(238) Making Gratitude a Habit: Languages of Appreciation at a School of Pharmacy

Objective : Research shows that genuine appreciation in the workplace boosts retention and leads to a positive, supportive work environment. The purpose of this study was to identify the primary appreciation language of employees at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CUSSPPS).

Methods: Data was collected for quality improvement purposes. A 30-question survey developed to determine the primary language of appreciation in the workplace was sent to all full-time CUSSPPS faculty and staff (n=241). The survey was adapted from the book The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. The languages of appreciation included were: words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, and tangible gifts. Physical touch was not included as a category.

Results: The overall survey response rate was 78%. Faculty and staff responses coincided on both the primary and the least chosen languages of appreciation. The primary chosen language was words of affirmation and the least chosen was tangible gifts. These results are aligned with the literature on this subject. Staff were more likely to appreciate receiving tangible gifts (9.5%) compared to faculty (7.3%). Faculty were 9% more likely to appreciate acts of service compared to staff.

Conclusions: Each person expresses and receives appreciation differently, and understanding these preferences can help boost employee morale, engagement, and collaboration. The highest and lowest languages of appreciation for each employee will be shared with supervisors and their teams, so this information can be used to foster stronger bonds within their teams.