Fatigue Cost $136B Annually in Productivity Loss (Issue #26)
Celebrating employee appreciation this week
Welcome to March
Where has the time gone? Here are some important reminders:
All Month Long - We celebrate Women’s History Month
March 7th - Employee Appreciation Day (more below)
March 17th - Good ‘ol St. Patrick’s Day
March 19th - Celebrating World Happiness Day
Want to keep up on key dates throughout the year: Free Leadership Calendar Template https://newleafcompany.my.canva.site/2025calendar
Quote of the month:
"Great things are done by
a series of small things
brought together."– Vincent Van Gogh
Reminder, employees like to feel appreciated
Duh—dont’ you? It’s always good to feel valued, to have your work celebrated, cheered and shared.
Employee Appreciation Day, observed on the first Friday in March (March 7th this year), serves as a reminder for leaders to recognize and celebrate their employees' contributions.
Effective recognition from leadership has been shown to boost morale, increase engagement, and improve retention.
Recognition impacts engagement through motivation. Workplace recognition motivates employees, providing a sense of accomplishment and making them feel valued. This leads to increased productivity and loyalty to the company.
Recognition from high-ranking leaders can leave a lasting positive impression.
Approximately 24% of employees reported that their most memorable recognition came from the CEO, highlighting the significant impact of leadership involvement in appreciation efforts. ~ vantagecircle.com
Organizations that prioritize employee recognition experience higher engagement levels, increased retention, and improved overall performance. Making appreciation an integral part of workplace culture fosters a positive environment and drives business success.
Insert cheesy high-fiving, feel-good photo here: (kidding, this is what appreciation does look like!)
So, how will you celebrate your team?
Here’s some quick tips on how you as a leader in your organization can support employee appreciation week but also recognize employees all year around.
For Employee Appreciation Day:
I do love a personalized thank you note. So a handwritten or thoughtful digital message will go a long way.
A public shout out or recognition of a win. Highlight wins in team meetings or company channels.
Small gestures like gift cards, extra time off, or team lunches show you care.
Year-Round Appreciation:
Make recognition a habit by regularly acknowledge contributions, big and small.
Get to know your people. Some employees love public praise; others prefer a private "thank you."
Tie recognition to company values and celebrate behaviors that align with company goals and culture.
Invest in personal growth. Appreciation isn’t just words—it’s giving people opportunities to develop.
And always, lead by example – When leaders consistently recognize effort, it creates a culture of appreciation.
Small, genuine moments of recognition make a huge difference in engagement and morale—so don’t wait for just one day to show it!
Wellness Corner
Quality sleep does more than make you feel rested
We’re kicking off International Sleep Week (March 9th - 15th) with some facts:
Adequate sleep is essential for maintaining optimal mental health and enhancing job performance. Research indicates that insufficient sleep can lead to cognitive impairments, emotional instability, and decreased productivity, what I also like to call ‘brain fog’.
Here’s the science:
Cognitive Function and Decision-Making: Sleep deprivation negatively affects neurons in the brain, impairing thinking and slowing physical reactions. This can lead to reduced decision-making capabilities and increased errors in the workplace. sleepfoundation.org
Emotional Well-being: Lack of sleep is associated with heightened emotional instability, contributing to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. A study found that workers sleeping less than six hours per night were more likely to experience job burnout and reduced job satisfaction. safecarebc.ca
Productivity and Performance: Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to decreased productivity and increased absenteeism. Fatigue-related productivity losses are estimated to cost businesses over $136 billion annually. bighealth.com
Do you feel rested?
If not, stick around—next week I’ll share with you tips to get better sleep.
Until next time, stay well.
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅.𝒃𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎
On a side note, I wonder if information overload is experienced differently on an internet with more AI slop and synthetic content?