Make Recognition a Part of Your Corporate Culture

People are motivated by many different things. A person may choose to work primarily for income, socialization, to make a difference, or for recognition. The variety of reasons that motivate people can present challenges for HR professionals and managers who seek to retain valuable employees. Many organizations do not have a mechanism for recognizing valuable employees beyond salary and bonuses. Making recognition a part of your corporate culture can improve employee satisfaction and retention.

Employee recognition fosters and encourages engagement and connectedness. This, in turn, improves employee retention. Employees who are disaffected tend to leave their jobs at a much higher rate than those that are engaged and committed.

Rewards linked to organizational guiding principles can encourage behavior that is in keeping with core organizational values, while helping to retain employees who are best aligned with those values. This model communicates what behaviors and values are prioritized by the organization, allowing employees to embrace the correct culture.

Implementing a recognition program that offers varied rewards may achieve the broadest results. An employee who is primarily motivated by respect or accolades will not be as motivated by a performance bonus as an employee who is primarily motivated by money. Conversely, an employee primarily motivated by money will not be motivated by an employee of the month designation unless it involves a monetary reward.

Regardless of the organizational values that are to be promoted and rewarded, and regardless of the methods employed to recognize valuable employees, it is essential that employees perceive the recognition as being fair. Any reward or recognition program that is perceived as being unfair or unjust will certainly do more harm than good when it comes to morale, performance, and retention.

Understanding and managing human behavior can be a complex undertaking. Most people, however, do appreciate being recognized for their efforts and contributions. Making recognition a part of the corporate culture can increase employee satisfaction and connectedness which, in turn, can lead to increased productivity and decreased employee turnover.

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