Best employee recognition programs for a robust workplace

In a commencement speech at Harvard, Oprah Winfrey stated, “The most important lesson I learned in 25 years talking every single day to people, was that there’s a common denominator in our human experience. It is what we want to be validated. We want to be understood.”

The word you’re looking for is appreciation. If Oprah said it, we have to take it seriously!

Creating a culture of recognition builds a thriving workplace. It is a way to acknowledge and motivate employees for their work contribution and commitment to bring value to the table. It is considered to be a cornerstone of effective employee management. 

Many organizations have the best employee recognition programs, which aim to reward and recognize the efforts of dedicated individuals. Think about it. If you had some employees who bring meaningful contributions to their projects, wouldn’t you want to cherish them? 

Periodic recognition drives better employee engagement, reduces attrition rates and creates a high-performance culture. In fact, positive feedback has a 12.5% increase in productivity among employees compared to neutral or negative feedback. 

Impact of rewards & recognition on employees

According to Statista, 45% of employees chose impactful work as one of the most important attributes of an organization. In another workplace survey by Gallup, there is a 56% attrition rate in organizations that prioritize employee rewards and recognition. Let’s be honest now, there are significant numbers that we cannot overlook. 

Building desired organizational culture

At the core, recognition should be authentic, personalized, and candid. Good workplaces have some of the best employee recognition platforms to appreciate honest and hardworking human resources. It helps streamline the recognition process and set clear directives. 

On the other hand, rewards are tangible and are distributed to the best-performing employees for their exceptional performance. These are ceremonial occasions conducted at a specific time of the year to acknowledge the star performers. Also, it sets company standards in terms of goal orientation and benchmark performance. This is the opportunity to send a clear message about the desired behavior from the workforce. 

So, the best employee rewards programs are created with clear eligibility criteria, transparent nomination, and proper guidelines. 

How useful is employee recognition software?

We all seek validation in our formative years. This behavioral pattern continues throughout our life. The desire to get positive affirmations gets stronger in every stage of life. 

Hiring managers and companies have figured out the importance of building a motivated and loyal workforce. This aids in employee retention, increased engagement, and elevated performance. It explains why organizations are investing in employee recognition software. It is best to encourage people for the work they have put in and allow them to flex their discretionary muscles, which can only be done by building a robust muscle. 

Best employee recognition programs for a high-performing workplace

• Employee of the month

It is one of the best employee rewards and recognition programs to acknowledge the best-performing individual in different teams. “Employee of the Month” recognition is a great way to highlight the extraordinary work of the star performer. It is a structured recognition that gives a boost and positive reinforcement to the workforce. Many organizations have a formal ceremony once a month to distribute tokens of appreciation, certificates, and awards.

• Performance-based incentives

This employee appreciation program is to incentivize the best employees who have achieved performance-based goals. It can include a bonus, a variable component in the salary, or an additional payout. 

• Innovation awards

Innovation awards are highly encouraged in modern-day workplaces. It is part of the best employee recognition program and concedes the innovative ideas of talented employees. The nomination is based on how impactful the idea is for the overall welfare of the organization. It gives a pedestal to budding minds exploring new processes for better organizational outcomes.

• Milestone/service recognition

The best human resource management practices include rewards for loyal and committed work personnel. Those employees who have achieved certain milestones in their careers or have served a certain number of years are rewarded. The best employee recognition platform has this award to express appreciation towards the long-associated employees. 

• Social recognition platforms

Social media is integral to every individual’s life, right? It has also become a part of every organization’s online presence. Utilizing platforms like LinkedIn to recognize employee efforts is a great way to validate their performance. Additionally, it helps build a fostering community. 

The best employee recognition software provides the right solution and policy to acknowledge the hardworking people of the organization. It helps management, hiring managers, and line managers to identify the right people making the extra effort from their office desks. Based on the research of Great Place to Work, there is a 69% increase in efforts by employees when their work is recognized. 

Check out our free Employee recognition programs policy template!