Punish Your Freeloaders to Win

The biggest hit that employee motivation can take is when employees see poor, unmotivated, uncontributing workers rewarded the same as the individuals who bust their butts for the company. And now, a study appears to have proven that the organization is more successful when freeloaders are punished. In a study that was reported in yesterday's Science, researchers found that "cooperative societies can evolve as long as noncooperation can be penalized". According to the article, No Pain, No Gain by Mary Beckman, "Interestingly, freeloaders in the undisciplined world quickly became punishers in the disciplined one. 'This means freeloaders aren't a genetically hard-wired type. Their behavior depends on the culture, says [Bettina] Rockenbach."

Read more about employee motivation.
Employee Rewards and Recognition resources.
Top 10 Ideas About What Employees Want From Work.