The Dos and Don’ts of a Great Employee Rewards Program

When it comes to employee retention, happiness, and productivity, many staff will tell you there is nothing like recognition for your hard work. And a powerful way to recognise staff is through an employee rewards program. However, in order for a program to work well, it must be done right. Here’s what you should – and shouldn’t – do:

The Dos of a Great Rewards Program

Do recognise repeatable wins

Behavioural psychology says that behaviour that is rewarded will be repeated. Therefore, a rewards program to recognise behaviour you want to see more of in your workforce is a great tool for this.

Do give tangible rewards

While just saying thank you can mean a lot to a person, if you are setting up a rewards program, pairing that thank you with tangible rewards adds impact to the exchange and drives home the message that the employee is appreciated. Most programs offer a mix of monetary and non-monetary recognition – as long as it is memorable, it will be effective.

Do recognise publicly

All recognition means something and sometimes people prefer to be privately thanked, but it often means even more when it’s with colleagues. It gives people the opportunity to chime in and amplify the sentiment, giving everyone those good feels.

Do give recognition at the right time

You can and should give recognition frequently. Always try to recognise staff as soon as possible when an employee does something to meet the criteria for a reward. Giving recognition following an achievement reinforces the behaviour employees should continue to demonstrate.

The Don’ts of a Great Rewards Program

Don’t make recognition unachievable

If you are planning to introduce or want to refresh a rewards program, it’s important to make it attainable for everyone. While it should require effort to get, it shouldn’t feel like an impossible task.

Don’t let recognition be your only form of feedback

Employee recognition should be balanced with constructive criticism that can be delivered smoothly. While not often thought of, employee recognition programs help employers to deliver this feedback. When employees have been praised for all the things they’re doing right, it’s easier for them to listen when areas for improvement are brought to their attention.

Don’t forget to say thank you

Not every achievement fits into a set criteria or requires rewarding through a program. Nothing is so small that you can’t make it known that you appreciate a job well done. Whether it be a simple note, a verbal thanks, thanking them in front of their peers, or making a social media post about it, appreciation doesn’t have to be costly or time-consuming, as long as it means something to you and the recipient.

Employee rewards programs are a great way to recognise the good work your staff do. Remember these tips to make sure it counts!