

Take responsibilities off their plates 

Aside from thanking your frontline workers, put that thankfulness into action by looking for ways to lighten their workloads. Offer to give them a hand with projects, make calls for them, remove unnecessary tasks from their plates, and extend deadlines as much as you can. These acts will allow employees more time to breathe during National Gratitude month. 

Give employees surprise gifts 

Surprising your frontline workers with gifts — even small ones — is another tangible reminder of your gratitude and a form of positive reinforcement. Consider sending employees e-gift cards to their favorite restaurants or stores. But be sure to pair these gifts with other rewards; employees don’t want to feel like their efforts are only worth a small gift card. 

Review employee compensation

Nothing says you appreciate employees quite like increasing their compensation. Doing so shows that they add value to the organization and that you want to give value back to them. 

Take time to review each employee’s compensation and look for room in the budget for even a small raise. Alternatively, you can give out a holiday bonus during November instead of December in recognition of National Gratitude month. 

Avoid singling out workers

There is a time and a place to single out employees for specific achievements, but National Gratitude month may not be that time. You want all your employees to feel appreciated during this month, and rewarding specific employees may take away from your efforts.

Recognize National Gratitude month with more than just words – commit to implementing new policies or programs that will really make a difference in your staff’s lives. Travel Incentives is an ideal reward to consider. Learn why!

Benefits of incorporating NGM into your rewards program

If you have a year-round employee rewards program, consider incorporating National Gratitude month into this program during November. Or, if you run employee appreciation projects, consider adding in specific projects that can supercharge your employee's morale and appreciation.

Doing so can produce the following benefits: 

• Boost satisfaction for all employees: While employee recognition programs often single out the highest-performing employees, altering your program for NGM can ensure all employees feel valued and recognized, boosting overall retention and satisfaction.

• Energize employees through the holiday season: Many frontline industries, such as retail, transportation, and healthcare, see an upswing in business during the holidays. Taking time to reward all employees during November can energize and motivate them through the busy holiday season.

• Improve employee morale: Spirits can often be low at the end of a long year for frontline workers. Incorporating National Gratitude month into your rewards program can help boost morale and reset employee attitudes. 

• Provide ongoing reminders of appreciation: Instead of recognizing employees at the end of an employee rewards program, you can provide ongoing reminders of your appreciation during National Gratitude month, strengthening the connection and ensuring employees feel valued.

In frontline and essential industries, where the tireless efforts of workers are crucial, long-term sustainability can sometimes be a challenge without ongoing support and recognition.

However, during National Gratitude month, you have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference by providing the much-needed support and motivation that will inspire these dedicated individuals to persevere in their important work. Together with Giftbit, you can show your appreciation for their unwavering commitment and make a lasting impact.

Employee recognition software and boosting your rewards program for frontline and essential workers  

Revamping your employee recognition program during National Gratitude month doesn’t need to be time-consuming. With Giftbit, you can automate employee rewards and integrate them into your existing systems and software.  

Giftbit empowers you to send automatic digital gift cards to employees, allowing them to redeem their gift card codes for a brand of their choice. By offering personalized gift cards, employees receive more value, as they can select something that truly resonates with them, rather than settling for generic Visa or Starbucks cards that may not appeal to everyone.

But that's not all an employee recognition software can do for you. In addition to automating rewards, these platforms offer a range of other benefits. They provide valuable data and insights, allowing you to track employee recognition efforts, identify trends, and measure the impact of your initiatives. Employee recognition software also enhances communication and collaboration by fostering a culture of appreciation and acknowledgment across teams and departments.