{"id":131381,"date":"2026-09-03T17:44:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T17:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omahasteaks.com\/blog\/?p=131381"},"modified":"2026-09-03T17:44:25","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T17:44:25","slug":"employee-appreciation-ideas-recognition-that-you-can-share","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omahasteaks.com\/blog\/employee-appreciation-ideas-recognition-that-you-can-share\/","title":{"rendered":"Employee Appreciation Ideas; \u201cRecognition That You Can Share\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Lucy Lantis is an entrepreneur, a Fulbright Scholar, and an organizational facilitator. Through her firm, Inward Inquiry LLC, she helps organizations and teams create people-first cultures rooted in their mission and values. This article was written in paid partnership with Omaha Steaks as part of a content collaboration exploring workplace recognition.<\/h6>\n

One question I frequently ask leaders I work with is this: \u201cHow do you recognize your people?\u201d That simple question seems to warrant a dozen different responses, mainly because recognition means something different to everyone.<\/p>\n

For some, it means a pat on the back when a benchmark is reached. For others, they think of a happy hour to celebrate a retirement. And sometimes I even hear, \u201cI don\u2019t understand the question\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s in that moment that I talk about the power of consistent gestures from a company to an employee, amid high times and low times. A gesture that says, \u201cI see you \u2026 you matter \u2026 and we care.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, when Omaha Steaks asked me to discuss best practices within the recognition space, it was a no-brainer.<\/p>\n

Many leaders think they\u2019re thriving in the recognition space, simply because a program exists (an annual award, a weekly meeting shoutout). But I question \u2026 do those recipients really feel something from that? Do they remember it? Do they go home and share it with their loved ones? There\u2019s often a gap that I see between \u201cwe recognize people\u201d and \u201cpeople feel recognized.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many recognition programs are transactional at best \u2026 there\u2019s a plaque, a random gift card, or sometimes just an announcement. I personally remember receiving a polyester laptop bag for my five-year work anniversary; the strap ripped off within six months and ended up in the trash. How memorable.<\/p>\n

Recognition should not be an afterthought; when done well, it should create a memory, full of meaning. So, when I started listening to all of the stories Omaha Steaks had about these types of moments \u2026 I knew they were doing something right.<\/p>\n

What I heard was that their gifting didn\u2019t end with the recipient; it extended into their life outside of work \u2026 and that was intentional.<\/p>\n

One story I heard was when a young HR professional received an Omaha Steaks holiday package from her employer. They had no idea that a Chateaubriand was such a beautiful, expensive piece of meat. She brought it to her family holiday gathering, and it sparked so many conversations. She was the dark horse turned \u201choliday hero\u201d for bringing the centerpiece of the meal. She chose to share that gift with her loved ones, and that\u2019s exactly the kind of gift that creates meaning. Here\u2019s another example from a recipient:<\/p>\n

“When the Omaha Steaks box arrived from one of our vendors, I expected to pop it in the freezer and forget about it. Instead, my teenage son insisted we cook the burgers that night. Then he actually helped in the kitchen \u2013 voluntarily! He even called it \u2018the best dinner of the year.\u2019 For a business gift to get a teenager off their phone and around the table? That\u2019s something special.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2014 Thomas E., Facilities Supervisor<\/em><\/p>\n

That’s the difference between a program and a practice. A program checks a box, and a practice is a consistent gesture that sees a person, creates a memorable experience, and then allows the magic to happen from there.<\/p>\n

If you’re a leader reading this, ask yourself the same question I ask every client: How do you recognize your people? What consistent practices do you have in place to show your employees you care \u2013 year-round?<\/p>\n

In working with Omaha Steaks, it\u2019s easy to see they understand this better than most. Their gifts don’t stay in the office; they travel home, they show up at the table, they become part of someone’s family story. That’s what happens when a gesture is built with intention instead of being a tick off the list.<\/p>\n

So, if you’re rethinking your recognition strategy this year, start there. Find the moments, big and small, that deserve more than a plaque or a gift card and give your people something worth carrying home.<\/p>\n

Continue Exploring Employee Recognition<\/h4>\n

Looking for more ways to recognize employees with gifts they’ll remember? Explore more employee appreciation ideas, recognition best practices, and thoughtful business gifting resources from Omaha Steaks.<\/p>\n

Employee Recognition Insights<\/a><\/p>\n

Employee Appreciation Benefits<\/a><\/p>\n

Business Gifting Resources<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.omahasteaks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/omaha-steaks-b2b-gifts.jpg” alt=”Benefits of Investing in Employee Appreciation with Custom Gift Programs” title_text=”omaha-steaks-b2b-gifts” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_cta title=”Start A Custom Gift Program Today!” button_url=”https:\/\/business.omahasteaks.com\/b2bblog” button_text=”LEARN MORE” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” use_background_color=”off” background_layout=”light” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Put our business gift experts to work for you building a safe and memorable gift for your team.<\/p>\n

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Lucy Lantis is an entrepreneur, a Fulbright Scholar, and an organizational facilitator. 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