Articles

At Recognize, we believe employee recognition should be part of everyday culture, not just an HR initiative. A great way to make that happen? A Culture Committee.

When organizations empower employees to champion engagement and recognition from within, culture becomes everyone’s responsibility. That is where Culture Committees come in, bridging leadership goals with employee energy to create workplaces that are connected, inclusive, and motivated.

January is the perfect time to reset, refocus, and ensure your employee recognition program is set up for success in 2026. The most effective programs are intentional, visible, and aligned with what the business is trying to achieve this year. With the right planning, recognition becomes a consistent driver of engagement, performance, and culture.

In a crowded market of employee engagement tools, choosing a recognition partner often feels like comparing identical feature lists.

However, for organizations integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem or those managing a “deskless” frontline, the technical architecture and financial model of a platform can mean the difference between a thriving culture and expensive shelfware.

Based on customer feedback, here are the key areas in which Recognize differentiates itself from the pack and why it stands out as the strategic choice for leadership.

In today’s fragmented work landscape, the distance between leadership and the workforce has never been wider. Whether it is a software developer working from a home office, a nurse on a 12-hour shift, or a driver delivering goods across state lines, the “recognition deficit” is real.

82% of remote workers feel unrecognized, and offline workers are 59% more likely to feel invisible.

To successfully implement a meaningful employee recognition program, HR leaders must move beyond the “nice-to-have” sentiment and present a business case that aligns with executive priorities: retention, productivity, and operational efficiency. Here is how to sell the Recognize platform to leadership by highlighting high-impact use cases.

Important Disclaimer: Recognize is not a tax advisory firm. Tax laws are complex and vary significantly by jurisdiction, employment classification, and individual circumstances. Every organization should consult with qualified tax professionals and legal advisors to ensure compliance with applicable tax regulations in its specific situation. The guidance below represents general considerations but should not be considered professional tax advice.

For global companies, employee recognition programs require navigating complex international tax regulations. Recognition rewards may create taxable income in most jurisdictions, but requirements vary by location, employment status, and service delivery. Recognize addresses these challenges through flexible reward structures and comprehensive rewards redemption reporting that can support your tax reporting needs, but your tax advisors should determine the specific requirements for your organization.

Rolling out an employee recognition platform is about more than switching on new software. It requires clear direction, expert support, and ongoing guidance to ensure recognition becomes part of everyday work, not just a launch initiative.

This article explores how Recognize supports organizations from onboarding to long-term success, enabling teams to develop meaningful and sustainable recognition programs that foster engagement over time.

Employee recognition programs traditionally assume all employees sit at desks with company email addresses and regular computer access. This assumption excludes millions of frontline workers in healthcare, manufacturing, construction, security, retail, and hospitality- the very employees whose contributions often matter most to operational success. Recognize solves this challenge through SMS notifications, mobile apps, and administrative tools that enable recognition programs to reach every employee regardless of their work environment.

As the year comes to a close, HR and People Ops teams often focus on final reports and planning what comes next. Year-end employee recognition data, however, offers more than a simple activity summary. 

It provides clear insight into engagement patterns, leadership behavior, and how workplace culture showed up across the organization.

Taking time to review recognition activity before setting new goals helps teams enter the new year with clarity rather than assumptions. This article emphasizes key areas worth reviewing and explains how each insight can support more effective decisions in the year ahead.

If you’re evaluating Recognize, you’re probably wondering how nominations fit into a modern recognition strategy, and whether the process is flexible enough to support leadership awards, peer voting, or scalable recognition programs without extra admin work. 

The good news?

The nomination workflow in Recognize is built to be simple, structured, and entirely customizable within our employee recognition software!

Finding great holiday gifts for remote employees can feel tougher than expected. You want something useful, personal, and uplifting, without it feeling generic or “one-size-fits-all.” Research from Gallup shows that feeling appreciated directly boosts engagement, which makes small gestures like holiday gifting more meaningful than ever for distributed teams.

Below is a curated list of websites offering thoughtful, creative, and practical gift ideas, perfect for making your remote employees feel valued this season.

Winter brings a slower pace and a perfect chance for a fresh start. With small moments of recognition, warmth, and connection, you can re-energize your team for the new year. This guide offers simple, engaging ideas to boost motivation and help everyone ease into January feeling supported.

Employee recognition programs face a fundamental challenge: organizations want recognition to flow freely to build culture, yet unchecked recognition can lead to gaming, budget overruns, and diluted meaning. Recognize resolves this through sophisticated controls that prevent abuse while enabling strategic tiered programs where peer recognition, manager awards, and leadership praise each serve distinct purposes with appropriate guardrails.

Employee recognition programs live or die by the insights they generate. Without robust reporting, organizations operate blindly, unable to identify engagement gaps, measure program ROI, or understand which behaviors drive culture. Recognize addresses this challenge with comprehensive analytics that span company-wide dashboards, manager portals, individual metrics, and customizable exports. Here’s everything you need to know about turning recognition data into strategic action.

Recognition should empower teams, not drain budgets through hidden fees and markups. Many platforms make rewards costly and inefficient, reducing real impact. This article breaks down the true cost of traditional models and how Recognize eliminates waste with transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing.

