Using Employee Recognition Programs to Improve Employee Productivity

Recent studies on corporate behavior and performance show that employees who like to go to work everyday perform better than those who don't. Uninspired robotic employees are rampant in the corporate world. Although they cut the deals and manage to show some decent numbers every now and then, it is nothing compared to a work place with happy and enthusiastic workers who like doing what they do in the office everyday.

An Employee Recognition Program goes a long way to make sure that employees in the same work place are friendly and competitive at the same time. Satisfaction is the bane of the corporate existence. As soon as one is satisfied with the result, competition is replaced with complacence. This is not desired by any employer among his workers. Therefore, there needs to be something that keeps your workers going to achieve better results.

An Employer's Recognition Program can be about many things. It can be a monthly token prize given to the best employee in terms of performance. Or it can be a meeting for all, regardless the corporate hierarchy to share information and news about common interests that include personal and professional subjects.

Family day

Every last Saturday of the month can be Family day where employees are allowed to bring their husbands or wives to the cafeteria and have a session of food and conversation with their colleagues. This is an informal occasion where coworkers can mingle freely without the pressure to perform or show off.

Casual Fridays

Casual Fridays are common in many companies. On this day employees and the boss are allowed to wear casuals to work. No ties, suits or suspenders involved. This automatically lightens the atmosphere and infuses a sense of charm to the work environment.

Monthly picnics

Every month there can be a sort of picnic at one of the employees' homes where each coworker brings something to the table. Even the boss should be invited. This can give both sides of the coin to socialize and break the ice of corporate hierarchy.

Bowling competition

People love sports. Therefore, as an employer you can organize an annual bowling competition right before the start of the next financial year where everyone gets to compete with each other on a totally different level. There can be teams and prizes for the one that win.

Ideas for prizes

The best idea for prizes is to not limit the choices of the employee. Winning a prize is great, but winning a prize that is useful and desired is much better. Your employee recognition program should include and element that awards an employee depending on the level of their accomplishment while providing a variety of awards to choose from. And of course the infallible gift of all; the performance bonus is always a great way to boost your employee's competitive spirit.