Gratitude at work improves how employees feel and perform. When we thank people regularly and show appreciation, it builds morale, helps improve teamwork, and benefits everyone involved, helping them feel more valued. This, in turn, can lead to better levels of productivity, mental well-being, and job satisfaction.
- ✔️ Key benefits of gratitude in the workplace
- ✔️ Practical ways to show appreciation at work
- ✔️ How to overcome common challenges
- ✔️ Tips for remote and hybrid teams
- ✔️ How gratitude links to workplace well-being
- ✔️ Real-world case study example
Recognition remains inconsistent in many workplaces. Gallup research found that fewer than one in four employees felt they received enough recognition for their work. The same research also linked strong recognition with better retention: employees who were well recognized were considerably less likely to have moved to another organization two years later.
In this blog post, we will explore the role of gratitude in the workplace and provide some practical tips that might help you build workplace positivity.
How Do Gratitude Practices Differ for In-Office vs Remote Teams?
In-office gratitude is most often expressed face-to-face, while remote and hybrid teams rely more on digital recognition, online messages, and virtual appreciation rituals.
| In-Office Gratitude | Remote/Hybrid Gratitude |
|---|---|
| Verbal recognition during meetings | Thank-you messages via chat tools (e.g., Slack, Teams) |
| Gratitude circles or appreciation rituals in person | Online shout-outs, symbolic awards, or team recognition tools |
| Recognition boards or walls of appreciation | Shared online recognition boards or intranet spaces |
| Small gestures: handwritten notes, face-to-face thanks | E-thank you cards, video messages, or virtual coffee chats |
| Team challenges, e.g., a 30-day gratitude challenge | Remote team gratitude challenges with shared updates |
What are the benefits of gratitude at work?
The benefits of gratitude at work include higher morale, stronger motivation, better teamwork, and improved mental well-being.
And the key thing is that gratitude isn’t just something we do in a coffee shop every morning when we say thank you for the cup of coffee and a piece of cake we just bought.
It is also a highly underutilized tool for positive change and employee engagement, yet so many managers fail to consider the act of gratitude as something important in its own right.
Many employees, for example, do not mind working hard and pitching in for the sake of the team, but the act of being acknowledged is essential.
So what are the key benefits of gratitude in the workplace?
1. Higher Employee Morale and Job Satisfaction
Imagine a workplace in which every achievement (both large and small) is acknowledged in some way, even if it is only with a thank you or similar show of gratitude.
Even the simplest of gestures to show recognition can often be enough to improve morale and a sense of job satisfaction.
Employees who feel their efforts are noticed and valued are far more likely to be happier in their work.
2. Improved Employee Motivation
When employees are acknowledged, they are more likely to want to work harder, and this often results in them achieving even higher-than-expected results.
In other words, when there is a sense of being valued, the sense of pride in one’s work is increased.
3. Improved Collaboration and Communication
Showing gratitude also serves as a way of uniting teams and those who need to collaborate.
When one team member, for example, shows appreciation for another team member’s contribution openly in front of the team, this inevitably breeds positivity and helps build a positive team culture.
This positive atmosphere, in turn, helps build better communication and trust.
4. Positive Impact on Mental Health and Stress
Let’s face it. Work can be a stressful place to be, and managing stress at work can sometimes be a challenge. Building a culture of gratitude at work can, though, act as a way to begin to reduce workplace stress.
When employees experience support and recognition, their mental well-being thrives, fostering a robust and resilient workforce.
How can you show gratitude and praise at work?
You can show gratitude at work through both simple daily gestures and structured practices that make employees feel valued.
Building a culture of gratitude in the workplace is a gradual journey that requires intentional change, particularly by managers, the people who often set the tone for the team they manage.
Many companies choose to build appreciation into their business plan, using peer recognition programs, formal reward systems, and feedback loops. These approaches make gratitude consistent rather than ad hoc. You can read more in our guide on Feedback Loops in the Workplace.
If you are a manager, employee, or business owner, these 10 tips to create gratitude at work might be helpful!
1. Verbal Recognition
Verbal recognition boosts morale by making employees feel noticed and respected in front of their peers.
Encourage supervisors and team members to openly and often express gratitude verbally.
It might be during team meetings or during one-on-one conversations, but the act of acknowledging a job well done creates a positive atmosphere.
Genuine compliments not only boost individual confidence but also contribute to a culture of mutual respect.
In other words, the person complimented will feel good, but as someone gives the compliment, it also begins to make you feel good through knowing that you have made someone else feel good.
If you are a manager of a team, it is up to you also to instill this need for verbal recognition and the showing of gratitude between team members.
Lead by example and consider also talking about the importance of gratitude in one of the team meetings.
2. Gratitude Circles
Gratitude circles give employees a structured way to share appreciation and strengthen team bonds.
I recommend introducing gratitude circles as part of your team-building activities, as they can be a great way to help your team understand and appreciate how to use gratitude at work.
