RECOGNITION PROGRAMMES
Non-cash incentives gaining in popularity
As merit budgets and bonus payouts have declined, it has never been more important to recognise key talent. That is the main conclusion to emerge from a new survey by the US reward association WorldatWork and the National Association of Employee Recognition.
The 391-company survey found that the vast majority of organisations - as many as 84% - reported having an active employee recognition programme. In fact, recognition programmes are actually gaining in popularity: 41% of respondents said they were doing more with their recognition programme than they were a year ago.
More than half of respondents (54%) that said they do not currently have a programme indicated that they are considering implementing one in the next 12 months.
Objectives of recognition programmes
The survey tells us something very interesting about the rationale behind introducing recognition programmes. Organisations hope to achieve a number of goals through their recognition programmes, but the pre-eminent objective is to "create a positive work environment", mentioned by more than eight in ten respondents, followed by "reinforce desired behaviours" (76%).
| What are the objectives/goals of your organisation's recognition programme? | |
| Create a positive work environment | 84% |
| Reinforce desired behaviours | 76% |
| Motivate high performance | 73% |
| Increase morale | 69% |
| Support organisational mission/values | 68% |
| Increase retention/decrease turnover | 51% |
| Encourage loyalty | 45% |
| Support a culture change | 23% |
| Other | 9% |
Source: 2002 Employee Recognition Survey, WorldatWork.
Want to know more?
Title: 2002 Employee Recognition Survey, WorldatWork.
Methodology: WorldatWork sent a questionnaire to 3,000 of its members in October 2002.
Sample size: Information was received from 391 organisations - a response rate of 13%.
Availability: Contact WorldatWork, 14040 N. Northsight Blvd, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA AZ 85260, tel: 001 480 922 2020 or order your copy online at www.worldatwork.org. Click on the Library link and then visit Research and surveys.
WorldatWork, formerly the American Compensation Association, is one of the HR professions oldest and most distinguished bodies. Founded in 1955, it is "dedicated to knowledge leadership in compensation, benefits and total rewards". WorldatWork is a not-for-profit association with a membership of more than 25,000 human resource professionals, consultants, educators and others, primarily in the United States and Canada.
For further details about WorldatWork visit www.worldatwork.org
Posted 17 March 2003