Recognizing the achievements of employees is vital to attract and retain talented workers. There are several ways a program can celebrate people in the workplace which resonate with workers and maintain a positive culture. Check out these ideas to create a brilliant employee recognition program.

Celebrate Length of Service

People spend most of their time at work, so recognizing their contribution is fundamental. Length of service awards are a great way to mark milestones on a career path. These can be certificates or a plaque, but why not go one step further with a special ceremony each year to include a precis of service contributions over the years? This not only inspires others but gives a moment of pride to the employee.

Recognize the Unsung Heroes

Employee recognition programs are renowned for celebrating talented staff with awards tailored to achievements. Behind the scenes of large companies is an army of people who keep the place running, such as cleaners, maintenance staff and more. Create some awards for the unsung heroes of the workplace to show you value the contribution they make. It also raises the profile of the work they do and enables them to feel part of the team. A Behind the Scenes Hero is just one example of an award that can be created in this category.

Shine a Light on Development

Many employee recognition programs focus on stellar achievements, and it is great to celebrate these innovations. It takes time to develop them, though, so recognizing the progress made by new and established employees is a positive way to value people and the contribution they bring to the company. Another way of focusing on development is to establish a program where employees learn as they focus on creating something innovative or leading a project and that takes them to the next career level. This is a great way to nurture talent in an organization and celebrate achievements.

Engage Employees

Staff recognition must go beyond the nominations made by senior management. Creating awards that highlight the contributions made in the softer skills needed in a company is just as important as the best sales. A recognition award for the best leader nominated by team members highlights staff with the skills to make achievements happen by having a cohesive and positive working culture. Employees when asked are likely to suggest other awards that bring out the best in the workforce and instill a sense of pride in a company.

Monthly Stars in the Workplace

Waiting all year for the employee recognition program means missing opportunities to highlight stellar moments of sheer genius in a company. Employers can establish a monthly recognition award that captures the achievements over a year and gives a morale boost in a busy department. Awards such as worker of the month, star employee of the week, and others maintain the positive culture in an organization. Giving an extra day off to the worker for their achievement is just one way of recognizing the talent that employees bring to the workplace. In an age where the millennial worker is likely to have several jobs in a lifetime, the length of service awards traditionally used will become less frequent, so having creative ways of recognition is a trend for the future.

Celebrate the Moment

There are many ways to recognize the achievements of employees through the year. Team celebrations when a sales milestone has been reached, birthdays, passing an exam are just a few of the opportunities to boost a positive culture and show staff they are appreciated. Just saying thank you goes a long way in the workplace to making staff feel good about their job. Organizing team celebrations also enables teams to get to know each other in different ways and to bond. This creates a cohesive working culture.

Employee recognition programs are not about length of service. There are many opportunities to mark a momentous occasion and appreciate the contribution employees made in an organization. Being creative and celebrating through the year with a number of award schemes helps a company develop a brilliant employee recognition program.