Recognizing employee contributions isn’t just about overall recognition activity; it’s about ensuring equity. When recognition is distributed inequitably, certain employees or teams may feel undervalued, leading to disengagement and a counterproductive program. This is where Recognize stands out by offering analytics that help organizations understand and address equity gaps.

Planning a hybrid holiday party can feel overwhelming: different time zones, different environments, and different employee expectations. But with the right structure, you can create a celebration that is warm, inclusive, and deeply engaging for everyone, whether they’re joining in person or online.

This guide gives you step-by-step instructions, templates, and practical examples so HR teams can easily plan an event employees will genuinely enjoy.

Recognizing great work feels even better when employees can choose rewards that genuinely fit their lives. With Recognize, teams can redeem points for thousands of options, from everyday essentials to special experiences, available across 180 countries. Because the catalog is built through our partnerships with Tango, Xoxoday, and Recognize-branded swag, employees can access an incredibly wide selection of meaningful, practical, and fun rewards.

Below is a simple breakdown of what’s available and how people actually redeem things inside the platform.

Starting a new job is a mix of excitement, nerves, and uncertainty. That’s why the first day sets the tone for everything that follows: culture, connection, trust, and engagement. When employees receive meaningful recognition on day one, it immediately signals that their contributions matter. 

And when HR teams and managers make this a consistent practice, it strengthens morale from the very beginning. This guide explains why first-day recognition is so impactful and how to make it part of your onboarding culture.

Badges are the heart of employee recognition in Recognize. They’re the fun, visual way to celebrate great work, whether it’s teamwork, innovation, or going the extra mile.

If you’re exploring Recognize, you’re probably wondering how flexible its recognition badges really are, and whether they can match your culture, values, and the behaviors you want to reinforce. The short answer: yes. Badges in Recognize are fully customizable, easy to manage, and built to scale across global, distributed, and frontline teams.

Here’s what that means for HR and People leaders evaluating the platform.

Use this checklist to evaluate your employee recognition program’s performance, celebrate successes, and prepare for the upcoming year.

Employee challenges are a fun and effective way to energize your workplace, promote healthy competition, and strengthen culture. Whether your goals are to boost morale, promote wellness, improve safety, or inspire recognition, a well-designed challenge can align employees around shared goals and company values.

Below are five challenge playbooks you can adapt throughout the year. Each playbook includes theme ideas, goals, and examples of activities or campaigns to get you started.

Nomination campaigns allow companies to formally celebrate excellence, reinforce values, and inspire engagement across teams.

Here are campaign ideas for all year-round and end-of-year recognition, tailored for Frontline employees, People Managers, and Leadership.

We’d love your honest feedback on your work experience and how recognition and rewards contribute to engagement and motivation at our company. This survey is anonymous and should take about 5–10 minutes to complete.

December marks the grand finale of the year—a month filled with holidays, reflection, and opportunities to celebrate the people who make your workplace thrive. As projects wrap up and teams prepare for the year ahead, it’s the perfect time to amplify appreciation and recognition. Recognizing employees during the holiday season fosters belonging, strengthens culture, and ensures everyone feels valued before heading into the new year.

This month, focus on spreading joy, celebrating wins, and creating meaningful moments of gratitude that energize your team for the year ahead. Below are creative ways to keep recognition festive and fun throughout December.

November is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and show appreciation for the people who make work meaningful. As the year winds down, recognition programs can spark energy, strengthen connections, and remind employees that their contributions truly matter. By weaving gratitude into your culture this month, you’ll not only boost morale but also align daily actions with company values and goals.

Below are creative ways to keep your recognition program fresh and engaging throughout November, helping your teams feel valued, motivated, and ready to finish the year strong.

Innovation doesn’t happen by accident. It flourishes in workplaces where employees feel inspired, recognised, and encouraged to share their ideas. Yet many organisations struggle with making ideation part of their daily culture. Employees might hesitate to speak up, feel that their ideas won’t be taken seriously, or simply get caught up in the routine of their day-to-day responsibilities.

This is where gamification can make a difference. Gamification transforms ideation from an abstract goal into an engaging, rewarding experience. Let’s explore how this approach can bring innovation to life through three key pillars: recognition, challenges, and nominations.

Planning an Employee Appreciation Day can feel overwhelming, especially if budget constraints make you worry about falling short. Yet, research shows that even small gestures can have a big impact; companies with high recognition cultures see 31% lower turnover and stronger engagement overall. Employees don’t just want perks; they want to feel genuinely valued.

This article will walk you through practical ways to design an Appreciation Day that’s meaningful without overspending. From low-cost ideas to tips on maximizing resources, you’ll discover how to celebrate your team in ways that matter most.

Balancing an employee engagement budget can feel like a juggling act: recognition, wellness, and surveys all compete for attention, yet each plays a vital role in shaping a thriving workplace. Many HR leaders overspend in one area and underinvest in another, missing opportunities for real impact. 

With disengaged employees costing U.S. companies hundreds of billions each year, smart allocation ensures employees feel valued, supported, and heard. The key is creating balance so every dollar drives both culture and measurable outcomes.

Autumn ushers in cooler days, shifting routines, and a season packed with celebrations from Halloween and Thanksgiving to Navratri and Diwali. As priorities change and teams juggle new projects alongside holiday plans, it’s easy for recognition programs to lose momentum during these busy months.

