Tips for Managers to Reward and Recognize their employees

While a formal award or shoutout is a great way to recognize and celebrate an achievement, rewarding and recognizing employees is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s important to ask each employee what motivates them and how they like to be appreciated and rewarded.

Consider:

• Would they prefer a public of private acknowledgement?
• Will they appreciate a tangible item or is a note the best option?
• How important is it to them too?

Some ideas you could consider as a manager are:

• A written thank you note
• An email or letter of praise, copying the next level supervisor
• An opportunity to attend a training session or conference
• A token to put on an office wall or on a desk as a reminder
• An “in the moment”, genuine expression of thanks when you witness a contribution
• A small memento or gift ($5 gift card to the Creamery, Sheetz, Dunkin, etc.)
• A chance to go to an event such as a Penn State game, guest speaker series, theatre production, etc. Implementation of your employee’s good ideas – and giving them the credit!
• Take your employee out to lunch – and invite your manager or another leadership team member along!
• Sharing testimonials from peers attesting to their high regard for the employee
• A team leadership assignment, such as becoming an onboarding buddy for new employees, serving as a subject matter expert – or heading up a committee or council
• Recommend your employee to serve on a committee, project team, or task force
• Increased autonomy to do their work