by Cindy Ventrice
The key to retention is making sure that employees
know:
- what they are doing is of value to the company.
- their work is appreciated by management and peers.
- they are growing and learning.
- they are having a positive impact on the people around them.
- they are part of something important.
These are the things that motivate intrinsically and should create the foundation of
any good recognition and reward system.
To motivate for long-term job satisfaction, remember that recognition is
only part of what matters to employees.
- Clearly outline expectations
- Celebrate achievement (recognition and reward)
- Offer new challenges and the appropriate training to meet those challenges.
- Provide for reasonable work/life balance.
- Offer fair compensation.
Cindy Ventrice is the author of Make Their Day! Employee Recognition
That Works.
For more on recognition, visit
www.maketheirday.com.
Evaluate Your Current Recognition Program
How is your organization doing in recognizing and rewarding your employees? Rate
yourself honestly on the questions listed quiz below:
1) We show some form of appreciation to our employees, every week. T / F
2) We measure what we reward and reward what we measure. T / F
3) We compete, between teams, for gifts and prizes. T / F
4) Employees get to choose at least some of their projects. T / F
5) We reward behaviors linked to only one or two key organizational values. T / F
6) Employees see the rewards currently offered, as valuable. T / F
7) Our employees think reward programs are silly or demeaning. T / F
8) Our organizational, departmental, and individual goals are clearly defined. T / F
9) Peers recognize and reward each other. T / F
10) We recognize small improvements, as well as the major ones. T / F
To score:
Score one point for True, on questions 1, 6, and 10.
Score two points for True on questions 2, 4, 8 and 9.
Score one point for False, on questions 3, 5, and 7.
13 - 14 points Excellent!
11 - 12 points Job satisfaction is fairly high. Keep working to improve retention rates.
7 - 10 points Not bad... but you are still losing key people by missing
essential
components in your recognition program.
1 - 6 points It is time to rethink your recognition program.