But fall is actually a perfect opportunity to strengthen culture, spotlight accomplishments, and keep spirits high whether your team is carving pumpkins, preparing for year-end goals, or celebrating cultural traditions. With thoughtful campaigns and a touch of seasonal creativity, your recognition program can feel as vibrant as the autumn leaves.

Here are some practical, festive, and effective fall recognition campaign ideas to help you re-energize your workforce and keep appreciation flowing through September, October, and November.

Here’s the reality: $50K can go quickly, but when spent wisely, it can transform your workplace culture. From recognition tools to wellness initiatives, OKR tracking, or even a big company gathering, every decision matters.

Smaller organizations (with budgets in the $5K–$15K range for recognition platforms) often face a tough choice: invest in a scalable tool that drives daily engagement, or put money toward memorable one-time events like a company party or guest speaker? The answer lies in finding the right balance between short-term excitement and long-term cultural impact.

Boosting employee engagement doesn’t require a massive budget. According to Gallup, disengaged employees already cost U.S. businesses $1.9 trillion in lost productivity each year, while highly engaged teams drive 23% higher profitability. 

With a budget of just $10,000, you can develop effective programs that enhance retention, morale, and performance. This article shares practical strategies to maximize the impact of every dollar.

Every year, thousands of preventable injuries disrupt lives and impact companies. According to the National Safety Council, a worker is injured on the job every 7 seconds. That’s 510 injuries per hour, and most can be avoided with the right approach.

So, how do you inspire employees to actually care about safety procedures, not just comply out of obligation? The answer is simple: make safety personal, rewarding, and part of your culture.

When employees feel seen, motivated, and appreciated for safe behaviors, safety stops being a box to check it becomes second nature. Recognition programs, gamification, and thoughtful incentives are transforming how organizations build safer workplaces. Let’s break this down.

If you’re evaluating employee recognition software and considering Halo, you’re likely looking for a solution that feels fresh, flexible, and truly rewarding for your teams. While Halo offers a range of options, Recognize has emerged as a modern alternative designed from the ground up to deliver a better experience, and this is for both employees and administrators.

Here’s why organizations are choosing Recognize as their Halo Recognition alternative.

We’re excited to share the latest improvements designed to make recognition simpler, faster, and more flexible for your whole organization:

✅ Seamless HRIS Integration

User Sync now supports dozens of leading HRIS providers through our new partnership—keeping your directory up-to-date effortlessly.

✅ Segmented Company Admin Access

Give the right people the right controls. Segmented admin access makes it easier to delegate program management by department, location, or team.

✅ Deep Axomo Integration

We’ve partnered with Axomo.com to power your swag redemption experience—reward employees with branded merchandise, streamlined directly through Recognize.

✅ Performance Improvements

We’ve reduced the load time of the bulk edit page so you can manage users faster than ever.

✅ A New Homepage for the Modern Workforce

Our new homepage experience is built for distributed teams and frontline workers, making recognition accessible wherever your people work.

✅ Enhanced Nomination Experience

Fresh UI updates make Nomination voting clearer and easier to use.

✅ Richer Recognition on Mobile

You can now upload images and more when sending nominations or recognition from our mobile apps.

Thank you for helping us build the most flexible, people-centered recognition platform. As always, we’d love your feedback!

A comprehensive comparison of the leading platforms driving engagement, retention, and performance through authentic recognition.

Here are 10 recognition messages tailored for Sales Directors to use with SDRs and AEs — great for Microsoft Teams, Slack, or within Recognize itself. These strike a balance of professional, motivating, and human.

In a high-stakes, performance-driven world like sales, keeping your team motivated, consistent, and aligned with targets is essential. But quota pressure, repetitive outbound tasks, and remote work fatigue can drain even top-performing sales reps. That’s where Recognize becomes a powerful ally for Sales Directors. With tools like automated recognition, leaderboards, performance badges, and integrations through API or Zapier, Recognize turns sales performance into a transparent, rewarding, and gamified experience—one that boosts morale, encourages consistency, and drives results.

As remote and hybrid work models become the norm, organizations are grappling with new challenges in culture-building, communication, and employee engagement. A distributed workforce—spanning cities, time zones, and even continents—offers flexibility and access to global talent, but it also brings fragmentation. When employees are siloed across locations and departments, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain a shared sense of purpose, values, and belonging. This is where a platform like Recognize becomes essential—not just as a rewards system, but as a strategic tool to unify and energize your workforce.

Employee recognition is no longer a luxury but a necessity in today’s workplace. A well-executed recognition program can boost morale, increase retention, and improve overall company culture. If you’re considering implementing one, here are crucial steps to ensure success.

Recognize simplifies employee recognition, engagement, and rewards by automating key HR processes, consolidating programs, and integrating seamlessly into your existing tools. With strong IT support and enterprise-level features, Recognize makes employee recognition effortless and impactful.

For decades, HR has been seen primarily as a function focused on hiring, firing, and compliance. However, leading organizations recognize that HR’s true value lies in fostering employee engagement, shaping company culture, and enhancing the overall employee experience. Despite widespread acknowledgment of this shift, many executives continue to revert to old habits when faced with pressure. HR leaders and business partners must take proactive steps to drive lasting change within their organizations.

Employee surveys are essential for gathering feedback, measuring engagement, and improving workplace culture. Microsoft Teams offers several ways to conduct surveys, including Microsoft Forms and Recognize Surveys. While both tools enable companies to collect responses, they differ in analytics capabilities, incentives, and overall functionality. This article explores the strengths of each and how they can be leveraged effectively within Microsoft Teams.