This can be done by sharing specific instances where a colleague’s contribution made a positive difference.
3. Appreciation Rituals
Regular appreciation rituals embed gratitude into the team’s routine and encourage consistent recognition.
Consider including regular appreciation rituals in team meetings or team-building training to make learning how to practice gratitude at work easier.
You can, for example, set aside 5 minutes at the start of your monthly team meeting for gratitude and appreciation at work team sharing.
This appreciation ritual is simply a chance to allow team members to share their gratitude with their colleagues in a relaxed setting.
4. 30-Day Gratitude Challenge
A 30-day gratitude challenge helps employees form a habit of noticing and acknowledging contributions.
Ask your team to express gratitude daily to others, whether verbally or in writing (such as a thank-you email).
This challenge helps to instill showing appreciation as a habit, and it breeds positivity and a team commitment to showing greater respect and trust for colleagues.
5. Digital Appreciation Platforms
Digital appreciation tools make it easy for teams, especially remote ones, to share thanks and recognition.
There are numerous tools nowadays that offer the chance to use virtual shout-outs and badges, etc., to show appreciation for others.
If you are a manager, you might want to explore the opportunities for enabling your team to show digital appreciation.
This can be especially helpful for shy colleagues who are a bit timid about giving compliments verbally in person.
6. Leading by Example
Leaders who consistently show gratitude set the tone for a positive and appreciative workplace culture.
If you are a leader, such as a manager, supervisor, or team leader, it is important that you set the tone for creating an environment where gratitude is the norm.
If you don’t already, start by regularly expressing appreciation and gratitude for your team’s efforts and achievements.
Showing gratitude as a leader sends a strong message to your team that showing appreciation to colleagues matters.
7. Use Visuals
Visual tools like recognition boards make appreciation visible and help reinforce positive behaviors.
Consider, if you have not already, using visual tools such as a recognition board or a wall of appreciation to showcase your team’s accomplishments.
8. Seek Employee Feedback
Seeking feedback helps you understand how employees want to be appreciated and tailor gratitude practices to them.
The benefit of gathering feedback is that you can then tailor gratitude initiatives to better match your team’s preferences.
9. Offer Tangible Rewards
Tangible rewards, such as gift cards or time off, show employees that their efforts are recognized in meaningful ways.
As you can see from this list of 10 ideas, showing gratitude at work is something that can be worked on as a skill, and if you lead a team, then you need to set the tone for this to happen.
10. Celebrate Small Wins
Celebrating small wins can help employees on the team you manage feel appreciated for their efforts, not just when it comes to major achievements, but also for everyday successes.
Showing positivity and gratitude for these small wins gives you a chance to show that you have noticed and to show that these small wins do matter.
Examples include acknowledging when someone helps a colleague, solves a minor problem, or is able to remain patient during a difficult task.
You can celebrate small wins during team meetings, in group chats, or through a quick team announcement.
Remember, though, that the aim is not to make the recognition appear overly formal, but to create a workplace culture where everyday effort is seen and appreciated.
When employees know that their small contributions matter, they are more likely to feel valued, motivated, and connected to the team.
Explore our Building Trust in the Workplace Training Materials – a complete trainer’s package to help managers and teams strengthen relationships, foster openness, and build a culture of trust.
What challenges arise when practicing gratitude at work, and how can you overcome them?
The main challenges in practicing gratitude are resistance to change, inconsistency, lack of sincerity, and time pressure, but each can be addressed with simple strategies.
Another important factor is psychological safety, in that you want to build a workplace where employees feel safe to share and accept gratitude without fear of negative consequences. Our Psychological Safety Training Materials provide methods to develop this trust.
1. Resistance to Change
Some employees will resist the idea of gratitude, such as because of shyness or for fear of saying the wrong thing, even when they mean well.
Other employees might resist simply because they do not like any form of change, period.
If you are implementing a gratitude at work plan, though, focus on the long-term benefits for the team and company, and as mentioned earlier, lead by example.
2. Consistency Issues
Consistency can also be an issue.
It makes no sense, for example, to be full of compliments and positivity one week and then the next to say nothing positive and give zero gratitude.
It is important to be consistent when it comes to gratitude. You should look at gratitude as something that must be used every day.
3. Be Sincere and Genuine
Sincerity is extremely important when it comes to the power of gratitude at work, as this is also about building trust.
Do be authentic in both giving and receiving appreciation.
4. Time Limits
We all face time constraints in the workplace, but this should not stand in the way of giving gratitude. How long does it really take to say thank you to someone, for example?
Even getting into the habit, for example, of making sure that you say thank you more often can be a start!
How do you build gratitude in remote and hybrid teams?
Remote and hybrid teams can build gratitude by using digital tools, recognition activities, and structured rituals to keep appreciation visible.
So, how do we continue this push for improving gratitude to ensure we also use it for remote and hybrid teams?
