According to a Harvard Study, recognizing the efforts of high performing employees in an office is the leading reason for boosting productivity. Employee engagement, recognition, and awards are some of the best ways to help an organization create a dedicated, talented, and committed workforce.
Take any data you can lay your hands-on, and you will find a common thread running through all of them.
For example, one research suggests that nearly 51% of all employees worldwide feel demotivated and non-engaged. Another one suggests that recognition allows businesses to extract more than 200% output from employees.
The bottom line is that businesses should try to start a recognition and rewards program in their organizations right away. In this article, we look at five reasons to help cement the need and requirement for an employee recognition program.
List of 5 Reasons why your office needs to immediately start a Recognition Program
- Increases Engagement-
You do not want your employees to simply work in their assigned roles. A good recognition program enables employees to go above and beyond their roles and contribute in multiple capacities to the cause of an organization. Recognizing employees in the ‘moment’ gives them a shot in the arm to perform better, and engage with other aspects of an organization.
- Boosts Morale-
Commendations from peers and in front of work colleagues go a long way in boosting the morale of the employees. Most HR experts suggest that a recognition program needs to be visibly public in nature. If it is not that, then the same defeats the very purpose of being publicly lauded for doing good for the company. Morale boosting has a significant role in productivity.
- Improves Effort-
Most higher management professionals or business owners do not understand how trophies and awards can make a world of difference to their employees. They can start taking pride in their work activities and more importantly improve their efforts. Getting success is secondary, what matters is whether or not each employee is giving his or her hundred percent.
- Contributes to Personal Development-
Many leading HR professionals say that some of the best companies continue with their recognition programs even outside work. For example, rewarding employees that have done something to better their personal lives like giving up smoking, taking up exercises, or even the birth of a child. All this makes the employee feel wanted and supported.
- Creates more Customers/Clients-
Finally, the most obvious reason why you need a recognition program. Happy employees feel that the organization has their back and this, in turn, allows them to engage with existing and potential customers or clients in a better manner. As the management treats them well, they in turn carry this forward and behave in a much better fashion with clients.
How to Select the Award/Recognition for the Employees?
This is by far the most exciting and fun part of the entire exercise. Selecting the awards, naming the same, and presenting them to the employees is very enjoyable.
You can always use awards like-
- Outstanding Achievement Award
- Performer of the Year
- Greatest Improvement of the Year
- Out-Of-The-Box Thinking Award
- The Employee of the Year
This is a restricted list where you can add anything that you feel suits the nature of your business organization and its operations.
However, you should remember that you are ensuring adequate representation when selecting the winners. Ideally, all teams should be covered, giving everyone the impression that they too can be a contender for the same if they perform well in the coming year.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, for an organization, it is all about creating the perfect work culture. A recognition program plays a critical role in celebrating employees for their efforts and hard-work towards an organization. If you wish to know more about employee recognition programs, drop your answers in the comments section below.
