When it comes to building a solid workforce, employee rewards and recognition rank not-so-surprisingly high on the list of perks that attract quality job-seekers.
Does your business have an employee recognition program in place to attract and retain top talent?
Maybe your existing system isn’t keeping up with your growing business.
In either case, your left-click on this page was not a mistake!
There are some important questions to ask when launching a new employee rewards system (or revitalizing an outgrown one). If you’re brand new to the conversation, your first question may be simply… what are employee rewards and recognition (or R&R)?
R&R programs essentially allow everyone in the organization the opportunity to recognize other employees’ efforts in a timely manner and on a regular basis. These systems reward teamwork and shine a spotlight on your top performers and those who go the extra mile.
We’ve got the breakdown on employee recognition ideas and exactly why an effective rewards program is so necessary for a happier, healthier workplace culture.
For the 411 on everything R&R and the positive impact they make on your employees and your ROI, don’t stop here!
In a hurry? These are some of our favorite platforms to send rewards to your employees:
| WorkTango | 🏆 Distribute milestone tokens that can be used for curated rewards & incentives | Visit WorkTango |
| Bonusly | 💯 Send redeemable points with social recognition | Visit Bonusly |
| Motivosity | 🎁 Get something off their wishlist | Visit Motivosity |
| Bucketlist | ✈️ Gift them an experience of a lifetime | Visit Bucketlist |
| Mo Work | 📢 Recognize them via a company-wide shoutout | Visit Mo Work |
What are employee rewards and recognition?
Employee rewards and recognition are gifts or accolades given to employees to express how much their individual contributions are noticed and genuinely appreciated. These go beyond the birthday cakes, work anniversaries, and age-old employee-of-the-month plaques.
Typically, these rewards are given as a direct reflection of employee performance, therefore, recognizing their great work.
Differences between employee rewards and recognition
1 Rewards are tangible.
Rewards are usually a physical token of some kind. Award certificates, gift cards, and swag bags are all examples of tangible rewards.
2 Recognition can be given at any time.
Praise doesn’t require pregaming. Acknowledging an employee’s hard work can be dished in just a few words at any moment.
3 Rewards are tied to performance.
Employees are rewarded for reaching certain milestones or achievements. Meeting the monthly sales goals or locking down a big new client are perfect examples of reward-worthy accomplishments.
Employee Rewards and Recognition Program Examples
1 Google
Google is winning BIG in this department because they opted for a solid offense very early on.
They were dabbling in rewards and recognition programs long before they hit everyone’s home page, and have stayed ahead of the game ever since. They wanted to ensure employees across the organization were already happy at work instead of having to play from behind the 8-ball to improve satisfaction.
Platform they use: Caroo
“Employees will end up happier if you give them an experience—something personal and nonfinancial”.
Impact: Google has increased its productivity by 12% by focusing on its employees’ ongoing happiness, not just periodic pockets of appreciation.
2 LogicMonitor
Facing an acquisition, LogicMonitor understood this also meant exponential personnel growth. They needed a recognition program that could integrate with their current program and continue to scale with them.
Platform they use: Kazoo
“From creating Incentives to running analytics to receiving or sending points and redeeming rewards for the user, the platform is useful, intuitive, and rewarding.” ~Gillian Calley, Learning & Development Business Partner
Impact: Engagement on the platform and recognition nominations have dramatically increased and their overall employee experience has been improved as a result.
3 TaylorMade
TaylorMade’s reward program was antiquated, to put it mildly. They were only able to offer a limited selection of items to their employees and managing a global workforce was a logistical nightmare. They needed a program with more options that could deliver to ALL their employees, especially after the shift to a more remote workforce. With that in mind, they decided to create an employee recognition program that fit their company’s needs.
Platform they use: Awardco
“Awardco is the perfect platform for our employee recognition program. It supports our unique employee culture and community.” ~Rosie Scannell, Global HR
Impact: Their employees now have millions of rewards to choose from that are delivered right to their doors. The upgrade in TaylorMade’s R&R program has refocused their HR group and revitalized the entire culture.
4 Chobani
In 2016, with over 2000 employees, Chobani acknowledged that their top-down recognition program wasn’t effectively rewarding their workforce. There was no peer-to-peer recognition or bottom-up employee appreciation, which severely limited the entire concept.
They needed a more timely and inclusive platform for their employees to be able to engage and participate in as well.
Platform they use: Bonusly
“Our employees wanted frequent recognition, and the program empowers them to recognize each other. Having the ability to recognize someone immediately is the most valuable part of Bonusly.” ~Andrew Schrader, Manager, Human Resources
Impact: In 2017 – it’s first full year of implementation – there were over 63,000 recognitions recorded. That’s an average of almost 175 per day, every single day of the year!
Courtesy of Bonusly
5 SHRM
As an HR-centered company, emphasis on the “H” is extra important when it comes to attracting and retaining the best employees. At SHRM, their intention was to integrate a recognition platform that assured inclusivity so that ALL their employees could be rewarded and empowered.
Platform they use: Nectar
SHRM is thrilled with Nectar’s ability to “provide 360-degree recognition and performance management so nobody in the company ever feels like they’re just a number.”
