Dear Workforce What’s the Best Reward for Employee of the Month

QDearWorkforce:

Ourcompany is beginning an employee of the month program for our hourly employees. We are a manufacturing company with about 150 employees. We want thisprogram to build goodwill with our employees. What type of rewards are the mostbeneficial as recognition for an employee of the month program?

–Jeremy 

ADear Jeremy: 

Ifyou want my reaction, it would be DON’T start an employee-of-the-month program,but instead raise the awareness of your managers about the importance of themappreciating their employees on a daily basis when they do good work –one-on-one or via voicemail, in writing or email, in meetings, etc. 

Therewards that are most beneficial to any employee are the ones they want! Findout what those might be by asking them in one or more ways. It very well may notbe “stuff” at all, but perhaps autonomy, flexibility, trust, support,visibility, opportunity, and so forth… Good luck! 

SOURCE:Bob Nelson, author of the best-selling books: 1001Ways to Reward Employees, 1001Ways to Energize Employees, and the new 1001Ways to Take Initiative at Work, all published by Workman Publishing. 

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