Finding a Job You Love: The Power of Recognition in the Workplace

Enhance workplace productivity through employee recognition programs. Acknowledging efforts will transform your company culture!

August 7, 2023
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Finding a job that you love can be a daunting challenge. As young professionals, our team grew tired of loathing Mondays, counting down the days until the weekend, and associating work with negativity. We thought to ourselves, why does “work” have such a negative connotation when you say it out loud?

We began thinking. There has to be a way to boost employees' happiness in the workplace. There has to be something that can be done, even in the slightest, to make employees feel important and appreciated. Right?

We did some research and stumbled upon the concept of the employee recognition program and formal acknowledgment. We found that there are three broad factors that affect a professional's level of happiness in the workplace:

  1. Enjoying what you do
  2. Compensation
  3. Feeling appreciated and safe in the workplace

The first two are not within our control. So, our focus shifted to the third.

What Does It Mean to Give Recognition?

Define Official Recognition: The act of recognizing employees is about valuing and appreciating their efforts and contributions. Feeling appreciated in the workplace comes from something called employee recognition. Employee recognition is communication between management and employees which rewards employees for reaching specific goals or producing high-quality results.

What Is the Importance of an Employee Recognition Program?

The importance of employee recognition is so vast it can be hard to measure. An employee recognition program is a structured approach to systematically recognizing and rewarding employees for their hard work and achievements. Such programs (especially early recognition) often correlate with increased employee motivation and employee retention, as staff feel valued and important to the organization.

What Are the 4 Types of Recognition?

Understanding the different types of recognition can help organizations effectively acknowledge and reward their employees' contributions. There are four main types of recognition, each serving a unique purpose and offering distinct benefits to both the employees and the organization. Here are the four types of recognition:

  1. Formal Recognition: This includes awards ceremonies, official promotions, and certifications.
  2. Informal Recognition: Acts like verbal praise or a spontaneous thank-you note.
  3. Social Recognition: Public praise in settings such as company meetings or on company social media channels.
  4. Personal Recognition: Tailored and individualized, like a personal gift or a one-on-one lunch with the CEO.

What Does Employee Recognition Do?

Employee recognition goes beyond merely appreciating employees; it cultivates a positive environment where employees feel valued and motivated. Recognition can take various forms, from simple verbal acknowledgments to formal awards and incentives. Regardless of the method, consistent recognition leads to numerous benefits that significantly impact both individual and organizational success.

Employee recognition has multifaceted benefits:

  • Boosts Morale: Regularly recognizing employees uplifts their spirits and makes them feel valued.
  • Enhances Productivity: Recognized employees often display better performance and commitment to their tasks.
  • Strengthens Loyalty: Employees who feel acknowledged are more likely to stay with the company long-term.
  • Encourages Positive Behavior: Recognizing desired behaviors reinforces those behaviors, prompting employees to repeat them.
  • Builds a Supportive Work Culture: A culture of equal recognition fosters teamwork, collaboration, and mutual respect among coworkers.

What Are the Effective Ways to Recognize Employees?

Incorporating different ways to motivate employees in the everyday culture of a company can significantly improve their morale and productivity. Consistent and genuine recognition fosters a positive work environment where employees feel valued and appreciated. This can be achieved through a variety of methods that cater to different preferences and situations. Here are ideas to incorporate:

  • Employee engagement program creates a structure where employees are routinely recognized for their achievements and can easily give and receive recognition.
  • Spot bonuses for exceptional work
  • Personalized gifts
  • Team lunches or company trips

Remember, it's not just about grand gestures; sometimes, a simple "thank you" or acknowledgment can reward employees immensely.

What Is the Difference Between Employee Appreciation and Recognition?

Recognition acknowledges specific accomplishments linked to company values or goals. In contrast, appreciation is about valuing an individual, irrespective of accomplishments.

Reflect for a moment on the stark contrast between days when you approach your job with enthusiasm and passion, and those when you're merely going through the motions due to lack of motivation. The difference isn't just palpable; it directly translates to the quality and efficiency of the work you produce. When we foster a culture that actively practices formal acknowledgment, recognizing and valuing each employee's contributions, the results are profound. It ignites a spark of motivation, fueling a desire to consistently give one's best. Beyond that, such recognition isn’t merely a fleeting reward; it's an investment, solidifying bonds of loyalty and trust that are essential for long-term employee retention.

