Employees are undoubtedly one of the most valuable assets of an enterprise. Most
organizations are aware of this, yet they also face challenges in keeping their best talents. Do
you know why?
It is often observed that even the best employees often quit their jobs because of the lack of
recognition/appreciation. Recognizing their good work and appreciating the same not only
helps in retaining them but also inspires others to perform in the same manner.

What is Employee Recognition?

Employee recognition is the formal acknowledgment and appreciation of employees for
excellent contributions to their organization’s growth. It may be a shout-out for successfully
completing the assigned task, a bonus for hitting the monthly target, or anything else.
The primary objective of recognizing and appreciating the contributions of employees in an
organization is to encourage certain behaviors, practices, or actions that lead to unlocking the
full potential of employees and fruitful commercial outcomes.

Advantages of Employee Recognition

Employee recognition offers a number of advantages that can help your organization grow. For
example, it honors employees for their achievements at the workplace and places them above
their colleagues. They feel valued and put more effort into helping your company thrive.
Let’s explore some of the most crucial advantages of employee recognition:

1. Enhances the Joy and Happiness of Employees

Employees feel happy when praised for their performance in front of their colleagues. Receiving
recognition makes them feel as though they have mastered their tasks and are a perfect match
for both their position and the company. Moreover, the joy and excitement they get from
recognition motivate them to perform even better.

2. Increases Staff Retention Rate

Employees often leave companies where their contributions are not valued and appreciated.
This impacts a business’s bottom line and costs a lot of money. But things start to move in the
right direction when the company realizes the contributions of its staff members and rewards
them for the same. Their spirits are lifted, and they decide to stay and work rather than leave.

3. Boosts Productivity

When workers are aware of their value, it reflects in their work. Businesses that routinely utilize
recognition observe an improvement in the performance and productivity of their employees.
Repetition does occur when something is praised and rewarded. Similarly, employees keep
performing better when they receive appreciation for their excellent work.

4. Improves Workplace Culture

An organization’s workplace culture, which includes objectives, core values, and a vision of
everything connected, plays a significant role in its success. Employee recognition has a positive
effect on a company’s culture because it encourages an attitude of respect among all the staff
members. All this also helps companies in attracting the best talents.

5. Serves as an Example to Inspire Others

Individuals who succeed in their jobs, and are acknowledged for their efforts, often inspire
everyone concerned. Recognition not only inspires that person but also his/her coworkers to
work diligently. It promotes friendly competition among peers, which would help them enhance
their abilities and skills. This, eventually, makes a company more efficient than its competitors.

6. Results in Improved Customer Services

Customers frequently form their initial impressions of a business by interacting with its
employees. Employees who feel appreciated provide excellent customer service. When they are
acknowledged, fairly rewarded, respected, and generally well-treated, they put the
requirements of customers first.

7. Aids Recruitment of Top Talent

Hiring becomes easier when job applicants realize that the company they are applying to has an
acknowledgment-focused culture. Moreover, a strong recognition program can turn current
staff into hardcore fans. Employees who feel appreciated and recognized spread the word about
the company, which paves a better way to draw top talent.

How to Recognize Employees?

Nowadays, employee recognition programs help companies recognize employees. But, even in
these companies, staff members complain that their contributions are not acknowledged. It
indicates that employees are not properly recognized. Here are some ideas to help you start
realizing the hard work of your employees:

1. Bonuses or Treats

There are several methods to appreciate your staff members for a job well done. Here are a few
of them:
● Monetary incentives will show them their worth and give them the impression that the
company values and appreciates their hard work.
● Employees who perform well can be given free company-branded gifts, t-shirts,
sweatshirts, or keepsakes (such as pens, bags, mugs, etc.).
● Give your staff members meal coupons or free lunches when they work well.

2. Employee Appreciation Days and Events

It’s ideal to recognize your top workers in front of their coworkers so that their self-esteem gets
boosted. Since they know you value them as employees, they will work hard to be seen. You
may also host awards ceremonies for top performers.
Do not forget to celebrate their birthdays, family additions, work anniversaries, and other
significant life events. You may simply add a thank you card to your employees’ paychecks or
send them an email for their contribution. Remember that methods for recognizing employees
at work don’t have to be complex or expensive. Even the smallest actions can have the greatest
impact.

3. Employee Recognition Board or Wall

The Recognition Board or Wall is just another of those innovative ideas for employee
recognition. You may set up a board in the workplace and ask everyone there to fill it with sticky
notes containing messages of appreciation for outstanding coworkers.
Those that did well can use this as motivation to keep improving. Additionally, it will encourage
individuals whose names aren’t put on the board or wall to keep striving for improvement until
written messages with their names on them appear.

Conclusion

There are several ways to implement employee recognition in a company; however, it all starts
with the workplace culture. A company may consider integrating an employee recognition
program that emphasizes honoring top performers in the workplace. This might serve as the
cornerstone for future retention strategies, continuous staff development, and strong employee
engagement.