Employee appreciation deserves more than a day

March 5, 2021 | Alan May, Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer

Employees want to join companies with a strong purpose, where everyone’s voice is appreciated and respected

In this article

  • At HPE employee appreciation is a spirit that carries through every day of the year
  • In 2019, HPE rolled out one of the most comprehensive benefit packages, that among other things allows for six months of paid parental leave
  • HPE also invests in wellness through a “For Real Life” program that provides resources, tools, and technology to enhance whole-self wellness

Years ago, I was onboarding for one of my first leadership roles at a large, multinational food and beverage organization. As part of the new hire training, I spent time “in the field” working at several of the company’s fast-food restaurant chains. I realized quickly there was an apparent difference between the locations that had the lowest performance and highest turnover versus the more successful stores. For one, the overall “vibe” in the lower performing stores left you feeling like it was just a punch-the-clock, get-my-check “job” for the employees. While there were a lot of comparisons one could make, I realized the main, root difference was something quite simple, yet incredibly powerful: employee appreciation. 

Employee appreciation can’t be just a day. It’s a spirit, an attitude, a belief that carries through every day of the year 

In the back of every restaurant there was a dedicated space for employees to be recognized for “employee of the month” – a prized recognition and point of pride in the successful restaurants. Yet, in the failing restaurants, this space was a forgotten area, covered in dust. Even worse, the photos that hung on the wall were months—if not years—old. It was clear: the leaders in these locations might be willing to say they care about employees, but their actions didn’t reflect this commitment.

Today is employee appreciation day—a very important day to stop and thank employees. But, employee appreciation can’t be just a day. It’s a spirit, an attitude, a belief that carries through every day of the year.

At HPE, showing appreciation and putting our team members first is a part of our unshakable DNA. It started back when Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard built HP on the belief that investing in people meant investing in innovation and customers. They believed in trust, respect, and friendship. And, that’s still our approach today.

Employees spend more time at work than anywhere else. It’s no wonder we all want to join companies with a strong purpose, with similar values, where everyone’s voice is appreciated and respected. 

Today, we’ll pause and celebrate our appreciation for one another. But tomorrow, our mission won’t be complete. We’ll continue to celebrate, recognize, and invest in our team

At HPE, we want to be more than a job for our team members. We believe that everyone should feel appreciated every day. And, we’re willing to put action behind that. In 2019, we rolled out one of the most comprehensive benefit packages, that among other things allows for six months of paid parental leave. We invest in wellness through our “For Real Life” program that provides resources, tools, and technology like Headspace to enhance whole-self wellness. We prioritize the team member experience and celebrate moments that matter for our team members—from hire to retire.

Today, we’ll pause and celebrate our appreciation for one another. Team members across the world will come together for virtual celebrations, cooking classes, yoga lessons, and even dancing classes. But tomorrow, our mission won’t be complete. We’ll continue to celebrate, recognize, and invest in our team. Team member appreciation day at HPE is every day. 

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