While it is true that employee recognition builds morale and helps you retain the best of your employees, there is a cost to employee recognition gifts. Examine different employee recognition awards to help you create a reasonable rewards budget.

Divide your employee awards into different levels to help you evaluate the pricing and costs of employee recognition. Determine a price point of employee gift ideas in each level, and make sure you're considering all aspects of the costs. As an example, you can find many free templates for employee recognition certificates online, but you also need to factor in the costs of paper, ink and the wear and tear on your office computer.

1. Look for inexpensive work performance recognition.

2. Consider personalized employee recognition glass awards for mid- level recognition.

3. Reward outstanding achievement with outstanding recognition gifts.

Action Steps for Employee Recognition
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose cost-effective job recognition gifts

Learn how to show recognition to an employee with little expense. Give praise during staff meetings as a way to recognize employees for free. Purchase blank thank you notes in bulk to keep recognition gifts in hand. These types of recognition gifts will range from pennies to still well under a dollar each, making them an attractive option.

I recommend: Posty Cards provides you with a variety of thank you notes for between 30 and 60 cents each. The more you purchase, the less expensive the cards. Office Depot has several styles of thank you cards that range in price from $7 for 24 cards to $10 for 50 cards.

Step up to mid-level work performance recognition

Thank your employees for their work and dedication by recognizing their efforts with mid-level gifts. You can typically purchase this level of recognition awards for $15 to $100 per item. The wider price range of this level allows you to select a gift that's appropriate for the act that's being recognized. Ask about engraving. Most places engrave items as a part of the purchase price, or you may be asked to pay per letter. Typically it's less than $1 per letter to have something engraved.

I recommend: Awards for Anything has plaques, desk clocks and paperweights that range in price from $15 to $70. Dinn Bros. offers awards for recognition that start as low as $16. Awards include personalized acrylic awards in various shapes and sizes.

Inspire outstanding contributions with outstanding corporate recognition rewards

Make sure that once-in-a-lifetime achievements are recognized with once-in-a-lifetime awards. Set the standard very high in order to keep costs under control and choose something specific for that individual.

I recommend: Tiffany & Co. will help you with recognition gifts that range in price from $100 to $3,000 each. From crystal to watches, clocks to cuff links, you can find the perfect gift for recognizing amazing actions from your employees. Take employee awards to the highest level by gifting your most deserving employees with a gift from Steuben. With prices starting around $1,000, you can make a real statement of gratitude.

Tips & Tactics for Employee Recognition

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep the pricing and costs of employee recognition in control by purchasing gift cards as recognition gifts. You can set the specific amount awarded on the cards, allowing you to choose an amount that is in line with the achievement you're rewarding.

Employee recognition awards are powerful motivators in the workplace – both for those who receive these employee awards, and for other employees, who see the concrete proof that hard work does truly pay off, but also promote employee loyalty, and professional and personal satisfaction levels.

The top three things to know about employee recognition awards:

1) Corporate recognition awards inspire all of your employees (not only the gift recipients).
2) Employee gifts promote employee loyalty.
3) Employee awards increase workers’ professional and personal satisfaction and fulfillment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Food and drink employee gifts

Don't forget to reward all of your employees when they all deserve it - say, after the whole group has done an all-night inventory, or after a holiday rush. If you have the gifts delivered to the workplace, leave the wine/other alcohol out of the mix, so you don't have drunk employees on the job. In general, some good group employee gift ideas include a variety of food, coffee, tea, and dessert rewards.

I recommend: Business.com outlines choices ranging from Coffee and Tea Baskets to Wine and Cheese Gift Baskets. Rewarding several employees? Then check out ArtPromos's Food and Candy "candy take-out" promotional gifts. Nothing says “Thank you” like a sweet treat in the form of Candy Bouquets, Cookies by Design's Cookie Bouquets, and the sinfully superb offerings from Godiva. Looking for something healthy? Then check out Harry and David’s many fruit baskets.

Individualized employee recognition awards

Take the time to listen and remember the individual likes and tastes of your employees. Sending chocolates to your diabetic secretary, or wine to the recovering alcoholic, will actually do more harm than good. On the other hand, if you know your evening manager is a movie maven, or your first shift leader is a sports fan, then you have a good grasp of the types of rewards (movie/sporting event tickets, in these cases) that would mean the most to them.

I recommend: Check out Business.com’s Corporate Gifts to purchase business gifts tailored to your business. Visit Gifts for Professionals to view their many employee recognition awards, including office accessories, executive games, and more personalized gifts. Send an individualized gift basket from All Gift Baskets And More, or Adorable Gift Baskets, where you can choose from employee gift ideas ranging from books or sports to relaxation or garden baskets.

Prepaid credit card employee gift ideas

Not sure which employee awards are the best? Then give them the freedom of choice in the form of credit cards (with the limit of your choice), which can be used at specific retailers, restaurants, movie theaters, or shopping malls.

I recommend: American Express offers many options for corporate recognition gifts, beginning with the American Express Specialty Gift Cards. American Express’s Incentive Services now has two prepaid cards: The Persona Options Card, an “everyday” shopping card accepted at more than 60 popular retailers, which is ideal for employee recognition awards; and the Celebrate Card, designed to celebrate employee achievement through special anniversary and safety programs, which is accepted at more than 110 retailers and specialty merchandise retailers. Check out Mastercard’s employee recognition gift offering: the Incentive Card. Visit the Corporate Gift Showplace’s Selective Gift and Incentive Program, which offers gift booklets, corporate recognition awards, and more.

Employee recognition awards for display

Don't forget that the point of employee recognition gifts is the employee recognition aspect to it. Praise your employee, shout it from the rooftops, and find a great workplace display or trophy so others - employees and customers - will notice and offer their own congratulations.

