Employee of the Month Programs for Productivity
Many organizations in today’s work environment have removed Employee of the Month programs as they are deemed not necessary. If your organization has set this tradition aside, it’s time to give it another look…and bring it into the 21st century.
Whether you work for a corporation with multiple locations or are a small business owner, you can easily implement an Employee of the Month program that boosts morale and productivity. Just follow a few simple guidelines:
Establish Employee of the Month Program Goals
Ideally, this program should generate excitement among your staff, but this should be a secondary goal. Your primary interest should be measurable and achievable: to increase sales, boost productivity, reduce workplace accidents, etc.
Establish What Earns Employee of the Month
One reason some companies have shied away from Employee of the Month programs is the fear of falling into favoritism. None of us really liked the “teacher’s pet” and that applies to the boardroom as well as the classroom! Measurable, objective goals are the key to success. Highest monthly sales? Good. Meeting or beating deadlines? Yep. Baking cookies for the boss? Um…no.
What Will Your Employees Get?
That’s the big question your employees will be asking. Another reason why these programs may have fallen out of favor with some employees is a lack of perceived value. It’s not enough to put someone’s picture up for 30 days. Give people something they can use. Gift cards are great. Another easy and much appreciated reward is a day off with pay. If you want to keep the cost really low (like NO cost), how about the traditional Employee of the Month parking spot, nice and close to the entrance? Always a favorite in the middle of winter in these parts!
Get the word out there. Kick off the program with an all-employee email. Post an article in your employee newsletter or on your intranet site. Again, communicate the criteria and the reward. Use the same channels to announce each month’s winner – and always include an explanation of what he or she specifically did to merit the honor.
Finally, have some fun with it. That’s where Award Concepts comes in. We have lots of ideas and even more great gifts if you choose to go that route!
