How to Build a Successful Employee Recognition Program

Employee recognition is integral to work performance, employee engagement, and high retention rates. Without it, employees may lose loyalty and even feel undervalued, this can lead to higher employee turnover and loss of work motivation. 

Knowing how vital employee recognition is, you will likely want to build a program that ensures all employees – from the salespeople to the interns – receives appropriate credit. The question is, how do you do that?

Follow these steps to build a good employee recognition program that produces results.

Start with the Why

To start the program, you need approval from across the board. That’s why you should start by listing all the reasons you want to do it. That might include the need to decrease employee turnover, or wanting to create a more positive work environment. Next, go into why the program is integral to these outcomes and exactly how it will reach them. At this stage, you will need to do some heavy research.

Set Goals

Next, set clear, concise goals – the type that you can track. For example, one of your goals might be to increase employee retention. You can track the retention rate at the start of the employee recognition program and then do the same in a year’s time. It will give you a clear idea of whether or not you’ve reached your goals.

Build a Team of Employee Recognition Leaders

To make the program work, you need a team of motivated leaders to implement it throughout the company, so bring the best minds together to get started. Choose leaders that are:

• Motivated
• Great Communicators
• Creative
• Innovative
• Inspiring

Once you’ve assembled the team, you can start creating, promoting, and implementing an employee recognition program.

Understand What Works

It’s not enough to give praise when you think it’s necessary – you must consider what actually works. Too much recognition will feel inauthentic, while not enough won’t create the results you are after.

When creating the program, consider specifics such as how often the praise gets given, how quickly it gets received, and what values are most rewarded.

Decide the Program’s Criteria for Recognition and Rewards

To create a good employee recognition program, you must decide what type of workplace behaviours you will recognise and how you will reward them. For example, when it comes to choosing where to give praise, will you focus more on results, or will you draw attention to those who have worked hard over a long period?

There are plenty of options for the rewards, such as giving a shout-out on social media, throwing appreciation events, and having an employee of the month. You must decide what will work best for the business. 

Use a Recognition Program

A specifically made employee recognition program will help you create a company culture based around valuing hard work. Use a program that allows employees to give and receive praise, too, so everyone in the workspace can benefit from the program. Doing so will create a stronger, more productive, and more positive work environment.