Ask an HR Pro: How Can You Show Employees That You Care?

Employee engagement has declined since 2020, and not feeling cared about at work is a driving factor – especially among younger workers.

According to Gallup, Gen Z and younger millennial employees were 13 percentage points less likely to agree with the statement, “My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me as a person,” in 2025 (41%) compared to 2020 (54%). Older millennials were nearly the same, at 12 percentage points less likely.

What can company leaders and HR pros do to ensure employees feel cared about as people? What are the best ways to show employees you truly care about them?

Vickie Krolak, SHRM-CP, SPHR, Principal of Outsourced HR Services at iHire, gave us her tips for treating employees well and creating a positive workplace culture.

Empower Genuine Connections Between Teams & Leadership

“The Gallup statement specifically mentions ‘my supervisor,’ and that is a great place to start,” Krolak said. “Are relationships between employees and managers trusting and collaborative, or do team members feel like just another cog in the machine?”

Train your leaders on the importance of getting to know their direct reports. One-on-one meetings are the perfect venue for this, as are informal check-ins and chats.

“Meetings between leaders and their team members don’t have to be all business. Spend a few minutes during each one-on-one to talk about things like hobbies, interests, weekend plans, or recent trips. This is a great way to warm up the conversation before diving into work-related topics,” Krolak added.

The manager-employee relationship is central to a positive workplace culture with strong psychological safety, which in turn influences everything from productivity to retention.

Offer Competitive Salary, Comprehensive Benefits & Flexibility

Great benefits are key to showing employees you care at an organizational level.

“Money isn’t everything, but you should at least be competitive and keep up with market rates. Beyond salary, ensure your benefits are robust and consider offering unique perks like financial, eldercare, childcare, and other programs focused on employee well-being,” said Krolak. “Asking employees for feedback on benefits they find most valuable is important as well.”

Things like flexible schedules, flex time options, and generous PTO also demonstrate that you care about your team as people.

“Allow for as much flexibility as possible to allow employees to handle personal matters that arise,” Krolak continued. “This shows that you recognize they have lives outside of the workplace.”

Create Clear Career Paths

“Another great way to show employees you care is to design career paths for them that align with their unique skills, experience, and goals,” Krolak said.

Providing clarity in performance objectives was another key recommendation from Gallup based on their latest data.

“Treating employees well includes showing them how to succeed in their roles,” continued Krolak. “When a team member sees that you’re invested in their growth at your company, they’ll be more engaged and less likely to quiet quit – or actually quit for that matter.”

Make Recognition Meaningful

Wondering how to show appreciation to employees in a way that will have lasting impact? Be timely, specific, and frequent.

“When an employee goes above and beyond, recognize them as soon as possible and be detailed about their positive impact. Deliver your appreciation in a way that aligns with their preferences as well, whether that be privately in your next one-on-one or during the next team meeting,” Krolak advised.

For example, instead of saying, “Thanks for leading that meeting,” you could say,

“Thanks for stepping in last minute to lead that meeting with ACME. They are a big client of ours, and after your presentation, they decided to renew their contract. We’re going to reach our revenue goals this quarter, and you’re a huge part of that accomplishment.”

“Frequent recognition and appreciation boost individual morale and create a positive workplace culture for the whole team,” Krolak concluded.

Showing Employees You Care

Treating employees well should be non-negotiable for any organization that wants to succeed, and that requires knowing how to show employees you genuinely care. Follow Krolak’s advice and you’ll foster a workplace where your people truly feel like its greatest asset!

Looking for more tips on increasing employee engagement and satisfaction? Explore our Resource Center or connect with our HR pros to get personalized guidance for your workplace.