Employee recognition is a strategic way to engage employees. Whether the efforts are large and ornate or simple and personal, employee recognition can have a major impact on employees, how they work, and your bottom line.
In this post, we will explore:
What employee recognition is
30 ideas for employee recognition
Examples of organizations that are excelling at employee recognition work
What is employee recognition?
Employee recognition is something that organizations do to recognize an employee’s outstanding work, tenure, and success. The best employee recognition ideas range from formal programs to informal acknowledgments. Efforts should be designed to express gratitude and a culture of recognition for work well done.
Employee recognition has major benefits to an organization, including:
Strong employee engagement
Employee engagement is a measure of how connected employees are to each other and their employers. Organizations with high levels of employee engagement have workers with more loyalty, affinity, and appreciation for coworkers and the company.
Increased productivity
Employees who feel valued and appreciated are likely to work harder and more effectively. Motivated and appreciated employees will produce a higher quality and quantity of products.
Increased retention
Employees who feel appreciated and see their colleagues recognized for good work are more likely to stay. With higher employee retention rates, employers reduce the costs of searching, hiring, onboarding, and training new employees.
Lower stress and absenteeism
If your employees are appreciated, they are apt to have lower stress levels and work. That means fewer days are lost to stress-related illnesses, both physical and emotional.
Improved team dynamics
Employees and teams that feel valued are more likely to work well together and produce better results. Teammates are more apt to support each other, teach newer colleagues, and create positive work cultures. Recognition and appreciation programs that allow teammates to recognize their peers can further deepen the connections they have with others.
Better customer relations
When employees are appreciated, their positive attitudes and value in their work rub off on customers. That positivity means better interactions with customers and better customer relationships with the brand.
Employee recognition ideas
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for employee recognition. The right program will depend on the size of the company, industry, employee demographics, employee engagement, and culture. There is always room to enhance and improve existing retention programs or develop one where none exists.
Below are 30 employee appreciation ideas to consider.
1. Peer recognition
Peer-to-peer recognition is a powerful way to acknowledge excellent work. Peer recognition allows coworkers to express gratitude and appreciation for jobs well done.
Increasingly, businesses are using apps that allow employees to recognize their peers both formally and informally. These apps allow employees to post a brief shout-out with pics or gifs that add a fun element to the praise.
Some of these peer recognition programs allow employees to reward points to their colleagues. These points can be redeemed for gift cards, company swag, or curated products on Amazon or other platforms.
2. Company-wide award programs
Companies often deploy monthly or annual awards programs designed to recognize outstanding work. These programs provide a consistent, persistent way to laud employees and publicly praise those who excel.
One powerful way to structure your award program is to align it with your corporate values. Linking performance to the values that you’ve articulated reinforces the importance of those values. For example, if a value is customer service, then you could have an award to recognize those who go above and beyond for customers.
Awards programs can also recognize in-the-moment great work. For monthly awards, such programs can be used to highlight someone whose recent work has been exceptional. Annual programs can be used to praise employees who consistently deliver exceptional performance that reflect corporate values.
3. Surprise sweets or lunch
When a team has done a great job, or you want to celebrate an accomplishment, consider a meal. Surprising employees with a free lunch or sweets can go a long way towards recognizing hard work.
The meal doesn’t need to be overly extravagant or expensive. You can choose a popular local pizza joint or Thai restaurant to provide the meal, or even have food trucks come to the workplace. There are also delivery services that will bring snacks and other items to your employees to thank them as a group.
Be sure to include a note to everyone as to why the food is being delivered and to thank them. If possible, leaders should participate in delivering the food or joining the team for lunch.
4. Celebrate birthdays
There are many ways to celebrate employee birthdays. For smaller teams, you can arrange for a group lunch to celebrate each birthday. Alternatively, you could host a monthly celebration for each person having a birthday that month.
Another idea is to give employees the day off on their birthday (or a weekday adjacent to their birthday if it falls on a weekend)—and not to count it against their allotted vacation time.
There are apps that will track and automate the management of birthday recognition for your employees. Automation is a practical, smart option, especially for large organizations—and it ensures that you don’t miss anyone.
5. Spot bonuses
Spot bonuses give people a financial reward for a job well done. Colleagues may communicate about bonuses, so it’s especially important that bonuses be strategically planned and delivered. This type of reward may be appropriate for completing a high-revenue project, delighting a client, or delivering on a challenging task.
6. Celebrate work anniversaries
A work anniversary is an important milestone worthy of recognition. By celebrating work anniversaries, the organization expresses its appreciation for employee retention and longevity. Given the importance of having experienced employees on teams, a program to recognize anniversaries is a strategic move.
There are many ways to recognize employee anniversaries, from public recognition to personal notes from leaders.
One powerful way to recognize anniversaries is to ask long-time employees to reflect on how the organization has changed. Sharing those perspectives in company publications is a wonderful way to value employee insights. It also shows younger employees the way the organization has evolved and grown over time.
