Home: Message List - Low cost ideas for employee recognition?

Re: Low cost ideas for employee recognition?

CorpCons08 — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:46:56 GMT

There are some great ideas on here. Here are some of the lower cost ideas that we did for our employees while we were just starting out:

1. Personalized business card holders, name plates, picture frames. These items can be engraved and prepared in a very short time at most malls. Most of them will cost you $20 - $30 and they look very impressive when done. We gave these to our employees and they loved them. It was a sense of pride.

2. Gift cards. I see this has been suggested but you can't believe how much people really love these. Places like Target, Best Buy or WalMart. Employees can then use it towards the purchase of something they want.

3. Special recognition at an employee staff meeting. Getting the attention and gratitude of your peers is a GREAT self motivator. You should recognize your employees at various meetings to show that they are doing an exceptional job.

Hope this helps anybody thinking about ideas.

CC08

Re: Low cost ideas for employee recognition?

DomainDiva — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:52:29 GMT

All of the ideas here are wonderful, gift cards, spa stuff but I just received a little 2008 pocket calendar with a note pad do hickey that I am totally in love with! Maybe something like that personalized with "thanks for a job well done..we appreciate you." Everytime your employee takes it out of her purse there it is...your appreciation!!!

Re: Low cost ideas for employee recognition?

LT Lawn Care — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:12:07 GMT

Gift cards!

I buy gift cards to places I know my employees like - Outback Steakhouse, Champs Sports, NFL shops (I have an all male crew) but when I am ready to reward - I simply let them choose what they are in the mood for. A $50 gift card for a job well done, should not break the bank.

Re: Low cost ideas for employee recognition?

puzzleman — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:51:02 GMT

I have several part time employees that are primarily retirees. They have been around the block and seen all of the corporate gift programs and are not impressed with them. I have found that they do like free food! What an amazing concept! So, I am randomly bring donuts one day, a cheese and meat tray another, cake another, vegetable tray another and so on. I try to make no rhythm to it, so it is a nice surprise when they come in and see free food on the table in the break area.

Re: Low cost ideas for employee recognition?

Matzz22 — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:51:35 GMT

I am working with Ribbon Gift Album. Depending on the you budget, you get those albums ranging from $25 - 750 and hand it over to your customer.

You just have to consider your budget here and not the customer's taste etc as there will be a number of options for your customer to choose from. Then they will just pick up the phone or order there gift over internet and the gift will be shiped to them, of-course no shipping.

This can be proved to be an excellent way of showing your appreciation.

Let me know if you need further information.

Best Regards.

Re: Low cost ideas for employee recognition?

akgold — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:01:52 GMT

Don't forget the simple and thoughtful way of showing appreciation by writing someone a personal note on a nice card. When I was at boarding school, the headmaster came to a lacrosse game and wrote me a note about my performance on the playing field. That made me feel great. To this day, I try to write notes to people with whom I work to thank them. It's something that is easy to do and it really does make you day.

Especially in this day of electronic communication, what could be nicer than a hand written note on a cool card?

Re: Low cost ideas for employee recognition?

diamond — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:27:00 GMT

Hi, I gave a gift certificate to one of my employees for a "Day of Beauty" massage , facial etc. well deserved and well appreciated. I also think having your best employees at your home for a special dinner is a personal touch or a cocktail party.
Catherine

Re: Low cost ideas for employee recognition?

NatOnline — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:35:28 GMT

I will say, buying a few tickets for an event like a show, sport, etc...

Re: Low cost ideas for employee recognition?

david28078 — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:54:12 GMT

In my corporate days I found that Emloyee of the Month seemed to alienate the person from the general team a little.

I actually bore the brunt of some this once as I was Manager of the Month with a certain company back in the early 90s 9 times in a row and I was left feeling a little "out of the loop with my peers"

I don't know about this one......

Say in San Francisco Employee of the Month gets a parking space - em - that's worth winning but.... well I didn't like it...

Re: Low cost ideas for employee recognition?

architect — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 22:51:52 GMT

Remember to say "Thank YOU" and show you mean it. Often, that goes a long way.
Gift, raise, money etc should realy depend on your exact situation. You don't wan to set precedents you wont be able to keep up with in the immediate or even distant future.

So if you have a realy small shop (less than 20 employee) a personal gift like a dinner etc could be appropriate, for a bigger organization, you may consider the Gift Card option or even a token monetry gift (bonus) during the holiday season.

But don't forget the thank you.