Learn which programs are best for your organization!
A comprehensive employee recognition strategy includes three approaches to appreciating your team: formal, informal, and day-to-day recognition. We love to talk about day-to-day recognition and different ways managers can regularly give positive feedback to employees. As we near the end of the year, it’s important to turn our attention to formal and informal recognition programs, too.
Informal award programs recognize individuals or teams for achieving goals or completing projects, and they’re usually celebrated with a memento or a group celebration. An example would be our distribution center team enjoying a catered lunch together to celebrate a month of 100% accuracy.
Formal award programs are typically identified by their structure, nomination process, and selection criteria. These programs are designed to recognize performance that contributes to organizational values and goals. Years of service, top performer, and sales awards are examples of formal recognition, and the recipients are honored with trophies, lapel pins, and public award ceremonies.
Why do these additional programs matter?
1. Informal and formal recognition programs let employees know how they’re contributing to the big picture. Because goals and values are often directly linked to the award criteria, formal and informal programs show employees how their actions make a difference.
2. Public recognition can motivate a greater number of people to greater performances. Watching a teammate receive a 10 year service anniversary award or a top performer award can be pretty inspirational! These recognition moments will encourage the rest of your team to strive to go above and beyond.
3. Team celebrations have an important influence on your culture. When you honor an individual or team as a larger group, it creates positive mojo for your organization. Everyone loves to celebrate a success story!
4. Informal and formal recognition programs create milestones for the company and managers to thank employees. They are important reminder systems!
When your organization has formal, informal, and day-to-day recognition programs working in tandem, employees are going to be more engaged, productive, and effective. To learn more about the different types of recognition programs, explore our Recognition Resource Center.
