The Power of Gratitude at Work: Making Employees Feel Truly Valued

Employee appreciation is easy to talk about, but are organizations actually making employees feel appreciated?

At the 2026 Benefits Beat, one of St. Louis’ leading benefits events, author and speaker Chris Schembra, known as the Gratitude Guru, challenged HR professionals and business leaders to think differently about how they show gratitude. His message went beyond simply saying “thank you.” He explained that gratitude is about building meaningful connections, understanding what makes people feel valued, and making appreciation part of the everyday employee experience.

For HR professionals and company leaders especially, that's an important distinction. The way organizations support their people isn't just about what benefits they offer; it's also about how employees feel about the people and culture behind them.

Connection Is at the Heart of a Strong Workplace

In his keynote, Chris shared a Cornell University study involving firefighters that illustrated the importance of connection, shared experiences, and gratitude. It's a reminder that people don't just show up to work to complete a job. The study showed what most of us want to feel like they're part of something, and that the people around them genuinely care.

For HR teams, this is an opportunity to look beyond traditional engagement initiatives. Are employees building meaningful relationships with their coworkers? Do they feel connected to their teams? Do they know their contributions matter?

These things influence the employee experience just as much as the programs and benefits an organization puts in place.

Gratitude Should Be More Than a Click of a Button

We live in a world where showing gratitude can be as simple as clicking a button, sending a quick message, or reacting to a post. But Chris challenged that convenience, pointing out that the same disconnect can carry over into how we show appreciation at work.

His advice? Show gratitude inconveniently.

That means taking the time to express appreciation in a meaningful way—and, just as importantly, showing it in a way the other person actually wants to receive it.

This is where HR professionals and leaders have an opportunity to make a real difference. Not every employee feels appreciated in the same way. Some may value public recognition, while others prefer a personal conversation, a thoughtful note, or simply knowing their manager took the time to listen.

The key is understanding your employees.

Rather than assuming one recognition program or appreciation initiative works for everyone, organizations can ask employees what makes them feel valued. Managers can make a point to learn how their team members prefer to receive recognition. HR can use employee feedback to shape engagement and recognition efforts that feel genuine instead of routine.

Whether your organization is large or small, there are many ways to prioritize recognizing and showing gratitude for your employees in the ways they want to receive it. It just takes a little “inconvenience” to get started.

Making Gratitude Part of the Employee Experience

Employee benefits are one important way organizations show they care about their people. But a strong employee experience is built through more than a benefits package. It's shaped by everyday interactions, meaningful support, and a culture where people feel recognized and appreciated.

Chris's message is a good reminder that gratitude takes intention. Sometimes the most meaningful way to show someone they matter is to take a little extra time and make the effort personal.

Because it’s not just about showing employees appreciation… it's about making sure they actually feel it!