Whether you’re in HR or management, or work for a small start-up or a large organization, following these five essentials will make your employee recognition pay off big dividends in satisfaction, engagement and productivity. Be timely. If you administer formal years-of-service awards, invite employees to choose their gift ahead of their actual anniversary. Congratulatory emails […]
Okay, we’ll concede that Bosses’ Day 2015 – October 16 – is another ploy of the greeting card industry to drum up sales. But it’s an interesting idea from a recognition standpoint. Where traditional recognition flows from the top down, and peer-to-peer recognition works laterally, Bosses’ Day is the one time when it comes from […]
Fostering an engaged workforce may start at the top, but it’s the next folks in line who drive it through the ranks and make it happen. Middle managers are the vital link between the corner office and the cubicle crowd. They set the example for engaged behavior, communicate corporate news and policies, and facilitate feedback […]
You’re sold on the concept of peer-to-peer recognition . You’ve convinced your managers of the benefits: greater employee engagement, improved morale, increased productivity and profitability. The question now is, how do you create, implement and sustain a program? First things first. The beauty of this type of program is that it’s totally customizable to every […]
By now, everybody should be on board with the importance of having an effective recognition program. Employees want to feel good about their performance and appreciated for their time and efforts. But a solid recognition program isn’t just about making people happy. Consistently administered and communicated, it will yield positive results throughout your organization. Did […]
As a manager, the last thing you need is another action item, right? But if you add this one task – and do it on a regular basis – you’ll be amazed at how much time it will save you on annual performance reviews. Ready? Here it is: Provide feedback. You might be thinking, “But […]
It might sound like fostering a culture of employee engagement is a simple sort of “touchy-feely” process. Get everyone to feel connected, make them happy, and you’re golden. True, it’s not hard to do. And it does involve an emotional appeal. But it also takes thought, resources and planning. If you’ve read our last few […]
You thought you’d heard the last word on employee engagement, right? Wrong! Because it’s so important to your organization’s success (and your personal success), we’re going to expand on the keys to fostering engagement among your workforce, starting with team building. Volumes have been written on team building, but you can save yourself a lot […]
One of the most fundamental rules of employee engagement is also one of the easiest to implement: internal communication. Here’s what employees want to know: “How are my contributions to the company making a difference?” Tell employees how they’ve helped to streamline processes, save money, increase profits and satisfy your customers…and be specific! “What’s going […]
You’re probably already keeping tabs on benefits in the marketplace so you can stay competitive. Great! But before you make any changes (or decide not to make changes), check with your employees. Benefits are an obvious reason why employees come on board – and why they stay. But in themselves, they don’t get employees engaged […]
“We’re engaged!” That ecstatic statement doesn’t only lead to the altar. Apply it to your organization and it leads to improved morale, higher productivity and greater profitability. For all the benefits you’ll reap from employee engagement, surprisingly it doesn’t take a great deal of effort to get their heads – and hearts – in the […]
It’s about time for some good economic news! After a long period of recession, recovery seems to be well underway. Corporate earnings are trending upwards. So is hiring…which can be bad news if your workforce is disengaged and looking to greener pastures. You might ask why you would want to keep unhappy employees. After all, […]
You might be old enough to remember a time when you played a game and there was only one trophy handed out. These days, it seems like “Everyone’s a winner!” whether they deserve it or not. Which begs the question, “How do you determine which employees warrant special recognition and/or reward…and for what types of […]
Corporate dress codes sure have relaxed over the years! It really wasn’t all that long ago that folks dressed up for the office like they were going to a semi-formal affair. Can you imagine today trading in your Dockers and polo shirt for a suit and tie? Not likely. The trend toward dressing down for […]
Management comes with its share of perks…and problems. One problem no manager looks forward to is having to let someone go. Okay, some actually seem to enjoy it, but that’s another article. Often, it’s simply a matter of having the right person in the wrong place. Best case scenario there is being able to move […]
Award Concepts Celebrates 30th Anniversary 2015 marks thirty years of providing excellent employee recognition solutions June 3, 2015 – Award Concepts, a leader in employee recognition programs and manufactured jewelry, celebrates its 30th anniversary. In 1985 co-founders Gordon Campbell and Bob La Frenier set out to develop cost-effective recognition programs for clients to demonstrate […]
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: employee recognition is about much more than gifts. Don’t get me wrong, gifts are great – especially when they come from Award Concepts! But if you rely just on anniversary gifts to show your appreciation, you’re losing valuable opportunities to build a positive corporate culture and […]
Our last article, The Buddy System, laid out the benefits and basics of a mentoring plan for new employees. But did you know that many of your more seasoned workers can also benefit from having a mentor…and that you can benefit too? Say you have a path to advancement within a department and you have […]
Congratulations! Your new hire made it through the first 90 days with flying colors. All those onboarding tips paid off, right? Yes, but you’re not finished just yet. One of the best ways to ensure continued success for your new hire is to assign a mentor. Studies show that retention rates for workers who have […]
Nurses do a lot for us. They are highly-trained, skilled professionals who care for our sick and disabled. A nurse helps to educate patients about healthy living as well as any current or chronic disease treatments. He or she also performs procedures as prescribed by physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. These responsibilities are just […]