Employee Appreciation Day is an important opportunity to recognize the hard work, dedication, and contributions of your team. Celebrating this day helps boost morale, foster a positive work culture, and increase employee engagement. Whether you’re working remotely, in a hybrid setting, or in the office, there are plenty of creative ways to celebrate your team and show them how much you appreciate their efforts. Here are some ideas to make this Employee Appreciation Day truly special.

Employee surveys are a valuable tool for understanding workplace culture, employee satisfaction, and areas for improvement. However, poorly designed questions can lead to misleading results, disengagement, or lack of action. Here’s how to create survey questions that yield clear, actionable insights.

Employee feedback is essential for company growth, yet many organizations struggle to get staff to complete internal surveys. One of the most effective ways to increase response rates is through incentives. When employees know their time and insights are valued, they are more likely to participate.

The devastating California wildfires have brought loss and uncertainty to many. In moments like these, businesses have the opportunity to demonstrate compassion and solidarity with employees and communities affected by such tragedies. By using Recognize, companies can implement meaningful initiatives that provide relief, support, and hope to those in need.

Why Employee Recognition RFPs Are on the Rise

In today’s dynamic workplace environment, fostering employee engagement, recognition, and well-being is more critical than ever. As organizations seek scalable solutions to enhance team connection, reduce turnover, and drive performance, the demand for innovative employee recognition platforms continues to grow. Many companies issue Request for Proposals (RFPs) to find the right vendor capable of addressing their unique workforce challenges.

At Recognize, we believe that recognition is more than just a gesture—it’s a strategic tool for cultivating trust, resilience, and performance. With our strong integrations and features that provide a seamless experience, seamless integration with Amazon Business, and newly launched surveys and employee listening module, we’re helping organizations transform their workplace cultures and drive measurable results.

As the year comes to a close, many organizations look for ways to show gratitude to their employees for their hard work and dedication. One effective method is offering end-of-year bonuses. These bonuses not only boost morale but also reinforce a culture of appreciation and motivate employees for the year ahead.

This article explores three common approaches to calculating bonuses—equal distribution, years of service, and performance or position-based—while highlighting the benefits of rewarding your team.

The world of human resources and workforce management has been buzzing with activity in 2024, with groundbreaking studies, impactful mergers, and forward-thinking trends reshaping how organizations engage their people. From Gallup’s illuminating research on how employee recognition can boost retention to major acquisitions like Perceptyx integrating AI-driven engagement tools and 15Five expanding its performance management platform, the year has been a turning point. Companies are doubling down on hybrid work models, equity in compensation, and upskilling, reflecting a workforce craving flexibility and development. Meanwhile, flagship conferences like SHRM’s Annual Expo and Gartner’s HR gathering have spotlighted the industry’s evolution, from mental health initiatives to cutting-edge technologies. It’s clear: HR is no longer just a support function; it’s driving the future of work.

As 2025 approaches, HR professionals must anticipate key trends and innovations shaping the workplace. From emerging technologies to changing employee expectations, staying ahead of the curve is critical for fostering engagement and achieving organizational success. Below are three critical areas of focus, a recommended conference for each, and must-read books from 2024 to deepen your insights into employee engagement.

World Kindness Day, observed annually on November 13th, serves as a global reminder of the power of compassion and kindness in our daily lives. In the workplace, this day presents a unique opportunity to strengthen team bonds, boost morale, and create a more positive work environment. One effective way to facilitate this is through the use of employee recognition platforms like Recognize.

National Gratitude Month, observed in November, provides an excellent opportunity for companies to foster a culture of appreciation among their employees. The Recognize platform offers powerful tools to launch and manage gratitude initiatives effectively. Here’s how you can utilize Recognize to create impactful programs for National Gratitude Month:

As we approach 2025, the landscape of employee expectations continues to evolve rapidly. With Generation Z fully entering the workforce and millennials advancing in their careers, companies must adapt their reward strategies to attract and retain top young talent. This demographic values more than just monetary compensation; they seek meaningful experiences, personal growth opportunities, and a strong alignment with their values.

In this competitive job market, organizations need to think creatively about their employee rewards platform. Traditional perks are no longer enough to captivate the interest of younger, talented workers who prioritize work-life balance, personal development, and a sense of purpose in their professional lives. By offering innovative and tailored rewards, companies can demonstrate their commitment to employee well-being and career growth, making them more attractive to young, skilled professionals.

A powerful tool that companies are leveraging to boost engagement is customizable recognition programs. Customizable recognition programs are a powerful tool for enhancing employee engagement. By tailoring recognition to fit company culture, leveraging non-monetary incentives, and maintaining flexibility, organizations can create a more motivated and engaged workforce. As we move towards 2025, companies that focus on sustainability, skill development, and well-being in their recognition programs will be well-positioned to attract and retain top talent, driving success in an ever-evolving business landscape.

Peer-to-peer nominations have become increasingly popular in modern workplaces to recognize and reward employee contributions as nomination software becomes easier than ever. This practice offers several benefits for building a positive workplace culture. While employee nominations provide significant benefits in a positive workplace culture, it’s crucial to implement them thoughtfully. By addressing potential drawbacks and focusing on the positives, organizations can leverage this practice to create a more engaged, collaborative, and satisfied workforce.

