/9918578/Banner

/9918578/Banner_2

/9918578/Mid

section

articleId

product

orgType

parrefer

accountID

Consulting

Banking

Accounting

Fintech

Internships

Rankings

Internship Rankings

Intern Resource Center

Explore Internships

Vault Law Home

Practice Area Resource Centers

Regional Resource Centers

Summer Program Resource Center

Vault Law Culture & Inclusion Survey

Vault Law

Guides

Events

Financial Services

Technology

Grad School

Work Relationships

Productivity

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Social Impact

Remote Work

Negotiating

Changing Jobs

Workplace Issues

Blog

Resume Samples

Cover Letter Samples

Interview Tips & Questions

A Day in the Life

International

Career Readiness

Explore Professions

Research Industries

Search Companies

Career Advice

Employers

Schools

&lt;p&gt;Positive employee engagement and retention are hallmarks of any great company. More times than not, companies that don’t suffer constant employee turnover and that have happy, actively participating employees are companies that recognize and outwardly appreciate the people who work hard for them. Today we’re going to take a look at some ways in which companies can encourage and celebrate their employees, while fostering a positive workplace environment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Spontaneous Positive Feedback&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Any good company knows that a positive, healthy employee culture comes from the top down. Encouraging those in leadership roles to consistently recognize employees for a job well done is a great way to spread positivity and boost engagement. Being spontaneous about giving props to an employee who solved a problem or who performed exceptionally well during a project will not only motivate that employee, but will also encourage those in earshot to strive to be better.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;These types of interactions can take place during normal, day-to-day operations, as well as during team meetings or presentations. It’s a simple fact that being in a positive environment boosts morale, which will lead to increased productivity and engagement, and will mitigate employee turnover.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Monthly Awards&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Many companies have “Employee of the Month” awards, typically including a Sears-style framed photograph with a fancy engraving. This is all good and well, but what companies &lt;em&gt;should&lt;/em&gt; be doing is letting their employees nominate their peers for awards, rather than having the leadership team select the recipient.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Putting the peer-nominated employee of the month award into practice might include asking each employee to select an individual of their choice, while sharing the reasons why they believe that person deserves the award. Then, the person with the most nominations is presented with the award, which can be anything from a gift card to a day off, or even some sweet cash.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Employee Engagement Platforms&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Nowadays, more and more companies are implementing point-based employee engagement platforms into their day-to-day operations. These platforms are great because they allow employees to recognize one another by giving points that can be redeemed for a variety of gifts. Examples of such platforms are Trakstar, 15Five, Kudos, and Culture Amp.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;There are several great benefits to implementing an employee engagement platform, such as improved communication and increased employee alignment, greater productivity, and a positive employee culture. Additionally, companies can take advantage of their own communication platform, such as Slack, in order to create a channel where employees can recognize each other’s achievements and provide encouragement.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Share Employee Achievements on Social Media&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This one is pretty self-explanatory. Another way in which companies can recognize the achievements of their employees is by sharing them on social media. This goes along with the more informal approach of spontaneous positive feedback, but on a much larger scale. When an employee is recognized on their company’s social media feed, not only will their immediate coworkers see, but so will each user who follows the company account.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Prizes at Company Parties&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Let’s keep it simple for this last one with a good ol’ tried and true classic, because everyone loves winning prizes. At company functions, such as a holiday party or some other celebration, leadership can set up games where employees can win prizes such as gift cards or dinner at a nice restaurant.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Additionally, such functions are a great place for employers to award employees based on their achievements. The formality - the pomp and circumstance, if you will - that goes along with certain company celebrations will provide an even stronger sense of accomplishment for the recipient, and is also just a whole lot of fun.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you’re currently looking for a job, take the time to see whether or not the company implements any of the above employee recognition programs. Working in a positive environment will help you to be the best you can be, and can even net you some sweet prizes. Motivated employees are what make a great company reach its full potential, and it’s up to the leadership team to foster an environment that is positive and encouraging.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&#160;&lt;/p&gt;

Rob Porter

Article

Coming Soon: The Four-Day Workweek

HR Experts Weigh In on the Best Employee Benefits & Perks [Slideshow]

Does Unlimited PTO Work?

The 5 Best Benefits Big 4 Firms Offer

The Library