Ask the Expert
How do you provide employee recognition with no budget?
By Quill Director of Channel Marketing Helen Bertolucci
Budget cut and no extra dollars to spend on a little something for your employees? Good news! Employee recognition is FREE!
Sometimes, finding those extra dollars to reward and recognize employees might be hard to come by. And those with any dollars available need to make every penny count. If you’re savvy, employee recognition can cost you nothing!
Know what motivates your employees! Employees value different types of recognition and not just financial incentives.
Support from management
Let employees know you have a vested interest in them. Take time to listen, offer suggestions, support – help them resolve a problem.
“Thank You’s”
Whether it is an e-mail, a personal visit or a hand-written note (people love to hang them up as a reminder!), there isn’t anyone who wouldn’t like to be thanked.
Recognition in a meeting
Public recognition also goes a long way in motivating employees. When a co-worker is recognized in a public setting, it sets an example for others to follow and sets a standard for others to aspire to.
Time off
Offering a comp day for a job well done or offering an early departure on a Friday afternoon are two additional opportunities to recognize employees. This is a great alternative to monetary compensation and helps build morale amongst the team.
Consistency and frequency are keys to keeping recognition alive in an organization!
Keep recognition alive and well in your department or organization by doing it every day – find opportunities and act upon them immediately. Saying thank you a week after an event loses its impact and value to an employee.
Think about times you have been recognized – how did you feel? Chances are, it brought your shoulders back, smile on your face and a spring in your step! It didn’t cost a thing for another person to recognize you, but in the end you felt like a million bucks!
Share with us your experiences with employee recognition.