You would think that saying thank you for work well done wouldn’t be a hard task for many bosses. But it seems that they need to work a bit harder on the recognition and reward front as a recent survey revealed that 60% of UK employees believe more recognition would improve their workplace experience.

Over the past 10 years, employee recognition has been on the radar for HR teams and bosses. Indeed, during Covid it increased significantly with more companies establishing employee reward schemes. But, according to the same survey, there are still more than a third (35%) of the UK workforce that feel while they do get recognition, it is insincere, not authentic and meaningless – ouch!

Employee recognition is fast becoming a cornerstone for effective and constructive management within the workplace. As the competition for talent continues to rapidly increase, how you as an employer recognise and reward well performing employees is a crucial bargaining chip. So, why is employee recognition so important? What are the benefits and how do you make sure you’re recognising and rewarding your best asset?

Why you should prioritise employee recognition

Employee recognition is an employer recognising and rewarding their employees for work (consistently and individually) well done. This could be in reference to their performance, behaviour and other contributions. The recognition also takes many forms, such as verbal praise, reward programmes, bonuses and other company incentives.

The important thing to remember is that employee recognition must be sincere, authentic and not a ‘flash in the pan’, ‘keep them quiet’ action. A consistent, ongoing recognition programme creates a healthy and productive workplace. Employees feel respected and valued, have much greater job satisfaction, become highly motivated and engaged, feel secure in their roles and are 87% less likely to leave the company.

From an early age, it is our natural instinct to seek praise and recognition – from our parents, at school, from our peers, from our partners, from our colleagues and our bosses. With recognition for our learning, our development, our behaviour, our achievements and more, we thrive as a person. It makes us happy; it motivates us to learn more, give more, achieve more… It benefits everyone around us. So why isn’t giving recognition and reward a natural instinct, too? There can be any number of reasons, such as workplace hierarchy, old-fashioned views, lack of forward-thinking, lack of resources to fund specific R&R programmes or just plain, old forgetfulness. Whatever the reason, employers need to address the issue and make recognition a habit. Why? Because employee recognition boosts:

• Greater employee engagement.
• High performance and increased productivity.
• The retention of your best talent.
• Teamwork and communication.
• Morale and motivation.
• Feelings of respect, being valued, being heard and appreciated.
• Company growth.

Employees recognised for their work are 2.2 times more likely to go that extra mile, go above and beyond their regular responsibilities. Imagine what you could achieve with an entire workforce feeling this happy and motivated?

7 top tips to implementing a successful employee recognition programme

Employee recognition schemes or programmes can take many forms, from simple verbal praise to more formal awards and incentives. However, there are key underlying aspects that should be incorporated to make sure employees feel valued and appreciated for their work. The good news is that none of it is complicated or expensive so, here are our 7 top tips to help you. 

• Make it specific and relevant. Authenticity and genuineness is vital if the recognition is to be appreciated. So, make sure it is tailored to that person and relevant to their achievement. Define what the reward is for and how it helped colleagues and the company; how their actions and behaviour made a difference. 
• Involve everyone and get feedback. Get everyone on board and involved in your employee recognition programme. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback; it’ll show you how you can support and reward your best asset. The more involved and valued your employees feel, the greater the reward for everyone in the workplace. 
• Be proactive and timely. Don’t delay; do it today. There’s no point rewarding someone six months after the event or achievement – recognise it now to demonstrate authenticity, meaningful and fully appreciated. Inconsistent recognition is more likely to lead to a lack of belief, decreased morale and higher turnover rates. 
• Recognition comes in many forms. You don’t have to break the bank to recognise your staff as plenty of research shows that money is not the only motivator. In fact, a study carried out by The Incentive Research Foundation revealed that 65% of employees prefer a non-cash reward. So, think outside the box. 
• The little things really do count. Without doubt, employers must recognise the bigger achievements by their staff but there’s so much more bosses (and colleagues, for that matter) can do to show their appreciation. A handwritten note, internal shout-outs and even that often little-used ‘thank you’ will make someone’s day. Everyone should learn by heart this quote by Maya Angelou: 
  “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 
• Make it visible. Making sure employee recognition is visible not only reinforces the behaviour being recognised, but it also sets an example for other employees to follow. Share achievements through the company-wide email, bulletin boards, intranets and social media platforms. 
• Remember the bigger picture. Recognising employees helps them understand how their actions impact the company overall. It builds a sense of togetherness and the benefits of success will be felt by all.

It’s simple to set up, it’s simple to follow and the rewards are unlimited!

We know the importance of employee recognition and believe that identifying achievements and rewarding employees is a must, particularly when an effective employee recognition programme can reduce staff turnover by 31%.Auxato is a leading Marketing, Communications and PR recruitment agency, working hard to match the best and most talented people with companies that support and promote employee recognition and a great workplace culture. Check out our latest jobs page and keep an eye out on our LinkedIn page for the latest positions we have available. Alternatively, give us a call, tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll source the perfect role that matches your requirements.