Brand loyalty isn’t just for customers or retail. Creating a brand that your employees and teammates can get behind can be a very important part of a company’s long-term goals. When your staff believes in your brand and is all about your company, then you’ve created a culture of belonging, which can be a strong motivator and can boost morale.

 There are many different ways to strengthen your company culture. One of those tried-and-true methods is an Employee Recognition program, which can be in the form of an Employee of the Month program. Strategic employee recognition is on the rise, and it’s transformed from a picture hanging on the wall to a significant honor in many companies.

 Zappos and GE Healthcare are companies that have led the charge in this respect, and their efforts are creative and successful. Zappos has a peer-to-peer rewards program where employees support or recognize each other. They can then earn Zappos dollars to spend in a variety of ways in the company.

 GE Healthcare went through an organizational shakeup years ago and wanted to keep communication open and positive during this time. To do this, they created Employee Forums with regular meetings, collaboration efforts, dashboards highlighting achievements for all to see, and six-word success stories.

 If all of this sounds fantastic and you’re ready to start your company’s new approach to recognizing employees and building a strong culture, then you’re in the right place. Our team at PinMart has cultivated a list of five tips for starting employee of the month programs and employee rewards. We’ve also added a list of employee of the month gift ideas so you can get started right away.

Be Crystal Clear. Whether you’re starting a new employee of the month program or revamping an old one, it’s best to be as detailed and clear as possible so everyone knows what’s happening. This not only avoids any confusion but it makes it easier for everyone to play along. It can also help management or HR focus on what it is they really want to do and accomplish.

·         Allow Room for Change. Every company is different, so what works in one business might be a failure in another. You might also find that there are shifts within your company seasonally, with new management, or as teams change, which means that you need a flexible rewards program so it always feels relevant and meaningful.

·         Encourage Employee Participation. Peer-to-peer rewards programs are a great way to boost company culture from the inside and from the beginning. The most successful programs have an element of management recognition and peer acknowledgment.

·         Provide Meaningful Rewards. The classic framed picture on the wall has become a bit of a cliché. Let’s face it, recognition is nice, but it doesn’t always have much value. A deeper dive into what drives your team and even what makes individuals tick can give you an idea of more valuable employee rewards.

·         Keep it Fun. Keeping employees engaged is serious business, as is creating a company culture that welcomes everyone. This can lead to some serious employee recognition for achievements like safety records, biggest sales, most new customers, etc. But the best companies have a little levity and fun, too. Try to keep a spot in your recognition program that’s all about fun. This brings smiles to the process and can become the glue that holds it all together.

 10 Employee of the Month Gift Ideas

Acknowledging a job well done is a very important part of supporting your team and creating a positive environment. Sometimes just saying it is reward enough, but for those times when you want to provide a token of recognition, these ideas make great employee gifts.

·         Employee of the Month Pins. We’ve seen a huge uptick in pin popularity and companies are hot to show their employees they care with recognition pins. To meet the demand, we’ve recently rolled out a 12-month collection of employee recognition pins, each with a clear rhinestone and jewelry-quality finish.

·         Custom Pins. As part of a reward package or as the reward itself, we can create custom pins that are designed to highlight your company in your colors or with your logo, they can spotlight different departments to give them bragging rights, or they can be customized to fit an event or a special program you’re running. Creating custom pins is an easy way to show appreciation and to go that extra step in recognizing your employees.

·         Individualized Gifts. Many companies are taking the route of customizing the gift to the individual. This doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate, it just takes a little forethought and planning. To do this, have each employee fill out a short survey that lists their favorite treats, charities, restaurants, local stores, snacks, etc. That way their reward can be customized to their preferences so you know it will be appreciated and used.

·         Let Them Get Lunch. Each month, you can host an “employee-sponsored” lunch. You’ll foot the bill, but the lucky employee chosen to hold the title of Employee of the Month will get to select the restaurant that caters the event.

·         Charitable Contribution. Acknowledge your employee of the month by contributing to their charity of choice. This is a win/win situation where your team feels valued, and they get to pick an organization that has meaning to them to receive the reward.

·         Parking Spot of Honor. Reserve one coveted parking spot that’s close to the employee entrance and assign that spot to the winning employee of the month.

·         Wall of Gratitude. Why limit the reward to just one individual. Encourage your team to consistently praise each other with a wall of gratitude where they can anonymously or openly thank others and all out the great job their fellow workers are doing.

·         Day Off. If a day off is a bit too much, how about a few hours off? Giving your employees extra personal time to use as they see fit is a great way to reward them for going above and beyond and strengthening your company.

·         The Good Stuff. Embrace tech or luxe advances by using them as rewards. For office staff, you can create a “good office” that has an elevated look with a fantastic view, etc. Let the winner each month take over that office. If your work environment is different, invest in a great piece of tech or luxury (perhaps a private bathroom), that can be used to reward one person a month.

·         Theme Day. Set one day a month aside as a theme day, then let the top-raking group of employees decide what that theme will be. This encourages teamwork, creativity, and an attitude of fun. It also can spark some competition, especially if you hold a survey at the end of the year to see which month’s theme day was the favorite. 

We hope these ideas help you move ahead with your employee of the month program or an employee rewards event. If you’re interested in adding PinMart pins to your reward slate, we’re happy to help! You can contact PinMart by phone at 1-877-PINMART (1-877-746-6278) or reach out to us through our email webpage. We’re thrilled to be a part of your successful employee of the month program.     

Recognition Award Star Pin

$4.99

Reward achievement with our Recognition Award Pin. This pin is made using the jewelry-quality Cloisonné process, filled with enamel color, plated in gold and nickel,...… read more

Gold - $4.99 Silver - $4.99