1. Virtual Appreciation Tools
If you are a remote or hybrid team, the chances are that you already use a tool such as Slack or a similar tool. These tools normally have appreciation options, such as leaving a thumbs-up or a like on messages. Or simply reply with a thank you a little more often.
2. Employee Recognition (Using an Online Tool)
If you manage a team, having a regular (such as quarterly) award can easily be organized by having an online form (such as a team intranet) to submit a name and the reason why a colleague deserves recognition.
3. Gratitude Included in Virtual Meetings
Just like in in-person team meetings, why not set aside the first 3 minutes of a meeting by putting people into breakout rooms in groups of 3-5 people?
Ask everyone to use this time to show gratitude to each other.
4. Gratitude Challenges
Organize a 30-day gratitude challenge that can be done virtually and can be fun and easy to run.
How does gratitude support workplace well-being?
Gratitude supports workplace well-being by increasing happiness, reducing stress, and encouraging positive employee relationships.
Indeed, research in positive psychology shows that gratitude enhances resilience and reduces stress.
In other words, when built into company culture, gratitude contributes to burnout prevention because employees feel more valued, and this leads to greater employee engagement.
Here are some ideas for integrating gratitude practices into workplace wellness planning:
1. Support a Work-Life Balance Model
One way of showing gratitude for employee well-being is by promoting a good work/life balance, such as by:
- Encouraging staff to take breaks away (such as away from their computer)
- Discouraging excessive overtime (as a manager, lead by example where possible)
- Supporting flexible work arrangements (this means you have access to a greater pool of talented individuals)
2. Acknowledge Challenging Times
Expressing gratitude during challenging work periods, and in particular, recognizing the extra effort your team has put in, is always a great idea.
Acknowledgment in tough and difficult situations can be especially impactful and appreciated.
3. Well-being, Gratitude Themes, Challenges
Consider designing well-being challenges with gratitude themes. Use these challenges to encourage your team to get involved in activities that promote both physical and mental health while building a sense of appreciation between colleagues.
4. Peer Support Groups with Gratitude Focus
Consider creating a peer support group where your employees can share gratitude experiences, creating a supportive community.
What are real-world examples of gratitude in the workplace?
Real-world examples of gratitude in the workplace show how businesses can boost morale and performance through appreciation practices.
In many companies, gratitude is woven into the organizational culture, leading to clear improvements in employee engagement metrics such as retention rates and satisfaction scores.
Example 1: Symonds Estate Agency
Scenario
The team at Symonds Estate Agency has worked incredibly hard over the last three months because, after a lull in business, the housing market has been extremely busy for them, and the amazing staff effort has resulted in record sales for the locally based agency.
Mike Hall, the owner of the agency, wants to show his gratitude to the 8 employees for their dedication, hard work, and flexibility.
Solution
Mike decided to close the office for one morning to have a surprise staff appreciation morning.
Even though it means the agency is closed for a few hours, he feels that he must do something for the staff, so the morning commences with a team breakfast/brunch at a local eatery, where he’s booked a table. For staff who are not hungry, they have drinks, and he provides them with a gift card to choose items to take away or for future use.
Mike also provides each employee with a small gift basket and a bottle of champagne, and stands up and thanks them for the work they have done.
Result
The business has continued to flourish, and all team members still work for the business!
Example 2: PubGoal Books
Scenario
The Customer Support Team at PubGoal Books has done an amazing job, turning poor feedback ratings and a batch of customer issues into the reverse.
The book company now gets excellent reviews, and customer service issues have almost been eradicated. While the issue was with the printing company, the customer service was so good that they managed to placate long-term and new customers, and Michelle, the manager, wants to thank all staff.
Solution
Michelle decided to plan a team day in the office.
Michelle got John from another department to stand in for one day on the phones and to check customer service emails, and gave the customer service team a non-work day.
A specialist tea and coffee tasting event was organized (with food provided), and they were given the afternoon off with gift cards for a local pub/restaurant.
They were also personally thanked by Michelle during the event.
Result
The Customer Support team felt appreciated, and customer ratings have continued to be excellent.
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Explore Full Wellness Course MaterialsWhere can you find further resources on gratitude at work?
You can find further ideas on gratitude, employee well-being, stress, resilience, and positive workplace culture in our Workplace Wellness Guides.
What are common FAQs about gratitude in the workplace?
How often should employers formally recognize employees?
There is no exact timeframe because you want gratitude to be genuine and sincere. Ensure that you show gratitude to each employee on your team monthly and informally, daily or weekly.
What are affordable ways small businesses can show gratitude at work?
Gratitude can be a simple thank you or praise during a team meeting. As a small business, you can fairly easily find a reason to thank each employee, and it costs nothing.
Can gratitude practices backfire if done badly?
It can potentially backfire, but the key is to be sincere and genuine. There will always be something that each employee can be congratulated on or thanked for. Just ensure it is a genuine show of gratitude on your part.
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