Do Employee Programs Of The Month Really Work?
Many companies use employee-of-the-month awards. This award may include a photograph of the honoree with an engraved nameplate in the lobby of the business, perhaps a reserved parking place and/or a small cash bonus. As popular as these programs are, they may not be the best for motivating today’s employees. • What’s Wrong with Them It’s difficult to motivate employees through a “program.” They can be too distant and formal for individuals to get excited about. Motivation is very personal and stems primarily from the interaction between an employee and his or her manager. What is motivating to an individual also varies from person to person. The best motivation comes from daily positive reinforcement by management of desired performance with as many employees as possible–not something that occurs once a month for a single employee. When new, an Employee of the Month program can stimulate much excitement, however, over time much of the thrill is often lost. Often times the selection cr
