A surprisingly large percentage of companies that have some sort of Recognition Program in place tend to take a minimalist approach.  Most often, this takes the form of recognizing an “employee of the month,” and perhaps a separate award for Employee of the quarter or the year.

In tandem with this, other companies will also give out “years of service” awards at specific milestones, most commonly 1-, 5-, 10-, and 20-years.

Those are good things, and certainly they provide a framework to build from.  Unfortunately, given our current realities, defined in no small part by the ongoing, global pandemic, that’s not enough.

The simple truth is that morale is down.  With so many employees working from home, feelings of isolation and disconnectedness are beginning to have real impacts on productivity.  Expanding your recognition program can do a lot to help counter that trend.

All that to say, if you haven’t already expanded your company’s award and recognition program, now is a great time to do it.

One simple thing you can do right away to make sure that all of your employees know they’re valued by your organization is to send everyone a small care package.  Here, think in practical terms and consider including things like masks, hand sanitizer and perhaps a small selection of snacks.

The costs of these items, even when considered together, is quite small, but the impact on morale can be enormous.

In addition to that, bear in mind that more often than not, Remote Workers tend to be overlooked when it comes to being recognized for their contributions.  Given that most companies currently have an unusually high percentage of their employees working from home right now, this has become a major oversight.

It’s worth at least reviewing your recognition selection process to see how inclusive it is, and if you find that you’re leaving your remote workers out in the cold, a few minor tweaks to your process can remedy that.

We’ve put together some care packages with the current situation in mind

As much as everyone enjoys getting a care package, a big part of being an award recipient has to do with peer recognition.  Since in-person gatherings are currently out of the question, a great way to simulate the experience is to host a group video conference and shine the spotlight on your star performers, which gives all of your employees a chance to congratulate the current reward recipients.

These are trying times, no doubt, and chances are, things will get even more difficult in the months ahead before they begin to improve.

The good news is that there are real, practical things you can do right now, starting today, that will help keep your employees feeling motivated and appreciated.

Finally, remember that a good rewards program doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, which is an important point during these financially difficult times.  The rewards don’t have to be big or extravagant, they merely have to be given in earnest.  It’s good for morale, which means it’s ultimately good for your bottom line.  That’s win-win!

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