Exploring Employee Rewards & Recognition

The most important asset to any business is its employees. Keeping them happy in the workplace can make your company a stronger, unwavering force within your industry. Putting your people first means recognizing and rewarding them for behavior that supports the company’s success. Incentives go above and beyond the standard benefits that your company offers to create the best atmosphere for your employees. More than just financial motivation, these rewards and recognitions offered to your employees can be important alternatives:

1. A sincere word of “thanks” costs nothing and is very effective!
2. Post a thank you note on their door in their honor.
3. Throw a pizza party or cake party in their honor.
4. Create a simple “ABCD” card that are given when someone goes “Above the Call of Duty”.
5. Write about them in a company-wide email.
6. Give a long-lunch, extra break, or comp time.
7. Honor them at the start of the next staff meeting (recognize someone at the start of every staff meeting).
8. Post a “thank you” sign in the lobby with their name on it.
9. Gift them flowers, a book, or other small gift.
10. Invite them to a one-on-one lunch.
11. Give them a card with lottery tickets, movie tickets, or food/beverage gift certificate.
12. Have the entire team sign a framed photo or certificate of appreciation.
13. Arrange for a boss several levels up to stop by to say thanks.
14. Send a thank you note or gift basket to their spouse.
15. Arrange to have their car washed or home cleaned.
16. Give an upgraded desk or chair for their workstation.
17. Buy a dozen donuts and announce to the department that they are in the honorees office, they should stop by to say hi and get one.
18. Feature them in the company newsletter.
19. Pick an unusual or funny object and place it on their desk for a week.
20. Have company picnics. Enjoy employees and their families outside the office.
21. Have entire team honor them with a standing ovation at the next staff meeting.
22. Offer to swap a task with them for a day or week.
23. Let them dress casual for a day.
24. Give a VIP parking spot.
25. Let them bring their pet to work.
26. One-on-one training with a manager.
27. Create a personal thank you video.
28. Give them an accomplishment badge.
29. Post their picture on a wall of achievement.
30. Let them work from home for a day.

And the list goes on and on… It becomes so easy to get caught up in the daily struggle that you never stop to recognize the good work your employees do. Recognizing your people will pay off in the form of retention, morale, and job performance. Remember, it is far easier to lead people to improved performances by thanking them when they do it right, than by giving them grief when they do it wrong.