Concerned with employee retention? Consider Service Awards

As a manager or owner of a business, are you concerned about employees leaving your company?  One tool to consider is adding Service Awards to your HR tool-belt.  Periodic or annual service award programs have been proven to be successful in improving employee longevity.  Considering the cost of employee acquisition, training, etc. – this number can be huge!  The cost of a gift to acknowledge their year(s) of service is small in comparison.

This is not just me blabbing, folks, studies have proven that service awards and other periodic recognition increases job satisfaction - that makes them stay longer.

Also, it is important to gauge how often you present service awards.  For some well established companies, recognition at the 1, 5, 10, and 20 year mark is perfectly appropriate.  For some start-ups or companies with higher turnover positions, it may be prudent to provide them with gifts at the 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 year mark.  Even 6th month awards can be worthy of recognition if the typical employee lasts 2 months in a position – don’t laugh…there are plenty of ‘less than desirable’ jobs out there.

Don’t blast them with the same gift each anniversary date.  Consistency is good, but who will want a gift basket year after year, or the same plaque or acrylic award year after year?  I suggest an award every other time period, and a useful or edible gift on the off year.

Looking for award product suggestions?  I have them!

For the earlier years, I suggest an acrylic award like these: Acrylic Ice Block, Peaked Acrylic Awards, or a Diamond Oval Acrylic Award

For the middle years, I suggest an award plaque like the Rosewood and Glass Plaque or the Custom Black Engraved Appreciation Plaque.

For someone with 15 or more year of service, consider a crystal awards like a Loving Cup Crystal Trophy or a Triangular Cobalt Blue Engraved Vase.

Questions are always welcome!

Positive Affirmation – Recognition Programs for the Year Ahead

With the year coming to a close I want to take a minute to discuss the importance of positive affirmation.  Everybody knows that this year is different.  Companies are downsizing their staff and tightening their belts.  Uncertainty is at an all-time high.

I feel now more than ever, it is time to put aside some of this uncertainty and look more positively to the future.  The recession will not last forever.  There will be a time that your company grows and thrives again.  With that being said, what is the message that you are sending your employees if you do not thank them or appreciate them for a job well done?  Even though sales might be down and morale might be low, the time is now to create the foundation for the future.

Consider implementing a sales contest.  Recognize and reward your top performers.  Create a service award program that assists with longevity and retention.  Think about safety, product enhancements and creative thought.  Implement recognition programs around a couple of your most important business challenges.  When done properly, these programs are one of the most powerful and inexpensive ways to attain your company’s goals while building a loyal and fulfilled staff.

Positive affirmation and recognition for a job well done are keys to a successful company.

Visit us today at www.trophies2go.com for a wide array of recognition awards or give us a call to assist with the creation or refinement of your recognition program.