What is one of the best employee recognition programs?
To help you properly recognize your employees at work, we asked CEOs and business leaders this question for their best advice.
From peer-to-peer recognition to non monetary rewards, there are several tips that may help you cheer your employees on as recognition of their hard work.
Here are six recommended employee recognition programs:
- Peer-to-peer Recognition
- Gifts for Employee and Family
- Guusto
- Surprise Gestures of Recognition
- Private & Public Recognition
- Non Monetary Rewards
Peer-To-Peer Recognition
People love it when brands share about the people behind the scenes making or promoting the products they love. So schedule an Employee Takeover Day of your brand’s Facebook or Instagram account to provide team members the opportunity to give each other shoutouts for a job well done.
Everyone enjoys hearing praise for their work. But, far too often, pats on the back only come after a significant score. Giving team members access to one of your company’s social media accounts gives them the chance to celebrate the everyday wins that tend to go unnoticed. Ask them to share videos of their workday, fun photos with their teammates, or record each other talking about their experience working at your company.
Featuring your valued team members in an authentic way encourages greater engagement and community-building. And celebrating all the milestones is a great way to boost job satisfaction, enhance company culture, and increase employee loyalty to your business.
Chris Gadek, AdQuick
Gifts for Employee and Family
Make it personal. Provide gift cards for the family to go to the movies, a gift card to a restaurant, or tickets to a local sports event. Include a hand-written note. It does not need to be expensive. Providing a gift for an employee to do something with his/her family is very impactful and often creates a higher level of employee engagement.
Scott Baker, Stage 3 Leadership
Guusto
In terms of user-friendliness, flexibility, and choice, Guusto is one of the best employee recognition programs available. The platform’s intuitive interface makes recognition simple and enjoyable for users. It also includes a number of useful features to make managing the program easier for administrators, including taxable benefits reports, bulk delivery options, and customizable permissions for team members.
Guusto’s reward options are also second to none. It offers flexible gift cards that can be redeemed at a wide range of retailers, restaurants, and other merchants, meaning everyone can easily find something they’ll really enjoy. Non-monetary recognition is also available using the nomination box feature.
Overall, it’s a simple, flexible program that can be customized to the needs of companies of any size or industry.
Noah Warder, Guusto
Surprise Gestures of Recognition
I believe one of the best employee recognition programs is not your typical “President’s Club” or “Employee of the Month” program.
I believe a more unannounced/unexpected program that recognizes the impact employees have on business growth is even more impactful. For example, I’ve worked with co-founders in the past who would randomly praise different employees in morning huddles, in front of the entire company, and then tell them they can take off for the rest of the day!
It’s an amazing thing to see, and as an employee, you feel a sense of belonging and meaning behind the work you do. You’re not going unnoticed.
Nick Cotter, newfoundr
Non Monetary Reward
While many may assume that money is the best way to deliver recognition, I would pick a non-monetary reward to thank for a job well done. Hosting appreciation events sounds like a great option. Praising employees in front of their colleagues can not only make them feel valued and boost their self-esteem, but also motivate them to succeed and set a good example for others to follow.
Combining recognition delivery with a fun day out (e.g., dinner, drinks, bowling, escape room, karaoke, cooking classes, and more) or a holiday party is a good idea, too. When a team has been working hard, they deserve it.
The human-centered approach pays off. Especially in job satisfaction currency. The more you value people, the more engaged, motivated, and willing to work they are.
Agata Szczepanek, MyPerfectResume
Private & Public Recognition
The best employee recognition program is one that recognizes individual work as it’s completed and also offers public recognition. That means a program needs to include a manager that individually compliments employees on their work and regularly hosts a group meeting where one or two are picked for special recognition in front of their peers and given some perks.
Jessica Tasios, Ora Dental
Non Monetary Reward
While many may assume that money is the best way to deliver recognition, I would pick a non-monetary reward to thank for a job well done. Hosting appreciation events sounds like a great option. Praising employees in front of their colleagues can not only make them feel valued and boost their self-esteem, but also motivate them to succeed and set a good example for others to follow.
Combining recognition delivery with a fun day out (e.g., dinner, drinks, bowling, escape room, karaoke, cooking classes, and more) or a holiday party is a good idea, too. When a team has been working hard, they deserve it.
The human-centered approach pays off. Especially in job satisfaction currency. The more you value people, the more engaged, motivated, and willing to work they are.
Agata Szczepanek, MyPerfectResume
