Employee Recognition Programs
4 Important benefits of employee recognition programs
Employee recognition programs are an invaluable way to boost morale and motivation in any work environment. Employees appreciate being noticed for a job well done. When recognition programs are not in place, productivity can suffer.
Benefits of recognizing and showing appreciation to staff include:
- Boosting motivation and dedication of the employees causes a chain reaction in the company. For instance, if an employee is recognized for their efforts on a project, other employees are more likely to work harder because they see that the company appreciates its employees and notices what is done.
- Increased employee satisfaction and less turn over for the company reinforces an employee's focus and sense of gratitude for hard work.
By having incentives for employees you are not "bribing" staff to do their work but rather providing a reward of some kind for going the distance on a particular project. Unfortunately, many companies do not use employee recognition programs because they do not understand the benefits it can offer and the impact it has on the overall production as a company.
Getting Creative to Motivate Employees
It is important to be creative when it comes to employee recognition. It does not take a lot of money for you to simply recognize an employee who has done a good job or who has shown leadership skills.
Below are some simple, cost effective ways to recognize staff.
- Hold a company or department meeting where employees are recognized with a card, certificate or even cake.
- Place a note on your employee's office door or computer screen stating your appreciation for the work they are doing and that you are thankful they are part of the team. Be specific in your praise and make it sincere.
- Reward the employee with a two-hour lunch break.
- Mention the employee's name in your company newsletter.
Why Employee Recognition Programs Work
It is a known fact that employee recognition raises morale and helps those who were awarded or recognized to continue working hard. It also inspires others around them to work harder as they see that the company does notice and that hard work is appreciated.
Recognizing employees even when you have to do so with less expensive awards is vital to show that you, as an employer truly care about your staff. It is human nature that a pat on the back or a kind and warm "thank you" is sometimes all it takes to keep your best employees motivated and to increase morale.
Read more on recognising and rewarding employees in the following articles:
- Award presentation speech
- Employee recognition letters
- Thank you note examples
- Suggestion box ideas
- Creative employee recognition programs
Funny employee awards
Employee of the month programs
National Hug Day
The Benefits of National Hug Day to Workplace Relations
National hug day, presidents day holiday, happy bosses day, celebrate labor day, bubble wrap day - these are just some of the special days celebrated in the workplace. Click on these links for more on special days such as memorial day and for strange unique gifts and giveaways.
National hug day... Looking to spread the joy of a good therapeutic hug? Though we don't often think of the office as an appropriate place for physical contact, hugging is a great way of providing support and encouragement. When done correctly, hugging can be beneficial to office moral, increasing employee confidence and creating a positive work environment. National Hug Day is the perfect time of the year to introduce hugging into an office. The annual event is celebrated every January 21 in the United States, Germany, Russia, Canada, China, Australia and other parts of the world.
The point of National Hug Day is to encourage non-sexual physical contact.
Getting everyone to step outside of their shells and spread some warmth and concern for their fellow man. In more formal workplaces, hugging may not be acceptable but the purpose of the holiday can still be shared. Memorabilia items that celebrate the holiday such as pins can be given out for staff to wear to turn the work day into a casual dress day. The event is also a chance to celebrate employee achievements, so throw an employee appreciation event for the staff and their families.
Get the point across that employee dedication is valuable eg on National Hug Day.
Here are some pamper and employee appreciation ideas to do just this:
- Give everyone a custom shirt or other item featuring the company logo and some form of hugging.
- Pen & pencil set in a hard plastic case, wrapped with a “wall graphic” with wording:
“The writing is on the wall” You are one of the great CONTRIBUTORS to our success
Printing on case.
- Brushstrokes computer brush, memo clip and pen stand (excludes pen) - in white with message. “Our company cleans up when it comes to great staff” - Thanks for your contribution
- Wooden yo-yo with message …”Some days you're up and some days you're down…..but you always carry a smile with you….Thank you”.
- A small pack of cards in a box with motivational messages.
- Have a bit of fun in the sun. It's time for you to relax and take a bit of time out.
- Sunglass holders for car visor.
- Happy Holidays card with scan radio for music to your ears.
- Stress ball, a chamomile tea bag, a brown paper bag for hyperventilation…..a tongue in cheek humorous approach to the new year
- Brainteaser game…
To be sure of winning…invent your own game and (never tell any other player the rules).
- A memo clip with a message: “Whoever I am and whatever I'm doing, some kind of excellence is within my reach”.
- Red candle with message for National Hug Day:
“Whatever you are doing…..Love yourself for doing it” Thaddeus Goals
- Push type ball point pen with carabineer.
- Small notelets or notebook containing company logo and motivational message on the front, wrapped in cellophane with tag.
- Thumbs up flexible steel rule (tape measure) with keyring.
- Small box & message to present gift with message “We've measured you're performance and discovered that you really measure up….Well done, keep it up”
Mini pencil with wooden head ( a cat smiling) with a message like “You're the cats whiskers” OR
“We think you're just purrrrrfect”
- Lip ice in a box with a message…” a little something to pamper the lips that smile all year round”, on lip shaped card.
- A key ring with a LED light. “You shine a little light in our lives”.
- A sachet of relaxing foam bath with a message “Take a little time out later…..have a bubble bath and take a deep breath….the year's nearly over”. Happy Holidays.
- A wallet size laminated calendar with holidays highlighted.
- A mini front desk survival kit with a small packet of tissues, an eye drop ampoule, a peppermint and a small bottle of mineral water with clever wording and packaging.
- A stress ball, “Sometimes a little squeeze helps the stress levels”.
A pack of tea (10 teabags) …….”Sit back and have a cuppa on us”
- A miniature love palm on National Hug Day.
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