A reader, working in a successful business, wrote to ask how to make his monthly employee recognition program more effective. The recognition program essentially asked coworkers to nominate each other for a monthly recognition that only one person received. And, no employees nominated anyone for the recognition program.
I responded that I am not a fan of a monthly recognition program, because I have only rarely found that such a recognition program works. Employers are attempting to provide the motivation and recognition that employees need and want, but recognizing one employee a month, with no criteria established, doesn't work well. Even if the criteria have been established, for an appropriate, appreciated recognition program, every employee who meets the criteria should then be recognized.
Whether employees will nominate each other in a recognition program is also dependent on the company culture that has been established over time. If recognition has only rarely occurred and if criteria for recognition are not communicated and understood, employees will resist getting involved in a recognition program.
Here are the criteria that a recognition program needs to meet for success. For a successful recognition program, you are best going with regular, even daily, recognition that rewards people for specific contributions, and that rewards all employees who accomplish what you specify.
In an environment in which recognition is common and widespread, it is much easier to involve employees in a recognition program or process. You may also want to ask employees how they'd like to be involved. Their answers may surprise you.
Image Copyright Lisa Gagne
More About a Recognition Program
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- The Power of Positive Recognition
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- Provide Motivational Employee Recognition
Human Resources Forum
Interesting conversations are happening in the HR Forum including this one from a person who participated in a phone interview. He didn't quite know how to answer the question, and asks: Was this a trick question?
Couldn’t agree more. Monthly, quarterly, or any other “scheduled” employee recognition program that is contest based is a failed construct. You simply create losers that way and leave employees thinking one of two things:
1) “Of course Jason is employee of the month. He’s the boss’ favorite.”
2) “Okay, whose turn is it this month to get the EoM designation.”
Let me be crystal clear – these programs largely demotivate. They do not engage, encourage, motivate or appropriately recognize employees.
Any kind of recognition program that intentionally creates “losers” is doomed to failure. What should you do instead? Recognize and show your appreciation for employees – all employees – who demonstrate your core values in contribution to achieving your strategic objectives. This eliminates both the competition and “it’s your turn” of failed programs like Employee of the Month that have seen their time pass long ago.
I wrote more on this topic here: http://www.recognizethisblog.com/index.php/2012/04/stop-demotivating-employees-with-bad-recognition-reward-programs/