{"id":1049,"date":"2022-04-14T12:50:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T12:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mo.work\/uncategorized\/what-is-employee-recognition-why-does-it-matter\/"},"modified":"2025-04-03T11:54:58","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T10:54:58","slug":"what-is-employee-recognition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mo.work\/insights\/what-is-employee-recognition\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Employee Recognition & Why Does it Matter?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Employee recognition is an essential part of making sure that your employees feel respected and valued. Let\u2019s look into why appreciating your employees is so important and how you can create a culture of recognition and gratitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your employees are your company. If this wasn\u2019t clear before, the past few years\u2019 events have provided unequivocal evidence. The companies that have thrived during these times have highly skilled, well-motivated employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can up skill our outstanding team members with specialised training and development opportunities, but keeping them happy and motivated is essential. Ping-pong tables and hang-out areas are simply not enough, and more companies now realise that employee recognition needs to be at the forefront of their business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is employee recognition?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Employee recognition is a sign of appreciation and gratitude to your employees for their efforts and achievements within your organisation. It is anything that shows your team members that you value how hard they\u2019ve been working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Implementing the right kind of recognition program is crucial in giving your company a competitive edge over others. They\u2019re a powerful tool for improving employee engagement, reducing staff turnover, increasing productivity, and building purpose when used correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although most recognition schemes operate top-down, that isn\u2019t the only way to help keep your employees motivated. Recognition from co-workers and peers can sometimes be even more effective at encouraging team members, and creating an enthusiastic and supportive workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is employee recognition important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Introducing proper processes for recognising your staff into your daily practices can considerably impact many areas across the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The connection between employee recognition and engagement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An engaged employee is a happy employee. Right? Engagement is one of the essential qualities you should want from your workers \u2013\u2013 and there\u2019s no faster way to get there than with proper recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider the results from Bayhealth Medical. When the organisation implemented a formal recognition program, employees reported feeling a greater sense of belonging and connection<\/a> to the company and with their coworkers. This can increase engagement and, in turn, staff satisfaction. But it also can\u2019t be a once-and-done exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognition needs to be ongoing rather than a one-off acknowledgement. A 2020 UK workplace culture study found that half of the employees who had been recognised within the past week were very engaged.<\/a> Fantastic numbers. But unfortunately, those numbers dropped to less than a third of employees recognised in the last month, and just 16% in the last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognition can lower the turnover of staff<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The proof is in the pudding. Employees want to feel appreciated, but more than that, be recognised. It\u2019s important to not just show appreciation for your top performers, as that can lower morale among other staff. More than half of employees want more recognition<\/a> from their direct manager, which means more than half of workers may soon be driven to quit their jobs if they don\u2019t get it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask yourself, what are you doing as a business to recognise your employees?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a perk for potential candidates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many things professionals look for when job-hunting: salary, perks, company culture\u2026 the good stuff. Increasingly, people are looking for more. It\u2019s become apparent that new applicants seek out jobs in organisations with established employee recognition programs \u2013\u2013 you might write it off. Still, it continues to be one of the most important employer traits<\/a> candidates looked for in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re hoping to recruit the top talent into your organisation \u2014 and keep them on board \u2014 having a good track record of employee appreciation is essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increased productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Happier workers are more productive at work. And not just marginally. Happiness makes staff around 13% more productive<\/a>. Big hitters such as Google now invest more in employee support, and satisfaction has risen<\/a> by an eye-watering 37% as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your organisation can foster a higher sense of well-being and happiness by simply instating an employee recognition program, leading to more productivity across the board. A small investment in a recognition program can pay massive dividends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improved employee satisfaction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We all go to work wanting to have some purpose. Whatever our job role is, it\u2019s important to make a difference \u2013\u2013 but if no one recognises that, what\u2019s the point in continuing? Multiple workplace studies have proven this direct link between recognition and a sense of purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A recent study found that three-quarters of US employees who were happy with the amount of praise their teams received<\/a> also strongly agreed that they felt their work was valuable and useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Build your company culture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite what some tech startups may think, company culture isn\u2019t just about having free beers on Thursdays, nap pods or an office ping-pong table (although they are pretty great). The culture of a company is built on the back of employee satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If people aren\u2019t happy with management practices and don\u2019t feel adequately recognised for their work, it will be near-impossible to build a positive culture in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decreased absence of staff<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

