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10 employee appreciation and recognition ideas
Dec 18, 2024 | 5 minute read
Consistent positive reinforcement and rewards for benchmark achievements can transform your company culture.
You know the contagious energy you feel when you are around an employee who is driven to succeed, or a team that is working together like a well-oiled machine? How do you reward that burning desire? Or, on the other hand, if you are observing the opposite, and need to light a fire for employees who are unmotivated, what can you do to inspire them?
How to motivate employees
Rewarding employees in the right way may be your answer. Here are 10 employee recognition ideas that will boost your team’s productivity.
1. Make it casual
If your team has been burning the midnight oil or is approaching the home stretch on a project, consider offering a casual dress day to reward employees.
2. Skip out for some summer sun
Watch weekday productivity soar when you offer half days once a month or give employees Fridays off during the summer. Make agreements as to what each employee must accomplish to earn the time off — and hold them to it.
3. Show some flexibility
When a work environment requires a certain number of hours on the clock, consider letting employees vary their schedules so they can do more of what they enjoy outside of work. Some people may prefer to work four 10-hour days or take a longer lunch hour.
4. Give them choices with reward cards
Recognize employees’ extra efforts with a rewards card, such as the U.S. Bank Rewards Card available online. Employees can use these prepaid cards, which come in various dollar amounts, in stores, online or over the phone for anything they’d like.
5. Provide tasty treats
One sure way to surprise and delight employees is by providing unexpected treats — a bagel breakfast, cookies during a long meeting or a catered meal so they can meet a deadline.
6. Invest in workplace amenities
Have you been promising to buy picnic tables for the grassy lawn outside? Are employees clamoring for a TV in the breakroom? Predetermine some operational goals, and when employees put in the work to reach them, deliver on one of those often-requested amenities. Not sure what will inspire the crew? Ask them!
7. Offer education and training
If your company’s training budgets have tightened and travel approvals are few and far between, you may want to look at industry events and educational opportunities as an award for top-performing employees.
8. Provide a preferred parking spot
If parking spots are at a premium, consider granting a preferred spot to a different engaged employee each week.
9. Trade places
Galvanize your staff by setting an attainable goal, and if the staff can reach it, agree to do a tedious task that everyone dreads. Maybe they take turns cleaning the bathroom or washing down a machine. Or maybe they dislike running monthly reports or taking meeting notes. Roll up your sleeves, because soon it will be your turn.
10. Get social
Some employees find it refreshing to socialize with leaders and peers outside the office. If you can swing it, take the afternoon off to watch a ball game or go bowling. Or make it a point to join the next happy hour or game night. Your presence will speak volumes.
Implementing even just a few of these ideas for recognition in the workplace is sure to boost your employees' productivity and encourage them to go to the next level.
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