Employee recognition is one of those concepts that may seem easy to deride at first glance. But the right praise may be crucial for retaining great employees and maintaining a positive work environment. Also, this is not just an imaginary exercise; many studies prove the importance of recognizing your employees’ efforts from time to time.

Would you rather work with a group of happy, motivated employees? Or a bunch of sullen workers who have been spoiled by one or two exceptionally bad apples? Your employees need to maintain a positive attitude to make customers feel welcome. Chances are, they’ll have an easier time maintaining that hospitality when they feel adequately respected and rewarded.