All Star - Blog listing page

National Employee Appreciation Day is March 2, 2018, and many companies will do something special for their employees. The company leaders may bring in lunch or managers may plan a celebration or provide each employee with a small gift. Those of us in the corporate incentive, reward and recognition world realize that showing employees appreciation is not a one-time event.

Market research has been a valued strategy for decades. Traditionally, marketers have employed focus groups, product testing, interviews and telemarketing surveys to get that all-important customer and prospect input. Companies that invest in employee incentive and recognition strategies can also benefit from market research.  For incentive and recognition programs, input from representatives of the target group is critical to ensure that the process is effective and the rewards will be motivating to the audience.

The journey into safety rewards and recognition never needs to be a blind one.  Often times a potential client will come to us not knowing where to start. We know that there are specific costs associated with safety (in particular – accidents) including lost time, claims, administrative expenses, and more.  The best thing to do is to evaluate the company’s current state of affairs relative to safety and that includes costs, incident rates, claims, training, recognition, committees, regular meetings, etc.  The more in tune a company is with their overall safety strategy and culture the more likely they are to create a properly designed and effective safety reward and recognition program.

Finding the key to what motivates employees is something that every employer faces at one time or another.  Utilizing the framework of an existing wellness program or deciding to launch a new one as part of your motivational toolbox – is worth serious consideration.  What many research studies on wellness programs have told us thus far is that employees are more productive and motivated when they know that their employer is invested in their total quality of life (not just what happens inside the office).

I am rapidly approaching my 10-year anniversary with my company.  It’s a family-owned business so already has a friendly built-in quality about it that makes it feel familiar before you even get to know anyone.  I have made lifelong friends over the years – some have left and keep in touch and some are still here alongside me.