Free But Effective Employee Recognition Programs
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- by Owl Staff
- Posted on Dec 7th, 2009
- Filed under: Money / Business
- Tagged with: employeerecognition, employeereward, management
- More
Employee recognition programs not only help employees feel appreciated and successful but can also serve to raise morale and be an opportunity to have some fun in the workplace. The economy has made giving prizes and throwing parties difficult for some companies but no worries, here are a few employee recognition ideas that cost next to nothing and still work to boost positive vibes in a big way.
The 'Wall of Appreciation'
Get a large, blank white board set up in an employee commons area with plenty of dry erase pens and markers. Encourage staff (including everyone from the CEO to the janitor) to write notes of recognition and thanks to each other on the wall. Things like congratulating a coworker on the completion of a major project and thanking the receptionist for always keeping the coffee brewing can really help people feel connected, appreciated, and like part of the team. Be sure to wipe the board clean every week or so to keep the sentiments fresh and relevant.
Pass the Trophy
Start with a unique, recognizable object and designate it as symbolic of something like teamwork, a positive attitude, etc. The object can be anything from a potted plant to a desk ornament to an actual trophy, as long as it's easily displayed as well as easily passed from employee to employee (humor is good -- the funnier or stranger the object is the more interesting the program will be). Start by recognizing an employee for displaying the appropriate quality (i.e. being especially upbeat through a rough week) and give them the 'trophy' to display in their work area. Then after a set amount of time (a week, a month) that employee chooses someone else they feel deserves it and passes it on to them to display for a week, and so on. As the trophy travels around the office it serves as both a means of prompting employees to be appreciative of each other and as a visual reminder of that appreciation, plus it can be a great conversation starter and source of good-humored jokes.
Praise
The best, fastest, and in most cases most effective means of recognizing an employee's good work is totally and completely free: simply tell them. Praise them, thank them, let them know how much you appreciate their efforts. Whether written as a note (always nice, since they can refer back to it later) or simply shared verbally, praise is a powerful tool that is all too often overlooked or undervalued.
The 'Wall of Appreciation'
Get a large, blank white board set up in an employee commons area with plenty of dry erase pens and markers. Encourage staff (including everyone from the CEO to the janitor) to write notes of recognition and thanks to each other on the wall. Things like congratulating a coworker on the completion of a major project and thanking the receptionist for always keeping the coffee brewing can really help people feel connected, appreciated, and like part of the team. Be sure to wipe the board clean every week or so to keep the sentiments fresh and relevant.
Pass the Trophy
Start with a unique, recognizable object and designate it as symbolic of something like teamwork, a positive attitude, etc. The object can be anything from a potted plant to a desk ornament to an actual trophy, as long as it's easily displayed as well as easily passed from employee to employee (humor is good -- the funnier or stranger the object is the more interesting the program will be). Start by recognizing an employee for displaying the appropriate quality (i.e. being especially upbeat through a rough week) and give them the 'trophy' to display in their work area. Then after a set amount of time (a week, a month) that employee chooses someone else they feel deserves it and passes it on to them to display for a week, and so on. As the trophy travels around the office it serves as both a means of prompting employees to be appreciative of each other and as a visual reminder of that appreciation, plus it can be a great conversation starter and source of good-humored jokes.
Praise
The best, fastest, and in most cases most effective means of recognizing an employee's good work is totally and completely free: simply tell them. Praise them, thank them, let them know how much you appreciate their efforts. Whether written as a note (always nice, since they can refer back to it later) or simply shared verbally, praise is a powerful tool that is all too often overlooked or undervalued.
