At a National Association for Employee Recognition conference in Seattle last September, participants brainstormed a list of inexpensive recognition ideas:
•a notepad with accolades in different languages;
•a “Celebrating Our Successes Board” with Post-It Note comments and a monthly winner;
•a “homemade” certificate;
•dollar coupons for coffee and doughnuts;
•Leather Chair Award — an executive leather chair awarded once a month or once a week to someone who has made an outstanding contribution; the chair is passed on to another “outstanding awardee” the next month or week;
•King/Queen for a Day — this award is passed on to someone else the next day or week or month, and includes a trophy, plaque or crown or a funny hat;
•Thank you note from one of the managers to an employee’s family for time required away from the family because of overtime hours or required travel;
•A-B-C Thank you acknowledgement cards — 26 cards with pictures corresponding to accolades, such as, A – You’re Amazing! B – Bravo! C – Congratulations! G – Good Job! T – Terrific! On the back of the cards there is a place for the name of the person being noticed, the reason and the signature of the person giving the thanks. Cards are placed in a holder and when all 26 cards are in the holder, they’re taken to a staff meeting where the accolades are read aloud and then one is drawn for a monthly award;
•events to recognize a group, such as a chili cook-off, bake-off, barbeque, group picnic (off-site staff meeting), softball game, sporting event outing;
•a day off;
•coupons for small awards;
•coffee with the director or CEO;
•marble awards — collect until you have a certain number and turn them in for a prize;
•treasure box of inexpensive items to choose from;
•recognize “nominators” once a month; have a drawing of their names; and
•stickers saying, “star performer.”
•a notepad with accolades in different languages;
•a “Celebrating Our Successes Board” with Post-It Note comments and a monthly winner;
•a “homemade” certificate;
•dollar coupons for coffee and doughnuts;
•Leather Chair Award — an executive leather chair awarded once a month or once a week to someone who has made an outstanding contribution; the chair is passed on to another “outstanding awardee” the next month or week;
•King/Queen for a Day — this award is passed on to someone else the next day or week or month, and includes a trophy, plaque or crown or a funny hat;
•Thank you note from one of the managers to an employee’s family for time required away from the family because of overtime hours or required travel;
•A-B-C Thank you acknowledgement cards — 26 cards with pictures corresponding to accolades, such as, A – You’re Amazing! B – Bravo! C – Congratulations! G – Good Job! T – Terrific! On the back of the cards there is a place for the name of the person being noticed, the reason and the signature of the person giving the thanks. Cards are placed in a holder and when all 26 cards are in the holder, they’re taken to a staff meeting where the accolades are read aloud and then one is drawn for a monthly award;
•events to recognize a group, such as a chili cook-off, bake-off, barbeque, group picnic (off-site staff meeting), softball game, sporting event outing;
•a day off;
•coupons for small awards;
•coffee with the director or CEO;
•marble awards — collect until you have a certain number and turn them in for a prize;
•treasure box of inexpensive items to choose from;
•recognize “nominators” once a month; have a drawing of their names; and
•stickers saying, “star performer.”
