Managers Off the Mark on Employee Recognition: Poll
Managers have a lot to learn when it comes to employee recognition and rewards, a recent Maritz, Inc. poll found.
The survey shows there is a significant gap between how employees are recognized in the workplace and how they want to be. Among the findings, only 27% of respondents who want to be recognized with non-monetary awards (gift cards or trips) receive them from their managers. In addition, 27% of those surveyed that crave recognition by a symbolic award, such as a plaque or trophy, are recognized that way, the survey said.
Employee recognition is not a one-size fits all. “Employees are motivated in …different ways,” said Mark Peterman, VP-client solutions at Maritz Incentives.
The survey also found that 29% of employees who wanted to be awarded with a cash bonus receive it; 30% of employees who want to be recognized with an event are awarded that way, it said.
While some employees crave cash bonuses as a reward, others said they would prefer a simple note of thanks. Forty percent of respondents who want to be recognized by written praise receive it, the survey said.
While 70% of employees said they receive verbal praise, nearly half (50%) said they want it; another 21% of respondents who want verbal praise from their bosses aren’t getting it, the survey found.
“As organizations become leaner and demands become greater on managers, these kinds of things may be thought of as soft and less measurable, so [managers] will push them to the back and not pay as much attention to them,” Peterman said.
Employees who are satisfied with their company’s recognition programs are seven times more likely to spend the rest of their careers with the present company than those who are unsatisfied with recognition programs (63% versus 9%). In addition, employees who are satisfied with their recognition programs are five times more likely to feel valued in their job than those who are unsatisfied (73% versus 16%) and seven times more likely to strongly endorse the company (80% versus 12%).
Employee recognition is “a very powerful tool in a manager’s tool box,” Peterman said.
Peterman offered the following tips to help mangers make employees feel valued:
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- Offer reward options
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- Get training in employee recognition best practices
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- Identify what is meaningful to employees
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- Keep employee recognition programs fresh
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- Recognize all levels of employees
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- Ensure recognition is given consistently
The survey, released in January, polled 1,002 full-time workers
