This document provides guidance on establishing an effective employee recognition program. It discusses why recognition is important for organizational success, outlines six best practices for recognition including being specific, encouraging peer recognition, and tracking results. It also explains how to use the Podium recognition software platform, which allows managers to reward employees with points for good performance that can be redeemed from an online catalog. The goal is to motivate employees through positive reinforcement.

1. The Podium Recognition Guide

2. RECOGNITION GUIDE 1 | Why is Recognition Important? 2 | Top SIX Recognition Best Practices 3 | How to Use The Podium Program 4 | Using the Program in Your Department 5 | Suggested Readings Agenda

3. RECOGNITION GUIDE Recognition is proven to be instrumental in organizational success As illustrated in a study by Health Stream, companies in the highest quartile of “Recognizing Excellence” report an operating margin of 6.6%, while those in the lowest quartile report only 1%. A recognition program helps reduce turnover, increase productivity and create a positive working environment – all elements key to achieving organizational success! Why is Recognition Important?

4. RECOGNITION GUIDE The closer an organization can help their employees get to the top of the pyramid, the better they can drive peak performance from their workforce. Great leaders realize that recognition is more than just a ‘thank you’, it’s a concentrated effort by the leaders of an organization to commit to personal excellence and a positive work environment which leads to great results. Why is Recognition Important?

5. RECOGNITION GUIDE Top 6 Recognition Best Practices Be Specific • Get the most value from recognition by establishing ways you can communicate and personalize praise. Be very specific on why they are being recognized Encourage Peer to Peer Recognition • A culture of recognition will only be achieved once everyone is involved in the process. This includes motivating your team to recognize their colleagues regularly. Incorporate individual recognitions into weekly or monthly meetings Follow the PIC Approach • PIC stands for P ositive, I mmediate and C ertain • Establish a recognition rhythm with your employees that has immediate and certain recognition components to trigger repeat positive behaviors Recognize at Least Once a Week • A key variable in employee productivity and engagement is whether or not employees are recognized by their direct managers every seven days

6. RECOGNITION GUIDE Top 6 Recognition Best Practices Include on-the-spot with scheduled recognition • On-the-sport recognition provides praise for contributions when the desired behaviours occur and can be given at any time • Scheduled recognition can occur every week. Throughout the week think about the people that have made a positive contribution to the organization, then choose a day when these contributions will be recognized each week • Combining both types of recognition serves to powerfully reinforce desired behaviours Track & Evaluate • It is important to evaluate and gather data on recognition wherever possible. This information becomes valuable in identifying recognition gaps, opportunities and employee specific information for performance reviews

7. RECOGNITION GUIDE How to use the Program – The Podium Take advantage of The Podium to Recognize your Employees with Points in THREE easy Steps Reward employees through Good Measures Email is sent to the employee with your recognition message and points are deposited into their account Points are redeemed for items in the online catalogue What Gets Rewarded, Gets Repeated!

8. RECOGNITION GUIDE How to use the Program – Good Measures Step 1 • Recognize your employees with points online through the “Good Measures” tab. After selecting the employee that you would like to recognize choose the criteria that best describes why they deserve this recognition

9. RECOGNITION GUIDE How to use the Program – Good Measures It is very important to fill in why they are being recognized. Remember to follow the PIC rule!

10. RECOGNITION GUIDE How to use the Program – The Podium Step 2 • Your employees will receive an email when the recognition has been submitted. The points will automatically be deposited into their accounts Points will be deposited into account

11. RECOGNITION GUIDE How to use the Program – The Podium Step 3 • Employees can redeem their points for items in the online catalog. The catalog has thousands of items including, gift cards, electronics, clothes, tools, etc.

12. RECOGNITION GUIDE Suggested Readings

13. RECOGNITION GUIDE Please contact I Love Rewards for further information: Erin McGillis [email_address] 1-888-622-3343 ext 0350