HR professionals and leaders, envision a workplace where the energy is contagious, where the spirit of collaboration and drive isn't confined to just the high-flying days but is consistent, day in and day out. Imagine a place where every team member feels seen, valued, and driven — yes, even on those challenging Mondays. The tools and strategies are at your fingertips; the next move is yours. Commit to transforming your workplace into a hub of enthusiasm, productivity, and mutual respect. It's not just about boosting numbers; it's about enriching lives, enhancing experiences, and building a legacy of excellence.

Browse our Free Employee Recognition Guide

Get the foundational knowledge on creating an employee recognition program that boosts employee engagement and helps them feel valued.

Explore Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Assembly SOC 2 compliant?

Yes, at Assembly, security is a top priority. Each quarter, we have ongoing security work that is everyone’s responsibility. While we maintain a strong security posture, it was important for us to prove to our customers that we do everything we claim to do. This led us to pursue a SOC 2 Type II report that would provide evidence of our compliance with industry gold-standard security practice.

What's the ROI for employee recognition?

There is study after study showing that employee recognition leads to increased engagement. This in return creates an environment where employees are happier and more motivated which increase productivity and reduces voluntary turnover significantly. In order to filled critical roles, companies tend to spend nearly twice the value of an annual salary. Assembly is an investment in your employees that supports your bottom line.

Does Assembly offer longer-term contracts?

Yes, we will offer contracts for companies with longer-term agreements to help larger customers have more certainty around future costs.

The minimum agreement term is a 12-month subscription.

Does Assembly offer onboarding support?

We do and for FREE! Any new customer needing further support to get started with Assembly to ensure you're set up for success can request custom onboarding support. Improving your employee experience is about much more than just using our amazing software; it’s about transforming your business to create a workplace that people love. That’s much easier to do with the personal support and advice from our passionate people experts.

How much do rewards cost?

At the time of redemption (when your employees exchange their points for a paid reward) you'll pay face value. If a reward is a $10 Amazon gift card, your cost will be $10. All paid rewards are billed for on a monthly basis.

The good news is that you don't have to pay for rewards upfront because we only charge you when points are redeemed, not when they're earned.

Does Assembly offer discounts?

We offer discounts or educational or charitable organizations. In order to secure a discount, you'll first need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.

For all other organizations, we are willing to consider longer-term agreements in exchange for discounts. To set up annual plans or longer, you will need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.

How do I cancel my plan if needed?

If you're on a month to month plan, you can go here and cancel anytime. If you're having concerns or need help setting up your account for success, you can always book a demo with a customer support specialist.

If you're on a longer-term custom plan, you'll need to reach out to your customer support specialist to cancel your account or email us at support@joinassembly.com.

What customizations are available?

Great question! You can customize your core values to match your organization's to boost and track alignment. You can change your currency from the 🏆 emoji (our default) to any emoji of your choice. You can swap our logo for your own. You can also set up company culture rewards such as, "Lunch with the CEO," "Buy a book on us," and so much more!

Who can give or receive recognition?

While we recommend a peer to peer set up where anyone in your organization can give or receive recognition, you can set up Assembly however you want. If you need to limit the people who can give or receive recognition, that's perfectly fine and can be done from your Admin, here.

What integrations are available?

Assembly connects to the tools your employees use every day to offer an easy, seamless experience with minimal change management.  

Assembly has integrations with HCM/HRIS systems like ADP, Google, Office 365, and Slack. We also integrate with communication tools like Slack and Teams so you and your employees can access Assembly wherever they work now.

What's your average adoption rate?

That depends on the company's permissions set up. That said, over 90% of the employees on Assembly's platform are recognized on a monthly basis. That means nearly every employee across all of our customers are receiving regular recognition from their peers, managers, or leadership. We're extremely proud of this.

Must rewards be set up to use Assembly?

They are not required. You can use Assembly without having rewards set up. However, we don't recommend it if you intend to have a high adoption and usage rate. You can always keep the costs down by offering internal culture rewards that are fulfilled by you internally.

Are points required to use Assembly?

No, you can remove allowances from anyone or everyone. It's up to you but we do recommend using points whether they're worth a real dollar value or not. Companies that use points have a much higher engagement rate even if those points don't exchange for real dollars.

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Please schedule time with an expert and we will help you to get all your questions answered