7. Experiences and adventures
An unusual and creative employee recognition tool is to provide employees with a special experience. It might be a trip or tickets to a hard-to-get-to concert or sporting event. A meal at a popular restaurant or a getaway weekend can also be highly valued.
8. Employee appreciation day
Companies can engender appreciation and goodwill by developing a meaningful Employee Appreciation Day. Such days are a great way to recognize employees for a variety of milestones and achievements.
These days can be used to recognize employees for reaching longevity milestones, such as 5, 10, and 25 years of service. It can also be a time to recognize employees with annual rewards, along with any monthly winners from throughout the year.
An Employee Appreciation Day can additionally recognize retirees and teams for achievements throughout the year.
Holding a formal ceremony, and letting employees invite their spouses, partners, or families, can heighten the importance of the recognition. It demonstrates to all employees how they are valued. For employees in attendance who are not being recognized, the event can help to inspire them to one day be similarly recognized.
9. Charitable donations
Another creative way to recognize employees is by donating to a cause that matters to them. Making a donation in the name of an employee can help to recognize them on two levels. They are being recognized by their employer and will also likely be recognized by the organization receiving the donation.
Donations will likely need to be made to an accredited nonprofit organization. The employer may also limit the donation to organizations within certain categories, such as community services, health care, and education.
10. Public praise during a company meeting
A company-wide acknowledgment of certain named employees for outstanding work is meaningful. The nature of public praise elevates its value.
11. Lunch with the boss
Whether it’s a team’s direct supervisor or a C-suite leader, lunch with someone on the leadership team can be valuable. It can also be a way to recognize individuals with a one-on-one opportunity. If time with leaders is scarce, these experiences carry even more weight.
12. Company swag
A free branded item can be a fun way to build affinity and employee engagement. Whether it’s a coffee mug, water bottle, or jacket, company apparel and merchandise are generally appreciated.
There is a fine line, however, between expressing appreciation and asking employees to be walking billboards. Company branding should be appropriate. The branded items being given should be of a value that’s commensurate with the level of recognition.
13. Volunteer days
If the organization values volunteerism and giving back to the community, why not involve employees in the initiatives? It can be a way to build employee and team relationships. Projects should be relevant to the organization’s philanthropy or broadly connected to company goals.
A Harvard Business Review article emphasizes the value that volunteerism can provide to organizations. Note that there are pitfalls if the only projects are those important to the CEO or if volunteerism is required.
14. Surprise day off
Imagine waking up to an early email from your organization. You, your team (or the entire company!) gets an unexpected day off. It’s like a snow day for the corporation.
Surprise days off can be a delightful thank you for work well done. It can give employees a chance to spend time with families, catch up on life activities, or relax.
15. Summer jours
Some companies schedule summer hours to give their staff a little extra time when the weather is nice. Summer hours typically provide for a half day off on Friday (or a full day).
Some companies require 40-hour weeks, so employees work extra-long days during the week until Friday. We recommend not taking that approach as it does not actually provide any extra time off; it’s just a front-loaded schedule.
Summer hours are particularly popular in the Northeast, Midwest, and Northwest, where winter weather can be severe.
16. Professional development
Professional development programs are a way to provide ongoing support and recognition to employees. Professional development can take on many forms, including paying for employee education or training. It can also include attendance at conferences, webinars, trade shows, and other corporate events.
Organizations can also appreciate employees by allowing them to volunteer with professional groups. Allowing employees to participate in these ways boosts their interest in the industry and can benefit the employer’s brand.
17. Wall of fame
A public display of employees recognized for excellence is a physical expression of how important the staff is to the organization.
A Wall of Fame can be used to honor employees recognized with monthly or annual awards. It can be used to feature employees at various milestone work anniversaries, too.
A Wall of Fame needs to have a well-defined purpose and intent. The content of the wall should also be scoped out. Headshots and written descriptions of the employee’s impact or award are common elements.
These walls can also be created virtually on team intranets for remote staff.
18. Team trophy
Many teams develop their own unofficial recognition. Sometimes these types of peer recognition are among the most meaningful. It can be as silly as a bowling trophy that’s circulated each month to an employee for good work.
Managers at the local level can ask team members to vote for the most deserving employee each week or month. Criteria can be a job well done, success on a project, or alignment with core values. The trophy can be presented at a weekly team meeting. Faux or formal solemnity is optional.
19. A handwritten note
Taking the time to write and send a handwritten note is a much more personal way to express gratitude. Handwritten notes from a direct supervisor, regional manager, or CEO can go a long way. If these notes are personal and meaningful, they will likely be saved and cherished by the recipient.
20. Social media recognition
A shoutout at a team meeting or all-hands gathering lets those internally know about the good work an employee or team has done. A broader kind of recognition could include using social media to celebrate and recognize. By tagging the employee(s) and using hashtags, you’ll see a ripple effect of recognition.
