How to Engage Employees with Rewards
With the holiday season coming up, employees look forward to receiving bonuses. For one, bonuses are mandated by the government. And it can also be a voluntary gesture from the company to acknowledge the employees’ contribution to its success.
Still, you need not wait for the holidays to show your employees that you appreciate them for the work they do. You can begin engaging your employees and motivate them even more with an effective reward system, especially in the areas of compensation, benefits, recognition and appreciation.
With careful review of your company culture and budget, you can create an efficient rewards and recognition programs that will boost employee engagement in your workplace. And these can be applied all throughout the year. It also does not mean that your rewards system should always be in a monetary way. Allow us to provide you with these suggestions to give your employees rewards that will encourage better performance, benefit their overall welfare, and show them genuine appreciation.
1. Offer office perks.
Say, offer free parking spaces for employees who have perfect attendance for the month or free lunch to those who have no tardy reports. These special privileges can motivate better working attitude and relational outlook for your staff and encourage those who need to improve also.
2. Reward exemplary job performance.
When your team meets a daunting sales target or achieves important metrics then organizing a recognition event, every quarter can be a good motivation for your employees. Give away special awards for individual and team efforts. If your company budget permits, then it won’t hurt to include a modest amount of cash prize for meeting goals that have a significant effect to your company as a whole.
3. Acknowledge model behavior.
Recognize behavior that reinforces your company core values such as exceptional leadership, stellar customer service attitude, and best team work among others. This will foster better workplace relationships among your employees while exhibiting dependable working habits. Acknowledge these model behaviors in both individual and group efforts and see it become a culture that will reverberate from beyond your office walls.
4. Provide alternative reward options.
Having a rewards system that gives employees monetary return for the good work and attitude they displayed is fine but it does not mean it should always be the case. You can provide reward alternatives like telecommute opportunities, gift certificates, free skills enhancement training of their choice, and even a personal written recognition from the CEO can show your employees that you truly appreciate and value their hard work.
5. Surprise them.
Receiving a reward at work is normally expected, but you can bring your employees delight on any given day. This works especially when your employees are in the middle of meeting a deadline or after a series of stressful workdays to achieve a target. Motivate them by giving away treats like unlimited donuts throughout the day, free massages while at work or cocktail drinks after work hours to unwind. You can also have short film-showing on the office floor once in a while to make work more bearable especially during toxic days. Any gesture that will help your employees de-stress and lighten their work load will make them feel grateful they work for your company—that in itself is already a reward for any employee.
Remember, your employees are people too, and they need to feel validated and appreciated. Rewards are more than paying back the worker for a job well done, but it is establishing meaningful relationships with those who spend their days ensuring that your business is up and running. We hope these five suggestions will help you shape up an effective rewards system for your workforce and boost employee engagement in your company.
Sources:
1. The Best Ways to Reward Employees
2. Rewarding Employees on a Budget
3. Top 3 Employee Rewards and Recognition Trends for 2014
4. 25 Low Cost Ways to Reward Employees
