Creative Ideas For Employee Recognition

20 Creative (And Affordable) Ideas
For Employee Recognition

Remember that feeling you experienced when you were awarded a gold star in school for
a job well done? Even though we’re older now and the stakes are higher than learning the
ABCs, that “gold star” feeling still can be a powerful motivator. Employees who believe that
their employers recognize and value their contributions generally are more satisfied at work,
which is why most organizations today have employee recognition programs in place. On the
following slides, we present some creative yet simple ideas for business owners and managers
to give employees that “gold star” feeling in recognition of their efforts.
INTRODUCTION

Presenting a letter to an employee recognizing his or her good work is a simple but effective
way to show in a personal manner that you value that employee’s contributions.
WRITE A LETTER

Post pictures of employees on a wall or on your company’s website to honor
their hard work.
WALL OF FAME

Leave a candy bar, gift card or other token of appreciation on an employee’s desk
with a note thanking him or her.
SURPRISE TREATS

Give tickets to employees for going above and beyond, with those tickets redeemable
for time off, a special lunch or other prizes.
PRIZE TICKETS

Honoring the employee of the month with his or her own parking space is an easy way to
make employees feel special.
SPECIAL PARKING

Use your company’s Twitter or Facebook page to publicly honor employees
who do a great job.
SOCIAL MEDIA

You can reward employees who do a good job by allowing them to work off site, if possible.
WORKING OFF SITE

Honor an employee of the week or month with a trophy that he or she can keep at his or her
desk until a new winner is crowned.
TROPHIES

Allowing employees to nominate their peers for special recognition can help everyone
feel appreciated.
PEER RECOGNITION

You can mark the completion of a big project or other significant team achievement with a
surprise celebration.
SURPRISE PARTIES

When you hear someone say something positive about another employee, pass it along
to that employee.
SHARING PRAISE

Taking the time to learn more about your employees’ outside interests and families can
make them feel more valued.
MAKE IT PERSONAL

Calling an employee into your office to offer a quick nod to his or her achievement can be
an effective way to boost morale.
QUICK MEETINGS

When employees know that you’re available to listen to their concerns at any time,
they can feel better about their situations.
OPEN-DOOR POLICY

Giving staff members an extra-long lunch break or a half-day after completing a big
project can help them feel refreshed.
OFFER LONGER BREAKS

Arrange regular meetings during which employees can show off their accomplishments
to management. This can boost their engagement.
SHARE MORE OFTEN

A simple handwritten thank you note can go a long way toward helping employees feel
more valuable.
LEAVE A NOTE

Scheduling an official staff recognition day with team-building exercises and an
awards ceremony can provide a welcome break for employees.
DAY OF RECOGNITION

Keep a journal of all the times you notice employees going above and beyond, and show
it off at the end of the month.
BOOKKEEPING

When you know more about your employees’ interests, you can reward them with
personalized gifts or honors.
PERSONALIZED RECOGNITION

Even though your employees are being compensated for their work, going the extra mile to
recognize their unique and valuable contributions can be a powerful way to make them feel
appreciated. These and other simple and affordable ideas demonstrate that you don’t have to
break the bank to show your staff that you care.
CONCLUSION

Creative Ideas For Employee Recognition

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