Are workers surprised or disappointed by how you recognize them?
There is lots of talk about employee recognition, but a recent survey suggests that employers could do a better job of walking the walk on worker rewards and appreciation efforts. According to research from the staffing firm OfficeTeam, only 43% of employers think their company is very effective at recognizing employees for good performance. Over one-tenth (14%) said they are not at all or not too effective at celebrating workers.
This is a particularly relevant topic during this Administrative Professionals Week (April 21-27), with employees wondering what their company will do to recognize them. According to the survey, 43% of respondents said they plan to organize a celebration or lunch at work, 35% said they intend to praise staff during a meeting or other public forum, 27% indicated they will provide a handwritten thank-you note, and 14% plan to bring in an educational guest speaker. Nearly one-quarter (20%) of companies don’t show appreciation to administrative staff in any way.
According to survey results, midsize firms (those with 500 to 999 employees) are most effective at recognizing staff, while small companies (with 20-49 employees) have the most room for improvement. Even if you think your company does an effective job of employee recognition, you likely could do better. Here are some creative ideas to consider:
· Use variety and surprise. Consider spinning a wheel or playing games such as company trivia for prizes. These don’t have to be high-ticket items; small gift cards. restaurant certificates, books, or food items are appreciated.
· Don’t leave recognition up to managers. Give all employees an opportunity to recognize others who go above and beyond in their efforts. Consider having an event where you order cupcakes or other treats and let staff members give one to someone who’s inspired them that month.
· Be spontaneous. Planned prizes and awards are great, but don’t forget informal recognition. If someone does something good, recognize it on the spot, praise him or her in front of others. A round of applause may not be out of line.
· Thank employees’ families. Consider kids’ nights where employees bring in their families for a pizza party or a movie and snacks. Use that opportunity to tell employees’ loved ones how valuable their hard-working family members are to the organization.
· Set goals and celebrate reaching them. Whether it’s achieving a 5-Star rating, having a citation-free survey, or successfully completing a quality improvement project, you can celebrate with everyone. Make an announcement, have coffee and donuts, and share with all workers how important their role was in achieving the goals.
· Implement a point-based employee engagement platform. This is technology that lets employees recognize each other for their accomplishments and successes—both big and small. Team members can award each other points, and the points can be redeemed for small prizes.