Each of these employee survey software providers offers unique features and benefits, catering to different organizational needs within the Microsoft Teams environment. From comprehensive employee engagement platforms like Recognize to specialized polling tools like Polly, businesses can choose the solution that best fits their survey requirements and team dynamics.

Boss’s Day, celebrated on October 16 each year, is a wonderful opportunity for employees to express appreciation for their supervisors and for companies to foster a culture of gratitude and recognition. This day can strengthen workplace relationships and enhance team morale. Here are some creative ways both employees and companies can celebrate Boss’s Day effectively.

As the leaves turn and the air becomes crisp, companies everywhere are preparing for Halloween—one of the most celebrated and whimsical times of the year. While many organizations focus on festive decorations or themed events, one area often overlooked is employee recognition programs. Updating recognition badges to reflect the spirit of Halloween can be a fantastic way to keep your program fun and fresh while boosting employee engagement.

World Mental Health Day, observed annually on October 10, serves as a reminder for individuals and organizations alike to prioritize mental well-being. Companies have a unique opportunity to foster a supportive environment that values mental health by recognizing and appreciating their employees. Here are several effective ways to celebrate this important day and promote mental well-being within the workplace.

In today’s competitive landscape, keeping employees motivated and engaged is more crucial than ever. Recognize has unveiled its latest integration—Amazon Business Rewards, which is currently in Beta release—designed to enhance your employee recognition program and provide an innovative solution for reward fulfillment. Here’s why you should consider implementing this game-changing integration for your organization.

Human Resources (HR) professionals are the backbone of every organization, ensuring that talent management, employee engagement, and organizational culture are prioritized. Their contributions often go unnoticed, but HR Professionals Day is the perfect opportunity for companies to celebrate and show appreciation for these vital team members. This year, HR Professionals Day falls on Thursday, September 26. Here’s how organizations can make this day of appreciation truly special.

Launching an organization-wide rewards and recognition program is most effective when it aligns with key moments or milestones that resonate with employees and the company. Here are some ideal opportunities for implementing a new program.

The amount a company spends on rewards per employee can vary widely depending on several factors such as the industry, location, company size, and overall financial health. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, but we’re here to offer some general considerations.

The global shift from in-office to hybrid remote work has presented companies with both challenges and opportunities. One significant area impacted by this transition is employee recognition and engagement programs, which traditionally thrived in an in-person environment. As businesses adapt to a new working model, leveraging technology becomes crucial in maintaining and enhancing these programs. This article explores how companies can use Microsoft Teams in conjunction with Recognize to build an effective employee recognition, rewards, and anniversary program in a work-from-home (WFH) environment, and how badges in Recognize can help focus employees on company values even when they are remote.

Switching from TinyPulse to Recognize can significantly improve your employee recognition and survey processes. Recognize offers advanced features, higher security, better reward options, and seamless integration with tools like Microsoft Teams, making it an overall better value. This article outlines the similarities and differences between TinyPulse and Recognize, the benefits of switching, and provides tips for a smooth transition.

In today’s fast-paced corporate world, fostering a positive workplace culture and boosting employee morale are essential for organizational success. Companies are constantly seeking innovative ways to motivate their workforce and recognize their contributions effectively. One strategy gaining traction is the integration of raffle incentive programs with employee recognition initiatives. This unique approach not only incentivizes employees to participate in your existing programs, but also further cultivates a culture of appreciation and camaraderie within the organization by bringing more visibility to recognition.

Years ago, CPP’s report opened HR managers’ eyes like a curtain being drawn. It uncovered the staggering truth about workplace conflicts: 85% of employees constantly deal with disputes at job sites, and 29% do it “always” or “frequently.”

So, let’s confront the “elephant in the room.” Disagreements are inescapable in employee relations at work, and, as an HR professional, you should know how to cope with them. They aren’t pleasant, yet they are manageable.

We have compiled an HR guide to workplace conflict resolution to prepare you thoroughly.

Shall we begin with the essentials, then?

Call centers and customer support work can surprise even the most intuitive leaders. For instance, creative customer support staff, ones who engage in art, are more likely to stay with the organization longer. Only through a shift of looking at how people work can we discover these underlying connections. Especially if the leaders create cultures within the organization that encourage managers to create significance, embrace change, and value their employees.

Creating a thriving work environment involves recognizing and appreciating employees, focusing on early adopters and fence-sitters, and addressing nay-sayers. Finding your brilliance and your resilience is what workers are made to do. Leaders play a crucial role in building trust and creating sub-cultures that encourage resilience and brilliance. By embracing the whole person and fostering emotional congruity, leaders can make a significant impact on their employees and ultimately, the success of the organization. The following is a summary of the Experience Strategy Podcast. 

 

Recognize partnered with HR.com in a comprehensive research study on the effects of employee recognition programs on company culture and the employee experience.

Download the infographic here

Employee recognition plays a vital role in maintaining a positive, motivated, and productive workforce. Celebrating special occasions throughout the year is an excellent way to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of your employees. Here’s why.

When choosing an employee experience software partner, it is crucial to consider security and privacy. The digital landscape has seen an increase in security breaches and data privacy issues in recent times, affecting various sectors. These incidents have led to considerable financial and reputational damage for businesses. Therefore, it is important for buyers to ensure that their chosen software partner has robust security measures in place and respects data privacy. Ensuring this will not only protect the company’s sensitive information but also build trust with employees who use the software.

