There is a growing realization by business leaders and managers that the best way to improve performance is with a motivated and dedicated staff and the best way to create a motivated staff is to award them for their work. This CloseUp takes an in-depth look at recognition programs and the sites below provide some additional reading online.
Do it now
www.tasc.dot.gov/Hrm/awards.html
This site describes some of the recognition programs offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. As such, it’s a great source for ideas and includes topics such as Steps to Ensure an Effective Awards Recognition Program, What Employees Value Most, and Rewards and Recognition Take Many Shapes and Forms. There are do’s and dont’s of good recognition (including, “Do it now!”) and commentary on the differences between monetary and non-monetary programs.
Recognition in the public service
http://leadership.gc.ca/static/pride_recognition/best_practices/international_e.shtml
This site is brought to you by your tax dollars and details the effort to create a recognition culture in the public service. Click on “Bravo” from the menu at the left of this page and you get advice on how to create a recognition program as well as tips for simple recognition initiatives (40 Bravo! Suggestions) for example, create a buddy system to reward employees for helping new employees feel welcome. The site also offers links to other sites on recognition from around the world, including Tasmania.
Keeping key employees
http://bcentral.ca/archive/finance_accounting/keep_employees.asp
From Monica Beauregard, the author of Hiring, Managing and Keeping the Best — The Complete Canadian Guide for Employers, this article provides a number of tips for motivating key employees. In a nutshell: identify your key employees, link performance to rewards, create a positive environment, provide an environment of continuous learning and understand why employees are leaving.
Buckeye recognition
http://hr.osu.edu/policy/3_15.htm
The site offers the HR policy and procedure manual for Ohio State University, and specifically, the reward and recognition section. It includes definitions and guidelines as well as approval procedures. Go to http://hr.osu.edu/ policy/ for a look at other HR policies at the home of the Buckeyes.
Listening to employees
http://www.chartcourse.com/articlesuggestion.html
One facet of employee recognition that often gets overlooked is the “employee suggestion box.” An employer that is listening to its employees and implementing their ideas is likely to maintain a more satisfied workforce. Freda Turner suspects that the Japanese invented the employee suggestion box in the 1700s. And she says only three per cent of U.S. companies have a suggestion box. Can Canada be far off that mark? The site offers a number of case studies that support the idea that listening to employee suggestions can benefit the company and the site wraps up with some best practices.
Joe Nunes is an actuary and president of Actuarial Solutions Inc. in Oakville, Ont. He can be reached at (905) 257-2038 or [email protected].
Do it now
www.tasc.dot.gov/Hrm/awards.html
This site describes some of the recognition programs offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. As such, it’s a great source for ideas and includes topics such as Steps to Ensure an Effective Awards Recognition Program, What Employees Value Most, and Rewards and Recognition Take Many Shapes and Forms. There are do’s and dont’s of good recognition (including, “Do it now!”) and commentary on the differences between monetary and non-monetary programs.
Recognition in the public service
http://leadership.gc.ca/static/pride_recognition/best_practices/international_e.shtml
This site is brought to you by your tax dollars and details the effort to create a recognition culture in the public service. Click on “Bravo” from the menu at the left of this page and you get advice on how to create a recognition program as well as tips for simple recognition initiatives (40 Bravo! Suggestions) for example, create a buddy system to reward employees for helping new employees feel welcome. The site also offers links to other sites on recognition from around the world, including Tasmania.
Keeping key employees
http://bcentral.ca/archive/finance_accounting/keep_employees.asp
From Monica Beauregard, the author of Hiring, Managing and Keeping the Best — The Complete Canadian Guide for Employers, this article provides a number of tips for motivating key employees. In a nutshell: identify your key employees, link performance to rewards, create a positive environment, provide an environment of continuous learning and understand why employees are leaving.
Buckeye recognition
http://hr.osu.edu/policy/3_15.htm
The site offers the HR policy and procedure manual for Ohio State University, and specifically, the reward and recognition section. It includes definitions and guidelines as well as approval procedures. Go to http://hr.osu.edu/ policy/ for a look at other HR policies at the home of the Buckeyes.
Listening to employees
http://www.chartcourse.com/articlesuggestion.html
One facet of employee recognition that often gets overlooked is the “employee suggestion box.” An employer that is listening to its employees and implementing their ideas is likely to maintain a more satisfied workforce. Freda Turner suspects that the Japanese invented the employee suggestion box in the 1700s. And she says only three per cent of U.S. companies have a suggestion box. Can Canada be far off that mark? The site offers a number of case studies that support the idea that listening to employee suggestions can benefit the company and the site wraps up with some best practices.
Joe Nunes is an actuary and president of Actuarial Solutions Inc. in Oakville, Ont. He can be reached at (905) 257-2038 or [email protected].