Impact: Together with Nectar, SHRM has created a program that both challenges and rewards employees, while keeping everyone connected.
6 Spotify
Leapsome has labeled itself a “people enablement platform” and that’s just what Spotify was looking for. The features they offer are all-inclusive and gave Spotify the full 360 employee management and rewards platform they were missing.
Platform they use: Leapsome
Spotify is so pleased with Leapsome’s platform, they rate it 4.9 out of 5 on G2.
Impact: Spotify scored the top spot in Newsweek’s list of “America’s Most Loved Workplaces” in 2021, so they’re definitely doing something right!
7 Sodexo
As Amazon and other digital marketplaces began taking over the world, Sodexo’s tangible gift cards were becoming more of a logistical nuisance than a rewarding experience.
Their workforce needed a platform with features that could cater to the individuals, despite their wide global reach.
Platform they use: WeGift
“Through its team, technology, and the power of open-value rewards, WeGift Connect has revitalised our e-voucher card offering.” ~Ben Jones, Partner and Affiliate Director, Sodexo
Impact: FORTUNE Magazine has honored Sodexo on their “World’s Most Admired Companies” list for 11 consecutive years – third overall in 2021 – so they’ve clearly established and maintained their attractiveness.
Importance of Employee Rewards and Recognition
➤ Promotes a Trusting Culture
Rewarded employees report feeling a deeper level of trust in their employers. This creates stronger bonds, exemplifies your company values, and drives a healthy culture.
Why this matters: A rewarding company culture increases employee motivation and employees’ productivity. The ripple effects pay immeasurable dividends.
➤ Happier Employees
Employees who feel appreciated for the time and energy they pour into their jobs are simply happier. Happy employees are more engaged and motivated, which helps perpetuate a positive company culture.
Why this matters: Your employees are the heartbeat of the company so paying attention to their well-being will help you continue to attract (and retain) quality team members.
➤ Increased Employee Retention
A work environment where people are seen and appreciated creates a workforce of satisfied employees… who stay. Lowering turnover automatically increases your ROI on your rewards program.
Why this matters: Improving retention reduces your costs associated with repeatedly recruiting, onboarding, and training new employees, so you’ll actually save money
What are the different types of rewards and recognition?
| # | Different Types of Rewards & Recognition |
| 1 | Social Recognition |
| 2 | Employee Benefit + Perks |
| 3 | Monetary Reward |
| 4 | Non-monetary Incentive |
| 5 | Spot Bonus |
| 6 | Large Company Goal Achievement |
1) Social Recognition
Social recognition gives a voice to every employee, at every level, in every location. The ability to reward coworkers, regardless of positional ranking, allows for more frequent and timely recognition.
2) Employee Benefit + Perks
Offering exclusive benefits and perks as recognition is a great alternative to monetary rewards. Ideas like getting to work out of the corner office for a week, discounts on entertainment, or free lunch once a week for a month are all sweet little extras that don’t have a major cost impact on your bottom line.
3) Monetary Reward
SHOW THEM THE MONEY! You don’t have to actually hand them an envelope of cash though. Monetary rewards come in many forms, like gift cards, extra shares of company stock, or a bonus investment dropped into their 401(k).
4) Non-Monetary Incentive
These motivators provide an opportunity to humanize your recognition. An extra vacation day, experiential rewards, their photo on the Employee Wall Of Fame, and social media shout-outs are more personal and less transactional than monetary options.
5) Spot Bonus
Immediate rewards. These are usually monetary gifts, dished out as spontaneous recognition for an employee’s stellar actions or accomplishments. A spot bonus can be a versatile way to deliver recognition at a moment’s notice.
6) Large Company Goal Achievement
Reaching (and ideally exceeding) your larger company goals means that a cluster of team and individual goals must be met. Celebrating those smaller goals fuels motivation that leads to blowing the roof off the big ones.
Conclusion
High-performing employees are all motivated by something in their jobs. That something could be personal financial goals, positional success, or maybe even philanthropic visions. But what about the benefits (and we’re not talking about the health coverage and 401(k) match)?
You obviously want the most qualified people working for your organization. But how do you attract that caliber of candidates? Even bigger… how do you keep them?
SHOW them that they matter!
Your top employees deserve to know they’re valued. Thank-you notes are nice but they don’t do much for the relational connections needed throughout your workforce. R&R can bridge those gaps, improve the culture, and provide a whole lot of work-life satisfaction for your employees.
People Also Ask These Questions About Employee Rewards and Recognition
Q: What can organizations do to recognize and reward employees?
- A: Organizations can recognize and reward employees with gift cards, spot bonuses, social media kudos, experiential gifts, and a variety of non-monetary incentives.
Q: What are the effects of giving rewards to employees?
- A: The effects of giving rewards to employees are happier employees, better retention records, and they create a trusting culture of gratitude.
Q: How do I know if my employee rewards and recognition programs are successful?
- A: You’ll know if your employee rewards and recognition programs are successful by the level of employee engagement in your chosen program and when you can identify less absenteeism and turnover in your workforce of more motivated employees.
