By Joyce Cuy
In many organizations, culture is often described through values and strategy. But in everyday work, culture becomes visible in simpler ways, in how people recognize one another and build connections across teams.
This February, A-People came together through FebYOUary, a series of engagement initiatives under the #BetterUs Social Well-being pillar, designed to encourage appreciation and connection in the workplace.
Two activities in particular, RecogNICE Badges and Wear Your Love Language, created opportunities for A-People to reflect on how recognition and appreciation show up in everyday interactions at work
Making recognition part of everyday work
Research from Gallup reports that employees who feel recognized for their work are more likely to feel connected to their teams and motivated to contribute. One of the core questions in the Gallup Q12 engagement framework even asks whether employees have received recognition or praise for doing good work in the last seven days–highlighting how timely appreciation can influence engagement and workplace relationships.
Throughout the month, A-People were encouraged to send RecogNICE Badges to colleagues as a way of acknowledging contributions, collaboration, and everyday support.
While simple, these small acts of appreciation help reinforce a practice where recognition becomes part of how work happens, not just during formal programs, but in better interactions.
Understanding how we appreciate each other
Another highlight of FebYOUary was Wear Your Love Language, an activity that invited A-People to wear shirts or symbols representing how they prefer to give and receive appreciation.
What began as a lighthearted activity quickly sparked meaningful conversations across teams. Colleagues reflected on the different ways appreciation can be expressed, from encouraging words to acts of support, quality time, or simple gestures of gratitude.
For some, the conversations went even further, with a few exploring their preferences more deeply using genAI to understand better their love languages. Other conversations led to tracing how these may have been shaped by personal experiences.
These exchanges built self-awareness and helped teammates better understand one another, reinforcing that people experience appreciation in different ways.
The everyday moments that shape culture
Both initiatives highlighted an important reality about workplace culture: it is reinforced through everyday experiences.
Recognition, appreciation, and connection are not one-time initiatives but ongoing behaviors that influence how people experience their work and their teams. When team members feel seen and valued by their peers, it strengthens their sense of belonging and encourages a more supportive and collaborative environment.
Through activities like RecogNICE and Wear Your Love Language, FebYOUary created meaningful opportunities for A-People to pause, acknowledge one another, and strengthen the relationships that support everyday work.
These simple moments of recognition, understanding, and connection are where culture comes to life at AEV.