How Can I Improve & Promote Recognition In The Workplace?

December 20, 2021

Illustration of a laptop with a magnet that is attracting positivity.

When “employee recognition” enters the conversation, you might feel like you’re wading through murky waters. Some bosses take a very hard line — they feel that a paycheck is recognition enough. Others feel that compliments on a regular basis constitute adequate recognition — a better approach, admittedly, but still not fully formed into the modern best practice around promoting recognition at work.

image with text - employee experience in the modern workplace is strongly tied regular, peer-to-peer recognition.

The truth is that employee experience in the modern workplace is strongly tied regular, peer-to-peer recognition. If you’re looking to establish yourself as an employer of choice but you’re not investing in how to improve employee recognition, you’re going to get left behind.

It’s not just a “nice” thing to do, either; there are tangible benefits. Ensuring people feel appreciated for the work they do will boost overall office morale and motivation. Similarly, employees are far more likely to stay if they feel appreciated, so it aids with employee retention. So let’s take a look at some practical methods for showing recognition at work.

5 key strategies for improving recognition at work

The good news is that increasing recognition at work doesn’t mean that you suddenly have to invest in a huge array of grand gestures. Over-the-top displays aren’t sustainable or effective long-term. In fact, if you do introduce a more reward-based system that involves larger incentives, it is worth formalizing it to some degree within the company. If you don’t, you can end up with wildly different levels of recognition and reward across teams. Here are the 5 of the top strategies to improve employee recognition at work:

1. Team meals

Going out together for a meal isn’t just an effective way to show recognition to employees for their hard work — it’s also an excellent way to build camaraderie between teammates. Whether used to celebrate a great quarter or just a weekly “Fun Lunch Friday” to get your team out of their chairs, it’s a great way to boost energy and engagement.

2. Unexpected bonuses

A bonus out of the blue can be a great way to show recognition to your staff. However, it’s best used sparingly; surprises can be great fun but they also set precedents. Think carefully about when and where these are used because employees will remember and likely expect the same thing if a similar event occurs further down the line.

3. Unrecorded time-offs

Easy, simple, and cost-effective. A Friday afternoon off here and there — or even a late start — can be an excellent way to keep staff motivated. Given the extracurricular hours that tend to be involved in modern office jobs, it’s also a great way to give employees some time back for themselves.

4. Publicizing achievements in company scrums

image with text - Providing recognition in this setting can be a great way to highlight employees’ importance and achievements throughout the company.

If you’re wondering how to promote recognition in the workplace, large-scale meetings and scrums are a great place to start. Many people feel that they’re recognized within their teams — but not necessarily by the company as a whole. Providing recognition in this setting can be a great way to highlight employees’ importance and achievements throughout the company.

5. Utilising an employee engagement software

Employee engagement software can be a great way to create a formal record of employee recognition and ensure that it doesn’t get overlooked. They’re also a highly effective way to provide an easy method for peer-to-peer recognition, which often goes overlooked otherwise.

Wondering how to improve recognition in the workplace? Get started today!

Here at Motivosity, we can assist you with effective employee recognition strategies, through our Recognize system and our extensive archive of employee recognition resources. So why not get in touch with the team? We’d be happy to take you through the process of developing better employee recognition within your workplace.