Employee Recognition for National Work & Family Month
National Work & Family Month (NWFM) isn’t just a conceptual idea to prompt employers to take work life balance seriously. The U.S. Senate has declared this an annual event, stating that “reducing the conflict between work and family life should be a national priority."1 Utilize the month of October to celebrate your workers’ families, personal interests, and personal goals. You could hold month-long inter-office contests with prizes that reward for their enthusiasm and participation, offer spot-rewards for employee recognition, encourage folks to share their work-life and work-family balance ideas, and hold prize drawings. What are America’s most prized rewards? Gift cards. They make the perfect reward for workplace events and celebrations. Albertsons gift cards for high quality foods and treats for loved ones, Speedway gas and Autozone gift cards to show appreciation for the long commutes that take away from family time, The Children’s Place for outfitting young families…you get the picture.
Why Employee Ambassadors Improve the Bottom Line
What Incentives Do Employees Want?
Delivering employee incentives can only be effective if the incentives available are satisfying to employees. Here are a few popular employee incentives according to a new
Wicke's For Business article.
Travel Packages: Sending employees on a trip for a job well done on a big project, or as part of a bonus is becoming an increasingly popular option for employers. It creates a memorable experience for employees and carries a fixed cost for employers.
Gift Cards: Gift cards to popular retailers such as
CVS/Pharmacy,
Boston Market and
Crutchfield carry the same flexibility of cash but have better trophy value. Employees are more likely to use the gift card on a special occasion, rather than cash bonuses that often get rolled in to paying bills and household costs.
Social Rewards: Giving public praise and socializing employee rewards is a great way to reinforce desired behavior. Public praise does not only reward one employee for a job well done, but it shoes other employees what management is looking for in employee performance.
How to Foster Employee Loyalty
Compensation: Compensating employees can take many forms, and in order to foster employee loyalty compensation should extend beyond a paycheck. Standard payment is important, however finding innovative ways to compensate employees will help maintain loyalty among your workforce. Using spot rewards, like small denomination gift cards to popular retailers like
CVS/Pharmacy,
The Cheesecake Factory and
The Limited is a great way to show employees you noticed extra effort on a specific project, or appreciated them staying late one night.
Environment: Creating a comfortable environment where goals are clearly stated and communication is clear between peers and from managers to their team is key in creating a culture of loyalty. Working hard and having fun as a team will form relationships and camaraderie that foster loyalty, job satisfaction and improved productivity.
Combat Workplace Stress with Health and Wellness Programs
Workplace stress is an increasingly common issue, affecting both employee well-being and company performance. According to the American Institute of Stress, job-related stress is the primary source of stress for American adults, with 83% of U.S. workers reporting stress-related symptoms. This stress not only impacts individual health but also costs American businesses a staggering $300 billion annually due to absenteeism, turnover, and reduced productivity.
