Every employee wants to be recognized in a different way for each individual. If your team is increasingly diverse from various backgrounds, then you need to create the right recognition by forming an employee recognition program for a tailored and specific approach to each employee. You may be confused about how to set up a new recognition program at your organization, or planning to fix an existing one. We will help you in this article starting from why employee recognition programs are important, what makes your program great, and what effect it will have on employees later.
What are employee recognition programs?
Employee recognition is a way to acknowledge employee's hard work and accomplishments, either individually or with a team. Each employee recognition program will help leaders in recognizing the potential of each individual in their team, peers to recognize coworkers, or cross-team recognition. There are many activities to choose from, ranging from monetary to non-monetary, with the goal of boosting workers' morale, increasing employee retention, and creating a bond between workers and the company.
Do employee recognition program important?
Yes, every employee recognition programs are essential and matters. When recognition efforts from the company are genuine, it will strengthen the bond between employees and the organization. Every program is expected to align employee's goals with the company's vision, mission, values, and strategy. Some of the things below are the benefits after you run a staff recognition program:
- Increase employee retention
Employees who understand that their work results are noticed by the company will stay in the team and will not leave the organization. But if they are never heard or noticed, then they will not be motivated to perform and it is easy to find another place to work.
- Drive employee engagement
Employees who can chat and discuss a lot with their managers will stay high levels in engagement and continue to increase overtime. Employee engagement is very much needed in every team because this is a way for them to be heard and always feel like they are part of the team.
- A sense of belonging
Positive culture in the company will make employees always seen and build a sense of belonging. Employees who feel comfortable with their team will always back each other up when there is a work problem, feeling that their team is another family that needs to be supported.
- High performance employees
Employees will always feel motivated after they have a lot of engagement with their team and leaders, wanting to stay and contribute. It's essential if you have top talent, because the more talented people in your team, the more your business will grow in the future.
- Happier employees
The happy feeling of an employee will bring good things to the company. They will not hesitate to bring out their best potential, work with the team for one vision, and try their best to achieve any milestones together.
How to design an employee recognition program?
Now that you know the many benefits of staff recognition programs, it's time to create one at your organization. Here are some ways you can start a recognition program:
- Communicate with employees. Recognition is about how well you communicate with each team member frequently. Feel the connection with each individual, or have regular meetings with the team, and ensure everyone has a chance to talk.
- Create channels for recognition. Prepare tools to communicate such as team video calls, email, time out with teams outside the office.
- Celebrate employee moments. Every moment matters. You can give gifts to employees when they reach specific milestones, birthdays, or work anniversaries.
- Think of some appreciation ideas and evaluate with the team regularly. Sometimes the idea you think is good may not be suitable for everyone. Ensure you do brainstorming, trial and error for the ideas you run, so that every employee feels they have a part in every decision made by the company.
List of employee recognition program ideas
Let's start to make workers feel respected, valued, and appreciated with some program ideas below:
- Company equipment and gadgets
Purchasing equipment or gadgets for the office is a common thing, but you can make it extraordinary by personalizing it. Make a corporate gift with the name of each employee, plus you give a special item according to what the employee needs with the company logo in it.
BestGiftHK is the best place for customized corporate gifts for any employee occasion. You can put your company logo, place your design and choose the items you want such as drinkware, stationery, electronics, clothes. etc.Every equipment and gadgets you choose from BestGiftHK has high quality and motivates workers for more productive endeavors.
- Free meals
Offering free meals is a great recognition idea. Not all employees can prepare supplies for work and must set aside their money for lunch. By providing free meals at certain times, you can make employees feel grateful because they can save money, and it becomes an opportunity for leaders to chat casually with employees during lunch together in the office.
- Company outing
A company outing can treat your team with fun outdoor activities and remove the boredom in office work routines. There are many activities you can choose for outdoors such as going to the beach, hiking, sport events, camping trips, or trips inviting employee families. Team outdoor activities are a great way to break down barriers among coworkers and get to know each individual outside of work.
- Professional development
Offering employees the opportunity to build their careers is the best gift for them. Let your employees sharpen their skills with paid courses, send them to seminars, or offer them full-time or partial scholarships. Your company will benefit greatly from grateful employees.
12 Best Ways How to Motivate Employees
Keeping the team intact with top talents is crucial for the company's progress. Creating employee recognition programs will ensure that every employee can get the best after their dedication and hard work. Choose the best ideas to appreciate workers, and provide a specific feedback to improve in the future.
