5 Ways to Boost Employee Recognition in the Workplace
In today's business climate, it's more important than ever to keep your employees engaged and motivated. It's no secret that happy employees are more productive employees. Numerous studies have shown a direct correlation between employee satisfaction and productivity. A survey by Gallup_ found that companies with engaged employees (i.e., employees who are passionate about their work and feel a sense of ownership in their job) have significantly higher profits and productivity than companies with disengaged employees. When employees feel appreciated, they are more likely to be engaged, according to the University of Warwick. Engagement is 12% higher when employees are appreciated and that figure rises again to 37% when factored in with workplace wellbeing initiatives_*.
If you want to boost productivity, increase loyalty, and enhance company culture and values in your workplace, one of the best ways to do this is through well-thought-out workplace initiatives like employee recognition.
Here are five ways you can boost employee recognition in your workplace:
Celebrate milestones and achievements, big and small:
Acknowledge your employees' hard work and dedication by celebrating their accomplishments, both big and small. This can be done through formal awards ceremonies, informal parties or gatherings, or simply by acknowledging achievements in team meetings or company-wide communications. Whatever form it takes, celebrating successes is a great way to show your employees that their efforts are appreciated.
Only some milestones need to be project related. One of the most significant milestones in an employee's career is the number of years of service they dedicate to a company. So whether your employee has been in the business for one year, five years or ten years, why not recognise this and celebrate their commitment?
We recently shared a blog about ideas for work anniversary swag. Check it out by clicking the below button.
Work Anniversary Swag Ideas
Get creative with your rewards and recognition
If you want to show your employees how much they accomplished this year, consider giving them a reward that will make it memorable. Think outside the box in regard to rewarding employees for a job well done. In a post-Covid world, for example, it is more important than ever for companies to have employee recognition initiatives in place. However, remote workers may sometimes feel left out or disconnected from these programs.
One way to include remote workers in employee recognition initiatives is to have a system where employees can nominate their colleagues for awards or prizes, even if they are not in the same office. This can help ensure that all employees feel appreciated and recognised for their work, regardless of location. Customised swag packs could work perfectly in recognising this appreciation, too - we're sure no one would mind getting something nice as their prize after working hard for your company.
Make recognition a part of your company culture
Instil a culture of appreciation in your organisation by making employee recognition a regular part of how you do business. Encourage managers to give positive feedback, make awards and accolades a part of company-wide communications, and find other ways to show that you value your employees' contributions. Another benefit of employee recognition is that it increases loyalty. Employees who feel appreciated are more likely to be loyal to their employer. They are also more likely to go above and beyond the call of duty when they know that their efforts will be recognised.
Train managers and supervisors on the importance of employee recognition:
Many companies are starting to recognise their employees. It is important for managers and supervisors of the company's workforce. However, they should also be aware that just because an individual has been recognised does not mean they will feel valued by their work environment - this can lead to lower productivity levels as well if there isn't proper training on how often recognition should occur throughout different industries with guidelines set out beforehand so everyone knows what type(s)of reward might fit best based off needs within each specific organisation.
Use technology to your advantage:
Employee recognition doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. Many software programs available can automate the process and make it easy for managers to give timely feedback or awards whenever an employee goes above and beyond expectations. By taking advantage of these tools, you can ensure that everyone in your employee recognition programs can be helpful for HR professionals and teams to get more out of their staff. When employees feel appreciated and recognised for their work, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged in their job, which can lead to better work outcomes. Additionally, employee recognition programs can help to build a positive company culture and improve employee satisfaction.
Employee recognition is a powerful tool that can help engage and motivate employees at all levels of an organisation. When done correctly, it can lead to increased loyalty, productivity, and satisfaction. There are many different types of employee recognition, so take some time to find what works best for your company culture and the type of work you do. By following the tips above, you can start incorporating employee recognition into your company culture to boost morale and retention rates.
** University of Warwick Study