Employee of the Year Awards

Most of us consider 35 years a long time. An amazing accomplishment in any context.

What does it take for employees to feel that the company cares about them? According to a client survey described by Susan M. Heathfield, HR consultant on About.com, “55 percent of the respondents said that praise and attention from their supervisor would make them feel as if the company cared about them and their well-being. As you might also expect, money, benefits, and events such as company lunches ranked high, too. But recognition from the supervisor ranked above all other choices.”

Ms. Heathfield suggests several ways to “kick it up a notch” in your employee recognition:

• Write out the recognition, what the employee did, why it was important, and how the actions served your organization. Give a copy of the letter to the employee and to the department head or CEO. Place a copy in the employee’s file. This may be a formal printed letter, or personal note.

• Accompany the recognition with a gift. Engraved plaques, merchandise with company logo, etc. reinforce the employee recognition.

• Everyone likes cash or the equivalent in gift cards, gift certificates, and checks. If you use a one of these for employee recognition, accompany the cash with a note or letter. When the money has been spent, you want the employee to remember the recognition.

• Present the recognition publicly, at an employee meeting, for example. Even if the employee is uncomfortable with publicity, it is important for the other employees to know that employees are receiving recognition.