From forward-thinking companies from all over the world, this is what we see as trends, advice, and tips for employee recognition and employee rewards.
Automatic Employee Recognition
Don’t rely on a paper-based system any longer. Incorporate automatic recognition for anniversaries, email clients, and more.
Intrinsic Motivation as Employee Rewards
Dan Pink’s Ted Talk changed the way companies look at motivating knowledge workers. Look beyond monetary rewards in a program to maximize results. Try status, access, or powers as other forms of incentives.
Leadership Buy-In
Gallup poll found recognition from executives or management is far more significant than from peers. Encourage leadership to recognize staff for all-for-one mentality.
Start Small, Think Big
Start with a program people can wrap their heads around, while having vision for the future. This increases adoption at early stages, as well as keeping it fresh later on.
Accessible to Everyone
All levels and departments of the organization should have access to the employee recognition program.
Have a Result
Incorporate monthly awards, give special responsibilities, give to charity on staff’s behalf, or create a rewards catalog. Give staff a reason to keep recognizing.
Timely, On-the-Spot Employee Recognition
The more instant and on-the-spot a recognition, the more the impact. Psychology research from behaviorism and beyond back this best practice.
Easy to Access
Employee recognition needs to be visible and top of mind if it is to be adopted. Utilize TVs, mobile, print, and staff computers.
Easy to Use
Recognition shouldn’t take more than 1min to send and be one click away. Plus, keep the required fields in the recognition form to a minimum.
Employee Recognition Based on Values & Behaviors
Tie in company values to the recognition program to get the most out of it. Promote specific behaviors based on leadership vision.
Promote Exceptional Behaviors
Don’t recognize employees for tasks they should already be doing. Focus on exceptional behaviors. For example, getting in on time is not exceptional, but getting in early is exceptional.
Incorporate All Types of Employee Recognition
Recognition programs include anniversary and service recognition, above and beyond recognition, and peer to peer recognition. Use all three.
Have a Result
Incorporate monthly awards, give special responsibilities, give charity on staff’s behalf, or create a rewards catalog. Give staff a reason to keep recognizing.
Gain Insights
The recognition program should provide management, HR, and leadership insights into engagement in the program and people analytics.
Top Five Goals
According to World at Work survey 2015:
- Recognize years of service.
- Create/maintain a positive work environment.
- Create/maintain a culture of recognition.
- Motivate high performance.
- Reinforce desired behaviors.

Employee recognition and employee rewards best practices
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