Employee recognition has evolved beyond the traditional ‘Employee of the Month’ announcement on a bulletin board. In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven work environment, companies are increasingly adopting more interactive rewards and recognition programs.
According to Roy Saunderson, an expert in employee recognition, vendors and practitioners need to adapt and transform themselves.
Technology has been a major driver of change over the past five years. Here are the top five digital trends in employee rewards and recognition:
1. Applications and automated programs for immediate identification
Various platforms, including Kudos, iAppreciate, Workstars, Achievers, and many more, track achievements and commemorate milestones through their dedicated mobile applications. The immediate feedback provides employees with real-time recognition from their managers for their hard work.
Slack, the widely-used team collaboration platform, also offers various bots that can identify and acknowledge exceptional work within teams. The bots occasionally provide virtual incentives that employees can exchange for tangible rewards, like a cup of coffee.
2. Utilizing social media to gain recognition within the community
When it comes to a job well done, employees value recognition on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. It’s a mutually beneficial situation for employers who wish to showcase their culture of recognition in the workplace to a larger audience, thereby attracting talented individuals.
3. Utilizing tech-based incentives such as fitness trackers
Employers are enhancing employee health and wellness campaigns by offering fitness incentives. Certain companies provide employees with fitness trackers and other wearable devices to assist them in achieving their health objectives. Fitness trackers provide employees with valuable personal health data to utilize. Those who successfully achieve their goals are additionally rewarded with cash or gift cards.
4. Utilizing gamification to incentivize positive actions
Gamification involves implementing goals, rules, and rewards in the workplace, similar to how they are used in sports, board games, and video games. By incorporating some fun activities in the office, such as a digital trivia game or app-based scavenger hunt, managers can motivate teams and encourage positive behavior.
5. Expanding digital learning to cultivate talent
Employees who demonstrate a proactive approach to expanding the business are frequently given chances to enhance their skills. With the shift towards upskilling and reskilling employees for the digital age, taking part in prestigious certification programs online for free has become a highly sought-after opportunity. Employers have the opportunity to sponsor programs on platforms like Udemy or Coursera, where they can connect with top experts in their respective fields. On-demand digital learning allows employees to take advantage of talent development opportunities without any disruption to their regular work schedule.