Employee recognition schemes and programs are popular in the workplace because of their many benefits. At this point, most employers understand that their employees want to feel valued and cared for, and a recognition program is the best way to do just that and much more.
While employee recognition is essential for increasing team morale and performance in the hospitality industry, there are some lesser-known reasons to initiate a recognition scheme in your company. In fact, some of the best effects of this program are often the most overlooked.
Why Are Employee Recognition Programs Often Overlooked?
Employees crave three things: a sense of purpose, respect for what they do, and worthwhile relationships with their managers and colleagues. Employee recognition programs tick all three boxes, but too few companies actually recognize their colleagues often, or worse, at all.
Here are five reasons why businesses give for holding back on recognition:
- Employers Do7 Often-Overlooked Benefits of an Employee Recognition Schemen’t Understand Their Impact
Recognition has a big impact on your bottom line, as recognized employees are much more productive and motivated.
- Employers Don’t Understand What It Is
Financial incentives are important, but a true recognition program makes employees feel valued and appreciated for their work.
- Employers Think Initiating a Program is Too Difficult
A recognition program may take time to initiate, but the benefits of these programs will make up for the time spent.
- Employers Believe It’s Too Costly
A simple “thank you” doesn’t cost a dime and is often more effective. Your employees are more likely to remember words than gifts.
- Employers May Fear They Don’t Know How to Recognize
It may feel unnatural at first to thank your team members. In time, you’ll feel more comfortable doing it.
No one is saying that building an employee-focused program is easy, but refusing to make recognition a priority at your company is holding you back. Courage is a key quality of an outstanding leader, so don’t be afraid to take on this challenge and help your team succeed.
Why Are Employee Rewards Often Overlooked?
Any employee recognition program is better than nothing. With that said, it’s still essential to get the kinks out if you want to maximize productivity at work. As a rule, you should start a program that promises only what it can deliver instead of establishing hard-to-achieve expectations.
Remember that what you give is less important than how you give it. More often than not, rewards are overlooked because they don’t seem to work, but there are good reasons for that.
Here are five reasons why an employee rewards system doesn’t work as planned:
- Employers Don’t Ask for Feedback or Use Software
You won’t know if your system is working unless you ask. To find usable feedback, give out anonymous surveys or track engagement data using employee recognition software available at Mo’s website.
- Employers Fail to Recognise Employees in Real-Time
You need to recognize your employee’s achievements in a reasonable time frame, like after the task finishes.
- Employers Only Recognise Big Achievements
Be sure to recognize qualities like communication, integrity, and leadership skills. Offer small rewards when someone improves their numbers, helps out a team member, or speaks up at a meeting.
- Employers Don’t Make the Recognition Public
Most employees want to be publicly recognized in front of their peers. Plus, public recognition can encourage productivity.
- Employers Give a Reward They Think Their Employees Will Like
You should never assume your employees will appreciate a certain type of reward, no matter how obvious it may seem. It’s better to ask what they’d prefer instead of guessing and being wrong.
As for employee rewards, employers can offer just about anything as long as it’s appropriate.
Here’s a short list of how to show your employees you appreciate them:
- Offer to Buy Them Lunch
- Give Them a Vacation Day
- Issue On-The-Spot Bonuses
- Host a Celebratory Meeting
- Support a Cause They Love
- Send Them a Care Package
- Gift Something For their Office
Simple things, like saying “Thank You,” often have the strongest impact on employee motivation.
7 Overlooked Benefits of an Employee Recognition Program
It’s well known that employee recognition programs improve productivity, motivation, and the overall work environment, but what else can one of these programs do?
Let’s take a look.
1. Employee Recognition Improves Peer-to-Peer Connections
Employee recognition is effective when it comes from a leader to their team, but peer-to-peer recognition can be just as impactful. Your employees want to know what their colleagues feel about them because this knowledge can bring teams together and encourage cooperation.
2. Employees Will Become Aligned Through Core Values
Without an employee recognition program in place, teams won’t know what success looks like and how to align with your core values. When everyone is on the same page, they can work towards the same goals. This helps employees support your company culture and brand image.
3. Employee Recognition Programs Attract and Keep Top Talent
It’s often difficult for employers to find the right candidates for a growing business, especially when they don’t have the funds to keep up with their competitors. However, employee recognition programs are very attractive to quality talent, as they know they’ll be highly valued.
4. Employees Who Feel Valued Provide a Better Customer Experience
An employee that feels respected and valued won’t drag their feet to work every day. They’ll naturally want to be around environments that breed positivity because they make them feel more positive themselves. These good feelings will rub off on your customers and clients.
5. Employee Well-Being and Mental Health Improvements
Resilience can help employees combat work-related stress, but it isn’t an endless resource. Your employees will get tired eventually. Frequent recognition increases happiness and well-being, both of which are important for improving physical and mental health issues.
6. Employee Burnout is Avoided, Especially in Remote Teams
The feeling of being valued at work is directly connected to mental health improvements, and so is the ability to stay connected. Employees, especially in remote teams, may experience burnout faster if they aren’t spoken to or recognized regularly by their work colleagues and managers.
7. Employee Recognition Programs are Inexpensive but Very Effective
It’s a myth that employee recognition programs need to be expensive. There are plenty of ways to keep your staff engaged without breaking the bank. Even if it did, the reduced turnover rate, improved company loyalty, and boosted morale and contentment would be more than worth it.