Surprisingly, even brands that seem like industry leaders can have weak security or questionable privacy policies. See the bottom section for which recognition and rewards vendors have the most user trackers installed.

The rating of employee recognition apps in the Microsoft Teams app store is an important factor to consider. These ratings provide insights into the user experience and overall satisfaction with the app. They are based on real user feedback and can help potential users make informed decisions about which app best suits their needs. A higher rating usually means the app is well-received by its users and can be seen as a testament to its quality and effectiveness.

Effective communication is key to maintaining a healthy culture, and a productive and engaged workforce. One of the ways to effectively and efficiently communicate and engage with employees is through the use of the Announcements feature within Recognize. This feature can be leveraged in several ways to foster a culture of recognition, align the team with company values, and keep everyone updated on the latest initiatives. Below, we’ve outlined some ideas for how to engage your workforce with the Announcements feature.

Engaging employees at all levels and recognizing the contributions of top performers are essential to fostering a positive and productive workplace environment. We’re sharing some effective ways to achieve this!

To assist in the discovery phase of implementing a new recognition program or platform at your organization, our team has created the Employee Recognition Program Maturity Model. This model is intended to help organizations determine their starting point with employee recognition, and to provide a framework for identifying major program milestones.

Being able to identify your company’s current phase in the journey is crucial to creating appropriate and attainable goals and KPIs over time. This way, you’ll be able to scale your programs and attain the level of maturity you’re aspiring to. Below, you will find a summary of each of the phases of maturity, as well as a list of key identifiers and attributes for each phase. Feel free to save a copy of this model or bookmark this article to refer back to as you meet milestones with your recognition programs!

The founders of Recognize, Peter and Alex, have known Taylor and Kevin since they started Blueboard. Coincidentally, the two teams started in Runway, an incredible co-working space that was in the same building as Yammer and Twitter in San Francisco. The Recognize Team has always been impressed with Blueboard and their strategy to go after experiences. We were sad to see Blueboard closed their doors and shutdown operations this week.

Recognize is offering Blueboard customers affected by the change a chance to keep going with their rewards and engagement strategies. See why you should make the transition.

Meet with us and mention you were with Blueboard. Here’s a few reasons why.

Email directly at blueboard@recognizeapp.com

Both platforms offer customizable badge graphics and labels, as well as the ability to post recognitions to Teams. However, Recognize provides several additional features. It allows for custom descriptions, quantities, and points per badge. It also supports role-based recognition and nominations. Unique offerings of Recognize include point-based anniversaries, incentive challenges/tasks, and a soon-to-be-released feature for mailing physical letters for anniversaries.

In today’s fast-paced work environments, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among employees is essential for maintaining morale and productivity. One effective way to achieve this is by celebrating national days in the workplace. National days offer a fantastic opportunity to break away from the routine, inject some fun into the workday, and promote a sense of belonging among team members. From quirky and offbeat to meaningful and reflective, here are some national days that can be celebrated in the workplace to inspire, engage, and unify your team.

 

1. National Thank Your Mentor Day (January 21st): Recognize the invaluable role of mentors in professional development by encouraging employees to express gratitude to their mentors. Consider organizing a mentorship appreciation luncheon or facilitating mentorship workshops and networking sessions.

2. National Compliment Day (January 24th): Encourage a positive atmosphere by celebrating National Compliment Day. Encourage team members to compliment each other’s work, attitude, or any positive attribute they admire. You could organize a “compliment box” where employees can drop anonymous compliments to their coworkers.

3. National Have Fun at Work Day (Last Friday in January): Dedicate this day to pure enjoyment! Organize fun activities such as team-building games, trivia contests, or a themed dress-up day. It’s an excellent opportunity to lighten the atmosphere and build stronger connections among team members.

4. National Clean Out Your Computer Day (Second Monday in February): Encourage employees to declutter and organize their digital workspace by deleting old files, organizing folders, and running system updates. Provide resources and tips for maintaining digital hygiene, which can improve efficiency and cybersecurity.

5. National Innovation Day (February 16th): Encourage creativity and innovation among your team members by hosting brainstorming sessions, innovation workshops, or a “Shark Tank” style competition where employees can pitch their innovative ideas.

6. National Employee Appreciation Day (First Friday in March): This day is dedicated to recognizing and appreciating the hard work and dedication of employees. Consider organizing a catered lunch, providing small gifts or tokens of appreciation, or hosting an awards ceremony to recognize outstanding achievements.

7. International Women’s Day (March 8th): Celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in the workplace by organizing a panel discussion featuring influential female leaders, hosting a luncheon with speeches honoring women’s accomplishments, or simply acknowledging the day with a small token of appreciation for all female employees.

8. National Volunteer Week (3rd week of April): Dedicate a week to giving back to the community. Organize volunteer opportunities for employees to participate in charitable activities, such as food drives, beach clean-ups, or volunteering at local shelters. It’s a meaningful way to bond as a team while making a positive impact on society.

9. National Fitness Day (First Saturday in May): Promote health and wellness in the workplace by organizing fitness challenges, yoga sessions, or group walks during lunchtime. Encouraging physical activity not only boosts morale but also enhances productivity and reduces stress levels.

