subject: Even in the Simplest of Forms, Employee Recognition Can Gain Great Mileage [print this page] While our shaky economy is slowly showing signs at becoming steady once again and businesses try to rebuild their strengths in the marketplace, employees will begin to feel less shaky themselves about the job market and perhaps begin look at other job opportunities. While so many firms were closing their doors or downsizing drastically, the typical employed American worker was thankful to have a job and was not looking to jump ship in those uncertain waters. As the economy stabilizes and businesses rebuild, so will be the need for increasing the once scaled-down workforces.
If it was not a matter of focus in the past, employee recognition should rise to the top of items on a business's "To Do List". Whether a business is small or one of a grand scale, one thing remains the same: employees want to be recognized when they've done an exceptional job. We as humans, tend to praise and reward our children for good behavior, grades, chores, etc. and same with our pets when they've shown obedience or learned a new trick then why is it so difficult to understand that grownups need to receive that praise and recognition as well?
When companies get rated as "Top Companies in America to Work For", they get that rating for placing a great deal of time and corporate resources to engage their employees in programs such as Motivation and Reward campaigns, Health & Wellness Programs, and Safety in the Workplace programs. Those same companies tend to socialize outside of the work setting for special events and team building exercises. But how about the "little things"? Sometimes it's the unexpected surprises of gratitude that pack a more powerful punch than say an expected reward. As equally important as offering corporate incentive programs would be the introduction of Peer-to-Peer Gratitude programs. These programs are the simplest to announce, manage, and reward and most of the ideas for operation and reward come from the employees themselves which in turn, gives them a sense of pride and well being in the workplace.
Here's an idea that a company could easily run as an interoffice peer-to-peer recognition program: "Caught You Doing Something Good". The only cost to the company would be for colored note cards to be placed in several common areas and a drop box to collect notes made by fellow employees when someone does a good deed or goes over and above the call of duty. The cards can be gathered once a month and displayed on a bulletin board in a conference area and acknowledged during monthly staff meetings. With a small amount of time and money invested, the return has huge value in regards to morale and production levels.
Statistics prove that companies who offer recognition programs and show appreciation for their employees on a regular basis, are the companies who retain their best employees which ultimately serves to place a positive impact on the bottom line.
Even in the Simplest of Forms, Employee Recognition Can Gain Great Mileage
