How to Start an Employee Recognition Award Program
As an extension on Employee Appreciation Day, we thought what better way to continue the celebration than with an employee recognition award program how-to guide!
In recent years, there has been more focus towards creating a fun, collaborative workplace that not only celebrates employee performance, but also recognizes the importance of celebrating diversity within the workplace.
In this blog, we’ll discuss what an employee recognition award program actually is and tell you our best tips and gift ideas for implementing one for your business!
What is an Employee Recognition Award Program?
An employee recognition award program is a unique way to recognize the talent, accomplishments and performance of either an individual employee or a group of employees.
Dedicated employee recognition awards are a great way for c-suite employers or upper-level management to show their appreciation towards their employees and can be done multiple times a year, whether that be monthly, seasonally, or yearly.
The Importance of Employee Recognition Programs
With burnout and quiet quitting on the rise, now more than ever, companies should be implementing an employee recognition program to not only boost morale, but to see higher customer engagement and increased ROI.
According to a 2023 Workhuman study, when employee recognition hits the mark, employees are 4x more likely to be actively engaged at work and 73% are less likely to feel burned out.
Here are a few more benefits that can come from implementing an employee recognition program. 
Boosts Employee Performance
Studies show that employees who feel like their work and effort are being recognized will perform better than those who don’t. With increased recognition also comes higher motivation, increased contributions, and better engagement within not just a team, but the company as a whole.
Improves Company Culture
Employee recognition is a great way to show that you, as a company, care for your employees. The extra gifts and appreciations throughout the work year really do matter, giving employees a more fulfilled outlook on the company and their work.
Reduces Turnover Rate
If employees feel appreciated and recognized, they’re less likely to want to leave an organization. Implementing employee recognition award programs throughout the year is a great way to increase overall employee retention and reduce turnover rate.
Encourages New Talent
Making sure your company is attracting the best talent is an important part of having a successful business and creating a positive company culture. That’s why implementing employee recognition programs are a great way to attract new and talented candidates who recognize the recognition efforts being made and want to be a part of it.
Best Examples of Employee Recognition Programs
Whether its through event experiences, personalized gifts, or dedicated presentations, having an employee recognition program in-place for your team is the perfect way to show how much you care as a company.
If you’re unsure what to gift, don’t worry! We’ve put together six of our favorite employee recognition program examples you can use to surprise your team!
Personalized Employee Merch
Nothing says appreciation like a personalized gift! Personalized employee merch is a great way to show new or seasoned employees that you care. We recommend etching their name onto everyday merch like a t-shirt, coffee mug, or a backpack – or make it a trio with a merch box for an even better gift!
Gift Cards
The best gifts are always the ones people can buy themselves! Gift cards and e-Gift certificates are an amazing way to show your appreciation to your employees and give them the freedom to buy what they want.
Free Lunch & Snacks
Forget just men – the fastest way to everyone’s heart is through their stomach! Pizza parties, after work cocktails, or even just free snacks are the best way to gather employees together and network, share ideas, or simply just have a great chat!
Birthday Gifts
Birthday celebrations and gifts are a great way to let your employees know that you care! While large, in-person parties may not always be possible because of work schedules and budget, offering smaller, more personalized gifts are the perfect way to let each employee know that they are a valued member of the team.
Work Anniversary Celebration Rewards
Work anniversaries are the perfect way to show your employees that you’re thankful for their continued loyalty and contributions to the company. We recommend choosing a gift level for each year. For example, one year is a $25 gift, five years is a $100 gift, and so on!
Choose-Your-Gift has over 40,000 brand name gifts in a variety of levels that range from $25 all the way to $5,000 (a great option for the 30 year employees!)
Employee of the Month
A little healthy workplace competition never hurt anyone – especially if there’s a prize at the end! Implementing an ‘Employee of the Month’ program that celebrates an employee who went above and beyond is a great way to not only show you appreciation, but also encourage employee performance in a healthy way.
Find the Best Employee Recognition Gifts at Choose-Your-Gift!
Whether you’re thinking of new ideas to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day or you want to improve you company culture, at Choose-Your-Gift, we’ve got the exact gift options for you and more!
Not only do we have over 40,000 brand name gifts to choose from, but we also offer free personalized business appreciation gift programs that are designed to be completely customized to reflect your company’s personal touch!
For more gift ideas or to get started, please contact us today!