10. World Day for Cultural Diversity (May 21st): Celebrate diversity and inclusion by hosting cultural events, diversity workshops, or inviting guest speakers to discuss topics related to diversity and equity. It’s an opportunity to foster understanding, respect, and appreciation for the diverse backgrounds and perspectives within your organization.

11. National Take Your Dog to Work Day (Friday after Father’s Day): If your workplace allows it, invite employees to bring their furry friends to work for a day of companionship and stress relief. Not only does it boost morale, but it also creates a more relaxed and enjoyable work environment.

12. National Coffee Day (September 29th): Fuel productivity and foster social interaction by celebrating everyone’s favorite caffeinated beverage. Set up a coffee bar with different brews and flavors, host a coffee tasting session, or organize a “coffee and chat” networking event.

13. National Techies Day (October 3rd): Recognize the contributions of your tech-savvy employees by organizing tech-themed activities such as coding challenges, tech trivia contests, or hosting guest speakers to discuss emerging trends in technology.

14. National Boss’s Day (October 16th): Show appreciation for your leadership team by organizing a special lunch, writing thank you notes, or giving small tokens of appreciation. Recognizing the efforts of managers and supervisors helps foster positive relationships and promotes a supportive work environment.

15. National Thank You Note Day (December 26th): Encourage employees to express their gratitude and appreciation to their colleagues by writing thank you notes. Provide stationery and encourage handwritten notes, which adds a personal touch to the expressions of gratitude.

Celebrating national days in the workplace not only adds excitement and variety to the work environment but also strengthens bonds among colleagues and promotes a positive company culture. By embracing these occasions, organizations can create memorable experiences, boost employee morale, and foster a sense of belonging and unity among team members.

International Women’s Day is Friday March 8th. Recognize created three badges to help celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

Learn what the law says about how to treat employee data, and discover some practical ways to keep staff information safe.

You’re up to date with your data security, right? You always ask for consent before saving customer emails and adding them to your mailing list, and you delete customer data when it’s not needed anymore. You probably even have a fancy system to ensure customer credit card details are fully encrypted.

But what about your employee data? Naturally, you wouldn’t dream of giving out personal information about them. Their addresses and social security numbers are probably looked after better by you than they are by your staff members themselves.

Of course, you keep records of their work, but that doesn’t count. That’s just operations data, isn’t it? Unfortunately, we’re here to tell you this isn’t the case. In fact, according to laws like the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), employee data is given the same level of protection as consumer data.

Businesses today collect more data than ever before. You may not even think about it, but you probably keep personal and financial information on your employees, their health records, and even biometric data.

Not to mention the reams of data on their digital activities. This is all valuable information to cybercriminals. No wonder then that cybercrime is rocketing. According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report (2023), a staggering 83% of organizations experienced a data breach in 2022.

So, it’s time to get serious about your employee data protection. In this article, we look at various strategies and best practices and consider practical steps you can take to ensure your employee’s data stays secure.

Employee Appreciation Day is a nationally recognized workday towards honoring employees and taking time to appreciate and celebrate their accomplishments. Recognizing your staff for their hard work can make a huge difference in employee engagement and satisfaction. Engaged employees can bring the best results for your company.

On Employee Appreciation Day, there are many ways to recognize, appreciate, and celebrate your team. Here are a few ideas:

A summary of content in the webinar on managing company culture. What should you consider when choosing a vendor.

More information as the date of the webinar approaches.

Register for State of Industry Rewards & Recognition Programs and Tools Virtual Event – March 12th, 2024

Utilize the following images in Recognize or other tools, such as Notion. These images were generated in AI.

Also, check out Subtle Patterns for more ideas. For instance, this blue pattern.

Wondering what to expect when it comes to employee experience and expectations for 2024? We’ve compiled a list of ten things to be prepared for in order to meet employees where they are this year.

In 2024, competition for top talent is likely to be fiercer than ever. To stand out from the crowd, it’s important to have a unique and effective employee recognition program. Here are some strategies to differentiate your program and attract the best talent.

As we peer into the future through 2024, it’s evident that several emerging trends are set to reshape the world of human resources (HR). These trends represent both challenges and opportunities for HR professionals. Here are some of the most significant trends that we needto watch out for.

Welcome to the comprehensive guide on getting started with Slack! These best practices are brought to you by Alex Grande, CEO of Recognize. We provide an employee recognition, staff rewards, and survey system for Slack and Microsoft 365.

In Recognize, give recognition based on core competencies that can be used to redeem Amazon items or gift cards. Get started first with non-monetary peer recognition. Send within Slack.

Now onto the article about getting started with Slack. First of all, what they don’t tell you is Slack can be your best friend and be your worst enemy if neglected. If you aren’t proactively checking different parts of Slack, you will hear about it from your teammates. They won’t be happy with you. This guide is to make sure everything is chill and your coworkers aren’t upset with you.

Our unofficial list of things you can do right now to be more effective in Slack.

Take a moment before reading this article to consider Recognize. It’s an employee engagement platform your staff can utilize to recognize and reward the good work everyone is doing around the company core competencies. Your company will experience an increase in productivity, retention, and happiness as as result. You can add Recognize to Slack, Outlook, and more. Okay, now to the article.