I recommend: Business.com gives you many choices of Employee Reward Vendors to turn to for employee recognition gifts. Baudville encourages you to “recognize your stars” with stylish corporate recognition awards designed for every employee. Visit Mcaeiro.com for quality employee awards.

Go for employee gifts or gift certificates, not cash, when it comes to recognition awards

Gift certificates and gift cards are a great way to give employees a like-cash reward, while still personalizing it (by store) to their tastes.

I recommend: Visit Starbucks, Target, Giftcertificates.com, or MovieGift.com to find gift certificates to appeal to each of your employees.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Think outside the gift box: Many of these employee gift ideas are also perfect for rewarding your loyal customers.
• •  Employee gifts and recognition awards are a great way to not just reward behavior, but also to change unwanted employee behaviors.
• •  Use corporate recognition awards to acknowledge big and small jobs well done.
• •  Personalized, thoughtful employee gifts that cost you only $20.00 each are worth more than the same amount in cash that's just handed to the employee with a mumbled, 'Thanks.' The employee awards show that cared enough to put forth the effort to find something special for them.

Making the most of employee recognition can help you make the most of your business opportunities. By recognizing the efforts of your staff members, you foster a better working environment and generate employee loyalty to you and your company.

Make employee awards and recognition public. Gather your staff together and present the appropriate personnel with the recognition they deserve. Not only will the recipient be motivated by the recognition but so will the rest of your staff members. Recognition can even generate higher staff productivity, as other employees strive to be recognized by the company.

1. Present your staff members with employee recognition certificates and other inexpensive but valuable rewards.

2. Offer corporate recognition rewards that match the achievement.

3. Hire professionals to create employee recognition programs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Give employee recognition certificates that are inexpensive but mean a lot

You don't have to break the bank to reward employees for their contributions to the company. Awarding recognition certificates that are customized and suitable for framing is a good way to recognize staff achievements while keeping your recognition budget in hand. Choose from options that include companies that complete the certificate for you and ship it to you or purchasing certificate paper from your local office supply store and printing the certificates in your office.

I recommend: Check out GovLeaders.gov to learn about easy ways to reward employees. The site even has recognition certificates you can download and use for your recognition program. Paper Direct offers a variety of employee recognition certificates for you to choose from, all suitable for framing and display.

Present employee recognition awards of varying reward levels

Let's face it: Some achievements deserve more than a certificate and a pat on the back. In order to have a successful employee recognition program, it's necessary to match the achievement to the recognition gift. Offering engraved glass awards, for example, is an elegant and sophisticated way to provide recognition for your employees' efforts. Select awards that can be engraved for a more personal touch.

I recommend: The State of Kansas has an excellent outline of its employee award and recognition program that includes recognition award ideas for all levels of service. Baudville has several styles of employee recognition glass awards that can be customized to suit your needs.

Rely on the pros to design employee recognition programs

Contact a professional to help you assess the type of recognition program you should implement in order to bring out the best in your employees. Regardless of whether you want to create a large program with formal presentations or one that uses handwritten thank you notes, these experts can help you make recognition a natural part of your professional environment.

I recommend: Rethink Rewards offers ways to implement an employee reward and recognition program that works for your company. Awards Network creates a work performance recognition program that fits your professional needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Making the most of employee recognition means providing recognition that's meaningful to the employee. Consider gift cards redeemable at several locations like gas stations or restaurants so you know your employees will benefit from their employee recognition gifts.

Thriving companies today are committed to recruiting and retaining a dedicated staff of qualified employees. Employee recognition programs have become a key part of that process. Studies show that employee satisfaction translates into customer satisfaction. For service-based companies, that's a reality too important to overlook. That's why business owners are investing in what they now call "human capital" so that they can remain competitive in today's market. Become familiar with employee recognition key terms to optimize your HR strategies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Human capital management

Some organizations today show their commitment to employee recognition with human capital management strategies, such as encouraging individual employee development through education and on the job training.

I recommend: Find out why Helios HR bases its Apollo Awards program on successful human capital management. Statistics show that employees of companies using these strategies feel that their accomplishments are truly recognized.

Recognition program

Organizations consciously adopt a recognition program in order to show employees they're serious about rewarding achievement.

I recommend: Read about the decisions companies make when forming recognition programs on the Business Research Lab website. For example, they consider whether awards should be based upon competition, the cost of a recognition program and how to reward one employee's achievement without letting other employees feel they have been slighted.

Awards

Employee recognition programs make awards to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievement or loyalty to the company. The term 'awards' is used interchangeably with the term 'rewards'.

I recommend: Step four of the Kansas Employee Award and Recognition Program reveals the five essential characteristics of rewards and awards that will genuinely express the company's appreciation and motivate employees to continue performing well.

Recognition committee

A recognition committee can be made up of HR staff and representative employees from different units within the company. The committee forms policies for a recognition program and establishes the criteria on which recognition awards are based.

I recommend: If you're wondering how to form a recognition committee, consider Step 2 of the University of Washington's Employee Recognition Program. Read suggestions for duties of recognition committee members and voting procedures.

Nonmonetary awards

Nonmonetary awards can be a cost-effective solution for organizations that want to recognize employee achievement without stretching their budgets.

I recommend: Go to the section "Definitions of Recognition Categories" of the USDA's Guide for Employee Recognition to get suggestions for nonmonetary awards that employees truly appreciate.

Service recognition awards

Service recognition awards are usually limited to employees who have passed a milestone in service to the company.

I recommend: Organizations like Northwestern University not only give service recognition awards to employees who have been with the company for 20 years but also to other employees for every five years of loyal service.