Whether it’s a word of affirmation, a gesture of thankfulness or something even more noteworthy, employees are ecstatic when rewarded for their efforts and achievements at work. Often, employers are ignorant of the power of an employee rewards program. They don’t realize that appreciating and then rewarding an employee can bring a huge difference in the latter’s mindset. But timing is everything, and when employees are not just appreciated but also rewarded for their work, it increases the level of motivation and engagement.
This is when an employee rewards program comes into the picture; it smoothens the process of acknowledging the workforce one by one. Moreover, employees are allowed to select a program that offers a comprehensive selection of complete recognition efforts that will increase their productivity and make them feel appreciated as members of your team.
As every rewards platform operates under a different business structure, choosing the right employee rewards program requires careful research and consideration. Evaluating these solutions can sometimes be overwhelming.
For that reason, here are points to consider and ponder while choosing a reward program for employees:
Is it Appropriate?
In order to bring a company’s true core values, a recognition program is an excellent way to express, spread, and put the values into practice. Choosing an employee rewards program that emphasises the ideologies of the organisation is a great step, to begin with. Likewise, if you already have HRMS (Human Resource Management Software), select one that can be easily integrated into the existing system.
Make it Cost Effective
When selecting employee engagement platforms, keep the cost in mind. Plan a reasonable budget based on your company’s size and needs. HR departments are estimated to spend at least 1% of payroll on rewards and recognition. A large organization can afford a larger budget than a small business.
Choose a solution provider who provides a flat fee. Be wary of any hidden costs associated with the program, such as transaction fees, yearly or monthly expenses, processing fees, or additional taxes. Choose a program that is simple to understand and can be run without the assistance of a professional.
Quality and quantity of outcomes
Calculating the ROI or efficiency of your employee rewards program is critical. Setting quantifiable outcomes and expectations is the best way to measure the impact of your program. Choose a program that provides systematic and easy-to-understand real-time results. Before deciding on your rewards program, conduct a thorough product review.
Highly Engaging
The level of engagement of your employees is the ultimate litmus test for determining the effectiveness of your employee rewards program. As the program will be accessible to all, it should be simple and easy to use. Apart from being user-friendly, employees should be able to enjoy the platform. Therefore, the reward system should have a gamification module, point allocation, an internal leader board, the ability to exchange rewards or appreciation, and so on to increase employee engagement.
Easy to use and integrate
Most modern employee loyalty platforms are preferred as they include a slew of novel features. But in reality, more features can frequently result in a highly complex platform. As a result, HR managers may devote too much time and effort to the platform, jeopardizing the loyalty program’s success. It is critical that the platform you select be automated so that the loyalty programs can run in cruise control mode, reducing the amount of effort required from HR managers.
Customizable
Every employee has unique interests and needs, and so are the companies’ expectations of the program. Look for a solution provider who offers complete customizable features that is solely tailored to the needs of the employees and organisation. It can take the form of employee numbers, award titles, point allocation and much more. If flexibility is taken into consideration, rewarding employees with digital coupons or reward points will make more sense in today’s time.
Point-based system
When it comes to an employee rewards program, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all policy. Point-based rewards for employee recognition are gaining popularity. Employers can purchase reward points and distribute them to employees as incentives. Employees can then use their earned points to buy their chosen items, experiences, or subscriptions. Employees gain flexibility and a sense of freedom as a result of this. It also saves managers time when deciding what gifts to give on what occasions. For all these reasons, you must ensure that the program you select uses a point-based reward system.
Scalable
Make sure to choose a cloud-based employee rewards program that can grow with your company. A scalable program allows you to handle significant changes in the organization without having to change the program’s entire structure.
Experienced vendor
Choosing the best external vendor for your organization’s recognition needs depends on several factors. You should ensure that the vendor is experienced and capable of delivering results and meeting the objectives. Evaluate their industry presence and previous experiences with companies of similar size to yours. Select a brand that provides high quality and has demonstrated commendable results in the past.
Globally compatible
One of the most challenging tasks for an employee rewards program is maintaining its consistency across your global workforce. Global compatibility of the reward program is an important criterion to consider if your company is multinational or your crew is spread across multiple locations. Check if the employee rewards solution provider can provide a consistent solution across continents and even in remote areas.
Therefore, with a drastic change in the workplace, the role of HR is also altering dramatically thanks to the shifting environment. It is essential to develop an employee-centric workplace where employee engagement is the top priority and this can be made possible only through an efficient Employee Rewards Program.
We are a team of content and feature writers with an expertise in the subject of employee engagement and Rewards & Recognition strategy within corporate. Our team comprises of creative writers and subject matter experts who love de-constructing various facets of employee engagement and recognition.