Be awesome in Slack with this in-depth guide to maximizing the use of Slack for effective team communication and collaboration. It covers various tools that can be integrated into Slack for HR processes, staff engagement, work tracking, as well as integrations from major companies. It also discusses how to use Zapier for task automation, integration with other apps, email notifications, social media monitoring, and data backup. We conclude with practical tips on mastering Slack shortcuts, customizing notifications, using threads, starring important items, utilizing Slack Bot, setting status, creating user groups, using emojis for quick responses, and keeping channels organized.

Providing feedback to staff is an essential aspect of a manager’s role. When done effectively, feedback can help employees feel heard and empowered, leading to improved performance and job satisfaction. Here are five specific phrases and examples that managers can use to communicate their needs while making the employee feel empowered:

The Gallup Q12 survey is a widely used tool for measuring employee engagement in organizations. The survey consists of 12 questions, each designed to assess different aspects of employee engagement. Let’s take a closer look at the Q12 questions and why they are important to ask:

By incorporating these questions into an employee happiness survey, organizations can gain valuable insights to create a positive work environment and improve employee satisfaction and engagement.

The choice of employee survey types depends on the organization’s specific goals and requirements. Employee pulse surveys offer quick and frequent feedback, allowing organizations to stay updated with real-time insights into employee sentiment. Employee happiness surveys provide a comprehensive assessment of overall employee satisfaction and happiness, helping create a positive work environment. The Gallup Q12 survey focuses on employee engagement and alignment with the organization’s goals, enabling organizations to enhance employee motivation and productivity.

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Learn more about Recognize’s Employee Survey System

Recognize Employee Engagement Surveys

To have the competitive edge over the competition, companies need to deploy multiple strategies to support the wellbeing, productivity, and retention of staff and company culture. Tools including employee recognition, pulse surveying, performance reviews, or having people take days off are all necessary. The order and commitment to these are just as important. Review the table below of possible options and what they possibly mean to your organization.

After completing an Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) survey, such as with the Recognize eNPS, it is essential for companies to take appropriate actions based on the results. If you haven’t started yet, here are three tips to consider when setting up an eNPS.

Here are levels of results in the survey to consider once the survey is complete.

The original eNPS question is:
“How likely are you to recommend our organization as a workplace to a friend or colleague?”

What happens when you want to find out something a bit different in the eNPS or you’ve done the eNPS a few iterations now. Try to focus instead on retention, applying for Best Place to Work award, or get a gauge on people’s skill utilization.

Surveys have been used in some form or another for centuries, but they became more widely used in the business world in the early 20th century. One of the first recorded uses of surveys in a business setting was in 1916, when the Western Electric Company conducted a study to determine the effects of lighting on worker productivity.

Employee surveys started to become more common in the mid-20th century, particularly after World War II. At this time, many companies began to focus on improving employee satisfaction and engagement, and surveys were seen as a useful tool for gathering information about employee opinions and attitudes.

Pulse surveys, which are short, frequent surveys designed to gather feedback on a regular basis, are a more recent development. They started to gain popularity in the early 2000s as companies began to recognize the importance of collecting real-time feedback to improve employee engagement and productivity.

In today’s work climate, we need new leadership patterns to truly excite and motivate the workplace. This article is meant to enable companies to utilize Servant Leadership. When staff are treated as leaders themselves, the result is an engaged workforce no matter where they work – in an office or at home.

Learn how to apply Servant Leadership to your business using tools, recognition, and values. Learn more in general about Servant Leadership here.

In honor of all the great work employees do out there, Recognize is providing 10 free incredible employee award certificate templates for various occasions.

Ways your company can use platforms like Recognize to make your employees' lives better during the ongoing pandemic

10 ways your company can cultivate a positive remote work experience so that everybody wins.

How you can use identity and access management providers like Okta hand in hand with Recognize

A cheat sheet to get the most out of Zoom teleconferencing

Recognize published the survey results looking at health of workers in the finance industry and employee recognition.

How we can utilize employee recognition and help ourselves to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

How Recognition and Engagement can combat Burnout in Healthcare

See Recognize's predictions for 2020 in HR, while we also look back at 2019 trends.

Our writings can't always be about HR and employee engagement. Here's a look at the web designs we saved in 2019 that we loved.

How to leverage your existing Office 365 subscription to engage and retain employees.

As the dust settles on new year celebrations, it doesn't take long for good wishes to turn to new year's resolutions. With 2019 undoubtedly wrapping up as a year to put climate change and sustainability on the map and make the world “Greta” again, why not kick off 2020 with the resolve to give back a little?

10 Great Ways to Foster Authentic Employee Engagement from reducing stress to getting feedback.

A Recognize-funded study into the correlation between low sense of appreciation and issues with mental health.

A look into nurse burn out and the effects of recognition within health industry, such as hospitals or medical technology fields.

Research into what employees want in an employee recognition and from their company.

Where HR is going in 2019 and a look back at 2018 events. Recognize pretended more technology and a marrying of IT and HR.

At look back at 2018 and what the road ahead in 2019 for trends in employee recognition.

An ever growing list of quotes, ideas, book suggestions within over 100 ideas to recognize and reward your employees.

Learn from the big guys. Recognize took RFPs on employee recognition from Fortune 500 companies and compiled what they care about into this article.

15 creative ways to be a great human resources professional.

Learn what staff really want from employee benefits for holiday parties and end of year bonuses.