It's as simple as saying "Thank you" to an employee.

An employee’s interactions with their manager, their manager’s manager, all the way up to the owner or Chief Executive of the company can set the expectations of the employee experience. That is, if there are any interactions with ownership or upper management at all.

Every human seeks to be acknowledged, to be seen. Couple that with sincere interest in the work being done or the outcomes of the effort, there is surely an opportunity to give thanks. In a simple verbal appreciation one finds dignity and respect.

Make the time, (schedule it!) to be consistently present throughout your enterprise, wherever the work is being done. It doesn’t have to be a significant amount of time, as the significance of your presence and appreciation will feel greater in time than it actually was.