It’s no secret that HR professionals are faced with many challenges, from recruiting (and retaining) top talent to providing attractive benefits packages and everything in between. But one of the greatest challenges in recent years has become the topic of employee engagement, and it’s no surprise that more and more companies are establishing employee engagement programs in order to keep their workers happy and productive.
According to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), there’s quite a large success gap between the recognition programs that are tied to a company’s values and those that aren’t. The survey, released in June 2015, indicated that 58% of survey participants (HR professionals) had a program tied to their organization’s values, and 78% of those rated the program as excellence or good, compared to just 41% at organizations where the program was not tied to values.
That’s a pretty significant difference, wouldn’t you say? So why the difference?
When an employee engagement program is linked to the company’s values, anyone can nominate an employee for demonstrating one of the core values by using an online portal.
For example, if a colleague demonstrates respect over a differing opinion in a meeting, they can be recognized for that behavior, which accomplishes 2 things: 1) It instills the organization’s values into the employees on a more practical level, and 2) It encourages everyday participation (engagement!) from all employees.
By instilling your values via the engagement platform, you’re reinforcing the behavior you’re looking for, and in turn, the overall company culture that you desire. Think of it as a peer to peer positive reinforcement tool. When the right behaviors are recognized, they will continue, and even greater the chances if it’s a colleague giving the recognition.
And by encouraging your employees to participate every day (or at least most days!), you’re inspiring them to be more than just an office drone. Logging in and seeing recognition for things like being trustworthy or being a team player generates enthusiasm and a greater interest in the company as a whole.
This type of program is more than merely telling your coworkers “great job” when they help out on a project. It’s infusing your core values into your company culture in a very hands-on way. They are no longer words on a page; they are values in action.
When your organization’s values become a visible aspect of your culture, you provide a more stable and welcoming workplace environment that employees love to be a part of.
Ready to get started with your own values-based recognition program? Check out the rewards page on our website.
To read the full article on the SHRM study mentioned above, click here.
