Readers Respond: Ideas for Employee Recognition

Employee recognition is a crucial factor in employee engagement and involvement at work. In the related articles about employee recognition, I've provided employee recognition ideas that have worked for organizations I know. But, employee recognition ideas are endless - and endlessly challenging. You want your ideas for employee recognition to reinforce the positive contributions of employees in your work place.

And, your employee recognition ideas should help employees feel thanked and rewarded - more positive about work and engaged in your work place. Readers have shared their employee recognition ideas. Won't you share your employee recognition ideas to add to the treasure trove?

See more reader responses to various other questions.

The Most Cost-Effective Gift...Time

I truly love to see people out there realize how important employee recognition is. Gifts, thank yous are always wonderful and rewarding for both parties. That being said, I must agree with the article in that, the most effective way to show the employees that management and the company cares is goal setting, consistency and reinvesting back into their role within the company - best reward of all. Supporting their growth. But one thing I find to be the most important is setting aside time with the employees at least monthly to go over the progress the employees are making. If you as a manager help them create a metric of goals to set, then don't revisist it with them to go over the progress, all the goal setting in the world won't matter. Make that time weekly or monthly to really show your serious about their growth. All the best in the New Year!

—Guest Dana Costantino

Recognition and Global Rewards

Further to what Ben Butler said, our company uses http://www.achievers.com to allow for peer to peer employee recognition. Not only can the whole company see the achievements of the peers who make a difference at your organization but you can assign points for those extra special moments in the week. With those points you can buy anything from a vacation, to movie tickets to visa cards.

—tiffany.dasilva

Non-Monetary Awards are Great!

I couldn't agree more with this article. In fact, one of the experts on my blog just wrote a post today on this very topic (you can read it here: http://blog.xonex.com/911/relocation-policies/cash-is-a-peasant-not-a-king). When you ask people what they value, they don't often say money. People value time, family, connectedness and appreciation. It makes sense to match award programs to those values, instead of cash all the time.

—Guest Paige Holden

Don't Forget: Recognize Middle Managers

Often overlooked by senior managers, and largely loathed by junior staff, middle management has long been the punch line of many office-related jokes. But the reality is that these mid-level professionals serve at a critical point where a business’s vision and strategies are converted into tactics and results, and their engagement is a vital ingredient in ensuring the work is getting done... http://www.recognitionheroes.com/featured/recognize-middle-management-or-the-joke-is-on-you/

—Guest Cord Himelstein

Recognition Programs

Alternatively you could investigate whether a recognition program is right for your company. Rewards Nation and Kudos Now are good examples of systems that are quick and easy to implement.

—BenButler

Gift Cards

A gift card (especially an Amazon, Visa or MasterCard gift card) is a great way to recognize employees because they can choose their own reward.

—Guest Anna Beachy

Flowers for Sick Employees

In my company, we send flowers when an employee or family member is in the hospital. This lets the employee know that we are thinking of them and care about them. It's employee recognition with a caring message.

—Marci Devon