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Making employee recognition a cornerstone of your workplace is crucial to improving the engagement and motivation of your employees. Employees want to know that their efforts are being recognized and appreciated, not only by their managers but also by their coworkers. While over 80% of organizations cite having a set employee recognition program, trouble arises when employee recognition programs don’t support frequent recognition or when recognition is only coming in from upper-level management.
Organizations with set programs see 31% lower turnover rates than companies with no system in place. In addition to this, employees who receive frequent recognition are more highly engaged with their work. With 70% of employees saying that recognition at work would improve their morale and motivation levels, there is no reason that organizations should not be investing in a robust employee recognition program.
70% of employees say that #recognition at work would improve their morale and #motivation levels. @ClearCompany highlights 3 types of employee #recognition programs you should be using:Below are three examples of employee recognition programs that you can implement in your workplace:
1. Top-Down
This form of employee recognition program is the most widely used and recognized approach. Managers and executives use this traditional method to provide recognition and praise to their direct subordinates. More often than not, managers utilize annual reviews to conduct top-down recognition. While this approach offers managers the opportunity to discuss their team’s successes directly, people criticize this approach for not offering a more holistic view of employees’ performance. The recognition generated through this method can often be far and few in-between.
It is no secret that an overwhelming number of people do not care for annual reviews —96% of employees prefer more consistent feedback and recognition. Managers utilizing a top-down recognition approach should be cognizant of this. By offering opportunities for more frequent recognition and praise, they can increase the productivity, engagement, and motivation levels of their employees.
Tip: While a shout-out from the boss or CEO feels great, the most meaningful recognition comes from those that work alongside us. Integrate your employee recognition programs so that praise and recognition come from all levels of your organization.
2. Peer-to-Peer
Peer-to-peer employee recognition programs are highly effective and widely supported in the workplace. This approach allows for more highly specific praise and provides more frequent opportunities for recognition. Research backs up the effectiveness of peer-to-peer recognition — this method is 36% more likely to have a positive impact on your employees and teams. Some other notable benefits of peer-to-peer employee recognition programs include:
- Stronger company culture and employee morale
- Improved employee performance — some organizations see 14% increases in performance.
- Fostering inclusivity and diversity among teams
- Empowering managers and employees
Peer-to-peer recognition programs are strong in their structure since colleagues and team members work closely together and often see successes and wins that managers don’t. This allows for more timely feedback and praise.
Tip: In addition to using peer-to-peer recognition, implement nomination recognition programs! This opens the door for fun awards, such as Employee of the Month, and offers people the chance to recognize and praise colleagues for their contributions and quality of work.
3. Milestone
Milestone recognition occurs when a significant event takes place in the office. Examples include when new employees are hired, when an employee celebrates their work anniversary, or when a team member transitions into a new role. While this recognition style allows for special celebrations, it focuses mainly on big achievements and lacks recognition for daily tasks. Organizations that use milestone employee recognition programs often use this method in coordination with other programs.
Tip: ClearCompany’s Employee Engagement Suite assists with milestone recognition. Using the employee celebrations tool, managers can efficiently keep track of important achievements and strengthen an employee’s sense of belonging.
Choosing the right employee recognition program for your organization doesn’t need to be tricky. Make sure that you are using a variety of methods for praise, and your employees will feel supported and appreciated. ClearCompany can assist you in the creation and implementation of your employee recognition programs. Our Employee Engagement Suite supports a variety of recognition and praise methods. With the Performance Management Suite, you can easily track and measure employee performance to provide insights for praise. To learn more about how ClearCompany can kickstart your employee engagement and employee motivation within your organization, schedule a demo today or reach out to one of our experts.
