4 Easy Ways to Improve Service Awards Impact

Awards for years of service are the foundation of many recognition programs in North America. Make the most out of your service awards for your employees and your business. Here are three easy things you can do today that will make a big impact on your service awards.

1. Recognize earlier

   It's no surprise that employees are changing jobs much more frequently these days. Getting your newer employees involved in your service recognition program can make an impact on your new hires' level of engagement. If your recognition program starts at 5 years of service, consider giving a small award for Welcome Aboard, 1 year and 3 years.

2. Add verbal or written recognition on the anniversary date

   If you have a formal service awards event, employees may be getting their recognition months after their anniversary. You can add instant impact by recognizing employees on their anniversary day in addition to the formal event. It can be something as simple as a card from the individual's manager. Try keeping a supply of Milestone Messages cards on hand for employee anniversaries.

3. Use awards that support corporate pride

   Make the item memorable and special by incorporating your company symbol or engraving the years of service. View sample awards from Terryberry.

4. Praise the recipient's personal accomplishments during the presentation

   The presentation of an award is arguably as important as the award itself. Experts agree that a presentation will have better impact when the comments are personalized for each recipient with specifics about the individual's contributions and achievements. Terryberry's award presentation cheat sheet helps presenters prepare for recognition speeches.

Learn more about service awards programs from Terryberry.

from the Recognition Bulletin for HR- Winter 2009 Edition

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#WOWWED: It's WOW Wednesday!

It's WOW Wednesday! HR leaders, execs, and managers:how do you Wow the people who go above and beyond for you in your business?

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, thank the employees who have made an impact in your business!

Today's WOW Wednesday idea came from Janine. She says: In addition to a jeweled item with company logo, we provide employees with a VISA Gift card ($25 for years of service at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 year levels). Employees greatly appreciate this, especially in light of the current economy.

Do you have a WOW Wednesday tip to share? Leave a comment here or post on Twitter using hashtag #WOWWED. May we all work for WOW! Workplaces!

3 Low-cost Employee Recognition Items

Here are some budget-friendly recognition items that could add instant impact to the employee recognition program in your department organization.

RecognizeMe Toolkits $35-75

Make it easy for managers and coworkers to give recognition on-the-spot for great work. RecognizeMe toolkits each contain 300+ recognition opportunities and include free training on how to make the most of spot recognition opportunities.

Printable Award Certificates Free

Visit Terryberry's free certificate builder and create personalized certificates that you can print and present to your achievers. It's a simple and fun way to acknowledge accomplishments.

"The WOW! Workplace" $21.95

A must read for new managers and seasoned leaders. And it's a unique stocking stuffer. Get a copy for everyone on your management team.

from the Recognition Bulletin for HR - Winter 2009 Edition

The Best Holiday Gift Idea for Employees: Recognition

From The Recognition Bulletin for HR - Winter 2009 Edition If you're like many HR leaders, you know how much of a difference appreciation can make to your employees. This is especially true during challenging times when employees are often doing more work with fewer people and resources. If employee recognition is on your to-do list, there's arguably no better time than now. A well-designed recognition program can have immediate positive impact on your employees in these critical times, and give your business positive momentum for 2010. And many businesses are surprised at how affordable implementing a recognition program can be. Find out about launching a recognition program in 2009 Get gift ideas that recognize employees achievements! A great stocking stuffer for managers under $25 If you are looking to begin or enhance an employee recognition program, consider working with a recognition provider like Terryberry Company. Terryberry has employee recognition advisors who can help you get your recognition program up and running by the holidays.

#WOWWED: It's WOW Wednesday!

It's WOW Wednesday! HR leaders, execs, and managers: how do you Wow the people who go above and beyond for you in your business?

As an employee recognition provider, this one of the questions we ask and get asked regularly. Over the years, through webcasts, speaking engagements, the WOW Workplace book and conversations with clients, we have been lucky enough to talk with a lot of business leaders around North America and hear about fun, creative, and uplifting employee recognition ideas.

On "WOW! Wednesdays," we'll share some of these ideas for employee appreciation that we've heard and seen. Hopefully the stories will be an inspiration to others who are looking for meaningful ways to acknowledge outstanding people and contributions.

Today's WOW Wednesday idea came from Donna. She says: We have a program called Faces of Respect. An associate can be nominated as a "Face." When accepted, the associate's picture, name and department is posted with others throughout this multi-site organization and celebrated at a party and given a pin.

Do you have a WOW Wednesday tip of your own? Share it by leaving a comment or post on Twitter using hashtag #WOWWED. May we all work for WOW Workplaces!

A Holiday Season to Invest In

The drumbeat continued today as an MSNBC article hit the web to report on how the economic downturn has corporations muting their holiday celebrations. There's little question that companies bailed out by your tax dollars ought to be prudent with their new-found lease on life, but killing opportunities to build morale and celebrate the efforts of those employees dedicated to righting the ship, is shortsighted.

According to Battalia Winston Amrop, only 81% of surveyed US companies plan to host a holiday celebration of some sort this year. That ties the lowest level in the 21 years of the survey (the tie is with 2008!). For many US business and organizations, both large and small, the holidays represent one of the few opportunities to get together on a 'global' scale. Often these gatherings include a chance to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of the workforce. Recognition builds the vital culture that is so important to an organizations success. Happy employees mean happy customers and meaningful celebrations of accomplishment are a big part of making employees happy.

In the MSNBC article, Marcia G. Rhodes of WorldatWork says, "It's all about the optics now." She is certainly referring to the image of a large & publically traded company, having been propped up by tax dollars, wastefully and indiscriminately spending on a meaningless party. I agree, a serious no-no.

That said I hope the prevailing approach of a few large companies doesn't become an easy "out" for other companies & their management across the country. Budgets are tight, but the smartest money any company can invest is in their employees. Use your holiday party this year to celebrate appropriately and it will set a tone for 2010. Dr. Debra J. Cohen of SHRM, may have said it best, "Effective recognition programs are usually a wise investment, and organizations that manage them well are going to benefit in a lot of different ways - and especially on the bottom line." (The WOW! Workplace)

This holiday don't sacrifice the wellbeing of your most important asset. Instead, invest in them through celebration and recognition!

4 Rules for Effective Employee Recognition Awards

This video blog series by Mike Byam and Jenny Watkins of Terryberry talks about the 4 rules for effective employee recognition awards:

• Personally meaningful
• Symbolic and exclusive
• Lasting
• Differentiated between levels of achievement
  

Mike also talks about why cash and gift cards are not effective awards.



This employee recognition award video can also be viewed at YouTube. Please feel free to rate and comment!

Wikipedia's Entry on Terryberry

Have you always wondered how the Terryberry Company got its name? Find out the answer to that question and more in the Wikipedia page about Terryberry. Learn about the history of employee recognition and the latest employee recognition industry developments, products and services for HR.

New Whitepaper Discusses How to WOW! Employees During Tough Economic Times

In today's economy, businesses are demanding more of their employees, and they often have less financially to give in return. How can leaders keep their key people motivated and engaged during these difficult times? Mike Byam, managing partner of Terryberry Company, advises business leaders to build trust by creating an environment of transparent communication, together with appreciation and recognition for employees' extra effort.

In his new white paper, "How & Why to WOW! Employees During Tough Economic Times," Mike Byam shares 5 tips for how organizations can save their employee recognition budget during these critical times.