In a professional world that increasingly sees employees bounce from employer to employer in lieu of remaining under one particular roof, building employee loyalty and cultivating an environment that promotes retention is more important than ever. While there are few replacements for a good package of benefits and competitive pay, they are not the only solutions to low retention. More than ever, employees care about the culture of their workplace—and why shouldn’t they? As the place where we spend the majority of our waking week, the workplace should be a positive and low-stress environment to encourage good mental health and, consequently, quality work.
Some ways of building a positive culture are workplace amenities, access to psychological resources, professional development opportunities, and employee recognition programs. In fact, academic studies have even found that a well-devised and thoughtfully executed employee recognition program can result in a 31% reduction in voluntary turnover!
What is an Employee Recognition Program?
Employee Recognition Programs are ways to recognize good performance and hard work of accomplished employees, and letting them know they’re appreciated. There are multiple ways to show appreciation, from simple kind words to branded gifts; all of which are immaterial compared to the feelings of appreciation and recognition that drive employee loyalty.
Not only is employee recognition great for singling out particularly hardworking members of the team, it’s a great incentive to implement team wide! Sometimes a company supplying employees with swag, required uniforms and PPE, or branded gifts can make the difference between a job worth staying at and a new opportunity elsewhere.
Getting The Most From an Employee Recognition Program
While the most important thing about employee recognition is making workers feel valued and that their workplace is not only a job, but a long-term partnership between them and their employer; it’s also a great way to drive up profits and create long term growth in a company. The trickle-down effect of happy and appreciated employees on productivity, work quality, and customer/client retention is well-documented, with studies finding that happy workers are up to 13% more productive. There are a few ways that a company can use employee recognition programs to foster this relationship.
Set Employees Up For Success
You only get one first impression. Set a precedent for employee recognition right out of the gate. It’s not unheard of to incentivize new employees with welcome gifts of branded company swag for use in the office or just everyday life. Some examples include:
Swag and assorted goodies aren’t the only way to make a good first impression. Providing the employee with the required equipment for the job may seem obvious, but many employers require new hires to purchase the equipment themselves, or at least cover the cost from their paychecks. However, if it’s possible to bear the expense, providing new employees with their uniforms, PPE, and other required apparel is a great way to earn the trust and loyalty of your employees straight out of the gate.
Don’t Let Excellence Go Unnoticed
It’s no surprise that high-performing employees that receive no recognition will soon start to grow resentful and restless, and it’s not uncommon for even appreciative employers to neglect showing their star workers that they’re appreciated. Some businesses have regular evaluations or even awards ceremonies (like at holiday parties), while some employers just want to single a worker out for an accomplishment or their recent good work. Either way, there are a variety of ways to show them they’re not going unnoticed without breaking the budget, such as:
- Custom plaques
- Etched glass vases
- Paperweights (with six different kinds available)
- Clocks and watches
- & more!
Your Partner in Employee Recognition
Action Specialties is your one-stop-shop for your company’s employee recognition program. We partner with countless industry leaders to offer you and your employees the widest variety of options available, and our online store makes ordering quick and easy. Be sure to check out the many quality brands we’ve partnered with to offer a wide selection of quality workwear, PPE, and more.