More engaged staff leads to staff being more eager to come to work. Period. While many absences can be attributed to sick days or personal issues, there\u2019s no denying that a lack of employee satisfaction can lead to this increased absence rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a Gallup report, businesses with employees actively engaged in their work have lower employee absenteeism rates<\/a> \u2013\u2013 by up to 41%. That\u2019s nothing to be scuffed at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does recognition look like?\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So what exactly does employee recognition look like? Recognition schemes or programs can take on many forms, but it\u2019s one of the most important and valuable areas a team can focus on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monetary Rewards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common staff reward schemes set out by companies is a tangible reward for doing a great job, such as receiving a gift card for a local restaurant or a voucher for a free coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another standard company reward idea is an employee of the month award, which usually involves all employees voting for who they think deserves it this month and potentially writing down why. Some organisations may even go further than this and offer a team of the month award, which can help boost team morale and spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verbal Praise\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

How often would you say thanks to one of your colleagues or employees? Verbal praise can make a bigger difference than you think, and you should never underestimate how powerful a simple \u2018well done\u2019 can be! It\u2019s a genuine form of appreciation, and the best way to do it is by explaining what you\u2019re thankful for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written Praise\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re going to give an employee written praise, you could do it through Mo<\/a>! On our platform, you can send your message of appreciation and gratitude<\/a> to an employee for the whole company to see, meaning it won\u2019t get lost in an inbox or Slack channel. When appreciation is given in the moment, it has the most significant potential for impact because the action is rewarded almost immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What defines an effective and successful employee recognition scheme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Recognition in the workplace is hugely important, but as we said, you need to get it right. Not all staff recognition schemes are equal. If you want to show your appreciation in ways that will motivate your staff, here are some features of a great staff recognition scheme to keep in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It reflects genuine appreciation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important aspects of showing your appreciation for your staff members is sincerity. One of the reasons why traditional staff reward schemes miss the mark is because they feel formulaic and insincere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why recognition is often deemed better than reward. Team members can interpret a voucher as a routine part of a scheme, whilst saying thank you, whether face-to-face or in a message, feels like a genuine gesture of appreciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than \u2018going through the motions\u2019, focus on paying attention to the staff members you\u2019re grateful for. This creates a sense of connection, which is key for successful recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s timely and responsive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It might be convenient for management to run monthly or quarterly reward and recognition processes. Unfortunately, this creates a disconnect between your team member\u2019s efforts and your appreciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some gestures of thanks might take a little time to organise, but make sure that you\u2019re showing your appreciation straight away. Take a few minutes to say thank you or highlight their efforts to the rest of the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s public<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not all recognition has to be public, but some of it should be. Making a public statement about an employee\u2019s great performance can help to build team cohesion and motivate the rest of your team at the same time. Making your praise public ensures that everyone knows what it takes to excel and creates a culture of appreciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s fair and open to all<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Having an excellent recognition scheme can be counterproductive if not everyone can participate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best staff recognition schemes encourage employees to show their appreciation to each other (peer-to-peer recognition), rather than relying just on top-down awards. Demonstrating that team members can also appreciate each other\u2019s efforts is one of the fastest ways to build team identity and cohesion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Great schemes are also broad enough to reward a wide range of employees and different types of success. This isn\u2019t about lowering the bar so everyone can be recognized. Instead, the aim is to be able to reward the myriad of ways that great employees can make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It reflects the company\u2019s values<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your employee recognition scheme is custom-designed to reinforce your company\u2019s values. This is your chance to demonstrate that your values are more than a slogan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan your scheme to reflect those values. If you value teamwork and collaboration, make sure that those qualities are rewarded regularly and publicly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever your values, recognise those team members who best embody them to create a strong company culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does recognition impact your bottom line?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ever wondered how much employee turnover is costing your business?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We touched lightly on the ways recognition can increase productivity and lower turnover, but did you know effective employee recognition schemes can save you money \u2013 and your best people \u2013 in the long run?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognition is free, and rewards also don\u2019t have to be expensive \u2013 they just have to be genuine. Giving your employees a \u2018thank you\u2019 for their hard work on a project will go further than gifting an expensive bottle of champagne to the employee who doesn\u2019t drink. Now, we\u2019re not saying rewards aren\u2019t a good idea. They just aren\u2019t what a strong employee appreciation program is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you take the time to research different employee recognition tools<\/a>, invest in a system your employees will engage with and continuously measure the success of your program<\/a>, your ROI will improve. As a result, your employees will become more engaged with the organisation and want to grow with your company.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Transform your culture with Mo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Book a free demo to learn how Mo can help you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n