21. Extended breaks
When recognizing employees who are paid hourly, there can be legal restrictions on how they can be honored. One way to provide appreciation is to extend their break time. Extended breaks or lunch can be done for all employees, but may be especially appreciated for those paid hourly.
22. Discretionary rewards budgets
Oftentimes, formal programs are large, complex, and given infrequently. Managers sometimes want to recognize an employee or a team in the moment.
Discretionary budgets allow managers to fund and support infrequent recognition that falls outside of formal programs. Giving managers a budget they can use to recognize employees at their discretion is a smart investment. It also empowers those managers to recognize employees in ways that make sense within their team culture.
23. Wellness programs
Investing in corporate wellness programs is a great way to appreciate employees and recognize their importance. Wellness programs can run the gamut in complexity and scope.
Wellness programs can include weight management, smoking cessation, and other behavioral programs. They can also include classes such as yoga, mindfulness, and meditation, offered either online or in person. Employee assistance programs offer employees access to services and referrals when the need arises.
24. Preferred parking
Parking is at a premium in many organizations and locations. Parking may be expensive or difficult to find close to the workplace. Giving employees a preferred parking spot that’s close to their office can be a great incentive.
Some employers even have parking signs on these preferred spots that can be changed to highlight the name of the employee being recognized for the month or year.
If the employee takes public transportation, the organization could cover their monthly transportation pass or tickets.
25. Ask your employees
There’s incredible value in providing your employees with options for how to be recognized. Use employee surveys as an opportunity to evaluate existing programs and to test ideas for new or enhanced programs and team-building activities. You can also ask for suggestions.
26. Applaud personal achievements
Recognition does not need to be limited to work done within the office. Employees live complex, multidimensional lives and have many things that are important to them.
Consider recognizing personal achievements as well. No doubt there are employees in your organization who have roles in professional development organizations. They may actively volunteer for their alma maters or other nonprofit groups. You may have employees who hold public offices for their communities or volunteer for town or city boards. They may be active in community theater, bands, or choruses. Whether it’s in an employee newsletter or an intranet site, it’s a good idea to recognize this work.
27. Refresh the break room
Silicon Valley startups are known for their tricked-out break rooms, pool tables, and free meals and dry cleaning. While that scale of employee perks is not feasible for many companies, you can see the value of investing a bit into employee spaces and services.
Start by asking your employees for feedback on how the break room or lunch room should be arranged and outfitted. You’ll show employees your appreciation in a unique way.
28. Create a mentoring program
If you’re fully invested in your employees, you’ll be thinking about their professional advancement and growth. One way to show employees they’re appreciated is through a formal mentoring program.
These programs have benefits for all participants. For younger or newer employees, mentoring programs can be an excellent way to learn about the workplace. It can help them navigate hierarchies and chart a career path.
For mentors themselves, the programs are an opportunity to impart wisdom and insights to their mentees. The programs are a way to show employees that their experience and perspective matter.
29. Give LinkedIn recommendations
Leaving a Linkedin recommendation for an employee is another public way to recognize their skills. Employees are likely reluctant to ask for recommendations, especially since the platform is often used to find employment. However, when Linkedin recommendations are provided unsolicited, it’s a nice gesture to recognize the employee’s accomplishments, success, and expertise.
30. Desk sticky notes
We conclude with a way to provide recognition that’s simple, heartfelt, and directly meaningful. Consider instituting a practice where employees are encouraged to leave sticky notes with words of praise. The small yellow (or another color) stickies placed on a computer screen, desk, or chair can do so much.
These brief messages give workers a personal, private note of encouragement, thanks, or gratitude for good work.
Examples of companies that do employee recognition well
Companies take different approaches to their employee recognition program. Here are a few that we’d like to recognize!
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
The regional hospital turned to social media to acknowledge their employees during a recent staff appreciation gala. Employees who had been nominated for awards were profiled on Facebook. Those who couldn’t make the ceremony were invited to connect to the event via Skype.
Drake Cooper
The ad agency recognizes its employees by offering them the chance to support a charitable cause with pro bono work. Under the Dream Big program, employees can choose a nonprofit and work on a special project with that organization. Giving employees the space to work for free for a cause that matters to them is a great way to show appreciation.
Deschutes Brewery
Would you like to work for an organization that has “Random Acts of Fun” on the menu? That’s what this brewery does. The brewery often develops spontaneous events that focus on the whole organization, not just one person or team.
One example: If there’s a snowy day, the brewery may organize a snowshoe hike. There will be a keg of beer and burritos waiting for the participants at a bonfire at the end of the trek.
Employee recognition matters to the employees and the organization. Recognizing great work by individuals and teams helps to deepen employee engagement.
At Gusto, we provide powerful software and consulting services to enhance HR, benefits, and talent management.
