Employee Recognition and Reward List

This was posted on the intranet at my job, but I thought it would be a good reminder for my own organization as well.

Employee Recognition and

Reward List

1.      Create a Hall of Fame wall with photos of outstanding employees.

2.      Encourage and recognize staff that pursues continuing education.

3.      Post a thank you note on an employee’s door.

4.      Create and post an “Employee Honor Roll” in reception area.

5.      Make a photo collage about a successful project that shows the participants, stages of development and the completion and presentation.

6.      Make a thank-you card by hand.

7.      Make and deliver a fruit basket.

8.      Inscribe a favorite book as a gift.

9.      Establish a place to display memos, posters, photos and so on, recognizing progress towards goals and thanking individual employees for their help.

10.  Establish a “Behind the Scenes” award specifically for those whose actions are not usually in the limelight.

11.  Give special assignments to people who show initiative.

12.  Design a “Stress Support Kit” that includes aspirin, a comedy CD, wind-up toys and stress ball – or design your own.

13.  At a monthly staff meeting, award an Employee of the Month and have everyone at the meeting stand up and say why that person is deserving of the award.

14.  Serve ice cream sundaes to all of your employees at the end of a project.

15.  Name a continuing recognition award after an outstanding employee.

16.  Purchase a unique pin to serve as a memento for a task well done.

17.  Create an “Above and Beyond the Call of Duty (ABCD) Award.”

18.  Ask your boss to attend a meeting with your employees during which you thank individuals and groups for their specific contributions.

19.  Pop in at the first meeting of a special project team and express your appreciation for their involvement.

20.  Send a letter to all team members at the conclusion of a project, thanking them for their participation.

21.  Give a personalized coffee cup.

22.  Plan a surprise achievement celebration for an employee or group of employees.

23.  Start a suggestion program.

24.  Give “Mr. Goodbar (candy bar) Awards.”

25.  Write a letter of praise recognizing specific contributions and accomplishments. Send a copy to senior management.

26.  When you hear a positive remark about someone, repeat it to that person as soon as possible (face-to-face is best, email or voice mail are good in a pinch).

27.  Call an employee to your office to thank them (don’t discuss any other issue).

28.  If you have a department newsletter, publish a “kudos” column and ask for nominations throughout the department.

29.  Publicly recognize the positive impact on operations of the solutions employees devise for problems.

30.  Express an interest in employee’s career development goals.

31.  Post a large “celebration calendar” in your work area. Tack on notes of recognition to specific dates.

32.  Give a deserving employee a mug filled with treats.

33.  Give a framed poem (poster or card) as a thank you.

34.  Greet employees by name.

35.  Practice positive nonverbal behaviors that demonstrate appreciation.

36.  Actively listen to co-workers, especially when discussing their accomplishments and contributions.

37.  Use 3x5 cards to write “You’re special because…” statements. People can collect the cards and refer to them when things aren’t going perfectly.

38.  Have a recognition event created by a peer group that decides what they will give and why they will give it.