What’s employee recognition?
A rewards and recognition program is crucial to improving employee engagement, making them feel valued and boosting morale. Engaged employees feel a higher sense of purpose and meaning in their work, giving them that drive to go above and beyond.
According to Indeed, appreciation and recognition are among the 14 key drivers of happiness and can directly impact employee wellness.
15 Ideas for Rewarding and Recognizing Employees
- Team lunch
- Shout-outs in meetings and Via Internal communication channels
- Public recognition
- Impromptu time off
- LinkedIn Shoutout
- Peer-to-peer appreciation
- Out-of-office meetings
- Donation in their name
- Handwritten notes
- Gift cards
- Development opportunities
- Newsletter announcements
- Foster culture of psychological safety
- Employee Anniversary program
- Pass along positive client feedback
- Team Social
Chances are you don’t see your employees much outside of the office setting. Taking your team out for lunch or having it catered to the office can boost morale. What better way to bring people together than free food?
Getting all employees in one room can be challenging with a hybrid work style. To avoid workplace isolation, consider sending vouchers or having food delivered to remote employees and bringing on-site and remote employees together on video chat. Try to keep shop talk to a minimum and use this time to get to know your team as people, not just your employees.
- Shoutouts during team meetings or via internal communication channels
Calling an employee into your office doesn’t always have to be for something negative. Call an employee to let them know you see their hard work whenever it warrants.
Recognizing employees doesn’t always have to be elaborate; a simple face-to-face “good job” can go a long way.
- Public Recognition
Public recognition can be as formal or as casual as you want. If you have a more formal rewards and recognition program, end your year with a banquet to celebrate everyone’s successes and award those employees who’ve outdone themselves. Give weekly shoutouts or send a mass email whenever an employee hits a milestone for a more casual vibe.
Publicly recognizing employees allows other staff to see what an outstanding employee looks like. Ideally, more and more of your team will model this behaviour, and soon enough, you’ll have a team of superstars.
- Impromptu Time-off
A spontaneous afternoon off or late start can be a great motivator.
Receiving an email saying, “Take a half-day and enjoy the afternoon off,” is always a pleasant surprise. This type of reward benefits employees who don’t have an off button.
- Post a Shoutout on LinkedIn
For many professionals, career development is of the utmost importance. But to advance your career, you need to prove your worth. When you want to shout out an employee, do it on their LinkedIn. A robust public recommendation will give them more credibility and strengthen their employee value proposition.
- Peer-to-peer Appreciation
In addition to their own efforts, leaders should encourage employees to recognize one another. Dedicating a physical or digital bulletin board for employees to give on-the-spot praise and recognize their colleagues. Another option is a monthly or quarterly award given to an employee voted by their co-workers. Not only is this a great way to show employee appreciation, but it will build relationships and foster belonging in your team.
- Out-of-office meetings
Sometimes, all it takes is a slight change of scenery. Hold meetings outside of the office when you want to switch things up. When the weather warms up, you can schedule meetings outside and even do walking meetings. And on those not-so-nice days, move your meeting to a local coffee shop! Getting out of the familiar environment can be a nice reset and give employees something to look forward to.
- Make a Donation in their Name
If you have an exceptionally charitable employee, reward them by donating in their name to their favourite organization.
- Handwritten Notes
Handwritten notes are a classic, easy and inexpensive way to put a smile on your employees’s faces. They’re personal, thoughtful and sincere, making them a staple. A handwritten note can stand out rather than sending an email and adding to what feels like a never-ending inbox.
- Gift Cards
Give a token of your appreciation through a gift card. You can never go wrong with monetary rewards, whether it’s $10 or $100. The beauty of gift cards is that it allows for guilt-free spending. Unlike cash, your employees won’t feel motivated to spend it on necessities, and it can only be used at its designated location.
Recognition and rewards don’t have to be complicated. No matter your budget, any employer can implement an impactful reward and recognition program.
- Development Opportunities
Besides a verbal thank you, financial incentives like raises, bonuses and promotions are among the most obvious ways to recognize your employees. Rewarding merit through financial means and development opportunities is a great way to show your staff appreciation.
- Newsletter Announcements
If you have an internal company newsletter, use it to recognize and show gratitude for specific employee achievements.
- Foster a Culture of Psychological Safety
First coined by Harvard professor Amy Edmondson, psychological safety refers to the feeling of being able to speak up, ask questions and voice concerns without fear of negative consequences. Fostering a culture of psychological safety is crucial to creating a workplace where ideas and collaboration can blossom, and each team member feels seen.
- Employee Anniversary Program
Employees who spend several years working for your company devote a significant part of their lives to the organization. Recognizing anniversary milestones demonstrates you’re aware of how long a member has been with the team and shows your appreciation for their loyalty.
- Pass Along Positive Client Feedback
When a client or customer offers positive feedback, share it with the rest of the team. Everyone likes to know their efforts are meaningful, so let your team know their contributions are recognized even beyond company walls.
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