National Nurses' Week

Don't forget - National Nurses' Week is May 6-12! Leave a comment and share what your organization is doing to show your appreciation for your nurses.

Here are just a few recognition ideas that have come from different Terryberry webcasts and events:

"We give 'care awards' for people that go above and beyond."

"Our recognition events have a healthy theme."

"We have a fun travelling trophy that is passed to someone new each day during the week."

"To make our award presentations exciting, we ask some trivia questions about the recipient. Employees who guess right receive a small gift such as pens or pencils with our logo on it."

"The awards we use are a star pin presented to the recipient with a note from a patient who experienced exceptional care."

"We purchased small, stuffed alien toys. Managers present the aliens to nurses when they are caught doing something 'out of this world.'"

What Does Your Recognition Program Say About Your Company?

I once received a birthday card from a friend. When I opened the card, my name was hand-written above the message, but the sender had forgotten to sign their own name.

I feel like some recognition programs have a similar piece missing. You wouldn't send a letter of recognition to an employee who accomplished a great achievement and address it "to whom it may concern." Why do so many businesses send recognition "from whom it may concern?"

In my experience, the best employee recognition programs reflect the image and the 'personality' of an organization throughout the entire experience...Program communication materials do more than explain the program to employees; they communicate the business' mission and values. Award selection packets don't just show award options; they include a message of appreciation from the CEO. Award presentations are taken to the next level to reflect the company culture in details like decor, invitations, theme, and even venue. And special achievement awards go beyond being just a gift; they have the subtle "signature" of the organization that will serve as a reminder long after the award presentation is past.

Why is branding your recognition program so important? The message means so much more when it comes with the stamp of authenticity that says the organization supports it.

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Need help branding your recognition program?
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You don't have to be in marketing to incorporate your company's brand into your recognition program. Recognition companies like Terryberry can be a resource when it comes to helping you find ways to communicate your organization's image and values to your employees.

How does your employee recognition program stack up?

Curious about what kinds of awards businesses are using today for employee recognition?

Want to find out how other employers are recognizing performance and when they recognize for years of service?

Wondering how your employee communication strategy compares with the competition?

Check out Terryberry's Global Employee Recognition Survey. Take the survey yourself and see how your results compare with other employers. Survey results are updated in real time, so you can bookmark your results to see how the statistics change over time.