~by Dixie Somers~
Employee engagement is an extremely important piece of the business model of today. Companies are finding that engagement is correlated with employee productivity, which directly impacts the bottom line. With this information at hand, many organizations are developing incentive programs to keep employees engaged and motivated year-round.
There are lots of programs you can develop that will not only increase employee morale, but also reward behavior that helps the company reach its goals.
If you are interested in implementing an incentive program for your staff, here are a few ideas to get you started.
Health and Wellness Program
Employees will do their best work when they feel rested, fit and stress-free. Consider asking employees to set wellness goals and rewarding them for achieving those goals. The reward should be related to the goal. For example, you could offer a discounted gym membership or a gift card to a fitness store. Many employers have benefited from implementing a wellness program of this nature. Companies that implement a health-related program report increased productivity, reduced absence, and fewer turnovers.
Time Off or Work from Home
There are some employees who wouldn’t dream of missing a day at the office. They show up every day, on time and ready to work. Unfortunately, this is not the case for every employee. It’s important to recognize positive behaviors like punctuality and attendance. Consider implementing an attendance award quarterly. You can award these employees with a ‘work from home’ day or an extra vacation day.
Project Completion Party
It’s obvious you want your staff to meet deadlines and finish projects to completion. Although this is the expectation, it’s also nice to show appreciation for their work. Once a project or milestone is reached, plan an office outing with your team. It could be lunch, drinks, or bringing entertainment to the office. Regardless of what kind of celebration you decide to throw, make sure you as the employer are there so you can also show your appreciation in person and bond with your employees.
Points for Gift Program
A great way to keep your employees motivated and excited is to implement a points for gift program. This strategy rewards achievement of small goals and is a form of positive reinforcement. The gifts should be practical and work-related, but still something valued by your staff. Examples of gifts that could impact the employee’s productivity are an organizer or planner, portable battery chargers from a place like TYLT, or a second monitor for their desk.
These are just a few of the many great employee incentive programs available to organizations. These programs are simple to implement, but will have a huge positive impact on employee satisfaction and productivity. Try one of these tactics and enjoy the return on your investment!
Meet the Author: Dixie Somers
Dixie Somers is a freelance writer who loves writing for business, finance, and those with an entrepreneurial spirit. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters.
