Most employers seem oblivious to how lame their “employee rewards programs” really are.
Here’s the truth: no one really wants an Employee of the Month certificate.
It’s a piece of paper. It’s worthless. It’s not something you’d frame and put on the wall. It won’t help you impress that hot guy/girl. It doesn’t even do anything for your resume.
How exactly does something this lame boost company morale and loyalty? Hint: it doesn’t.
But isn’t it the thought that counts?
Sure – the thought does count. But how much thought goes into a cheap, cheesy certificate? Or into a $25 gift card to Wal-Mart? Think about it. What message are you really sending to your employees with these pathetic rewards? “I think your extra effort is worth some mass-produced paper and ink?”
Look. If you really want to show your employees that you care, you’ve gotta make it a priority. Something that you actually spend time and money and thought on.
This is Real Employee Appreciation
About a month and a half ago, several of my co-workers and I worked an 18-hour day at the office to help resolve a company crisis.
To say thank you, our CEO and CTO took us all out to a fantastic dinner at a fantastic restaurant. They treated us to fine wine, appetizers, perfectly broiled steaks, desserts, and drinks at a nice bar afterward – the works.
We are not an enormously wealthy company. And this was not cheap.
I didn’t see the bill, but judging from the prices on the menu (plus the multiple bottles of quality wine), I’m pretty sure that the tab ran well into the four digits. It would have been cheaper for them to pay us by the hour for the extra work we’d put in. But they chose the more expensive option. Plus they took the time to eat, talk, laugh, and just hang out with us personally.
Now do you think anyone at that dinner felt it was a lame reward? Or do you think all of us will be busting our asses at work to make sure we more than repay our fearless leaders for the wonderful evening out?
See, it’s a funny thing. When you really show someone that you appreciate them – when you really put effort into it – they feel compelled to return the favor many times over.
An economy of gratitude – that’s how a great company should work.
Getting Rid of the Lameness
So how do you fix your lame employee rewards program?
- Go a little overboard. This is not the time to be stingy. Whether it’s time, money, praise, or any combination of the above, show your appreciation by giving generously. You’ll have to keep it reasonable, of course (don’t bankrupt your company), but push the boundaries a little. That extra investment won’t go unnoticed.
- Get personally involved. Gratitude is personal. It’s something best expressed face-to-face. It’s not something that you convey through a standardized, formulaic program. If you want to reward your employees, do it personally. That way it actually means something.
- Think outside the office. Make your rewards special by thinking outside the office. While in-office recognition is great, something that’s useful even out of the office will be that much more memorable. Just make sure it’s not a cheap cop-out (like a $25 Wal-Mart gift card).
- Apply the “significant other” test. Don’t be cheap. If your reward isn’t something worth giving to a significant other on a special occasion, it may be time to reconsider. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give something expensive – it just means that your reward has to show genuine appreciation.
- Create an appreciative environment. One-off rewards can’t cover up a noxious office environment. If you want to make your company a great place to work, you’ll have to prove your commitment every day. You’ll need to lead by example, not just by offering occasional rewards.
How Would You Show Appreciation?
What makes you feel valued and appreciated at work? What makes you feel the opposite? How can we move past the meaningless gestures and worthless certificates and really show our appreciation? What does a great work environment mean to you? Show off your ideas below!
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