You have probably heard that ‘a happy employee is stirred to work harder and be more productive.’ People work harder when they know that they are appreciated. Research indicates that many employees say that recognition makes them work harder, while others admit that they are more productive after being rewarded. It’s quite obvious that almost every employee yearns for a meaningful and fulfilling work but part of what makes work more meaningful is recognition if the job is well done. The essence of rewards; Boosts morale For Daniel Ganza, a PR consultant in Kigali, the level of satisfaction felt by a person or group of people who work together summarised is what morale is all about. He says, employee rewards can inspire your staff to think of creative solutions to problems. Creating a personalised strategy to reward employees for positive behaviour and meaningful contributions to your business, will help to build a strong relationship and secure your organisation’s culture, encouraging engagement and constant effort and loyalty. Ganza adds that rewards can be in the form of providing gym memberships or tokens towards holidays to help take care of your staff’s physical and mental wellbeing by encouraging them to set time aside for themselves and their health and recreation. But also assisting them to stretch their salaries or offering gift cards, vouchers can be a great deal for them. Enhances their skills “Providing workers with knowledge boosts their confidence and closes the knowledge gap. Invest in staff by providing learning opportunities, courses or mentorships with more senior employees. When they are skilled, the company benefits as well,” he says. Occasions should be acknowledged Imagine the joy of respecting and recognising employees’ special days that are meaningful to them such as; birthdays, wedding anniversaries, work anniversaries, milestones and other personal achievements. Sparing time to congratulate one another may seem as a simple act of kindness but makes them feel knowledgeable and appreciated. On such occasions, you can give them lunch treats, cards or gifts, Ganza states. Increasing productivity He carries on that keeping your staff operating at maximum productivity, requires acknowledging the hard work they are already putting in. There is a higher possibility that employees who are appreciated will be more creative and operative, with small or big victories. The reward isn’t supposed to be costly, it can even be a simple ‘thank you’ message in person or via email. Retaining existing staff Career experts say that some employees leave their jobs for lack of appreciation and look for jobs where they will be valued. They say that rewarding staff is important if you hope to retain your existing employees. With the current skills’ gaps, making it even more important to keep hold of talented workers, employee engagement is crucial. Staff which is recognised and praised for their hard work is going to be more satisfied in their role and as a result, more loyal to the business. Builds a bond between employers and employees According to Power to Motivate, a career website, recognising an employee’s efforts and appreciating their abilities builds an essential bond between the manager and the employee. Establishing this bond is paramount to building a healthy and positive environment, where employees feel comfortable speaking to their managers, and vice versa. Crafts workers’ engagement “Not only does an effective reward and recognition programme make your employees happier, but it also gets them engaged in their work. When an incentive is in place, they work harder to achieve the goal to get the reward on offer. So simple, yet so clever.”
