According to the latest Trends in Employee Recognition report released by WorldatWork, 75% of the 600+ professionals surveyed believe that their recognition programs are successful, but only 45% have a written strategy for their recognition programs. Only 14% say that their organizations trains managers on recognition practices.
This, says Strategic Consultant and blogger Derek Irvine, is horrible. “If your strategy – including goals and definition of success – isn’t documented, how do you know your program is successful?” He argues that even if a program is successful, “I sure wouldn’t want to be in the shoes of an HR pro with no strategy trying to prove that success to a senior executive.”
Still, the general trend for recognition programs seems to be holding relatively steady, with the percentage of respondents reporting the use of these programs hovering between 84-89% since 2002. Length-of-Service Programs continue to be the most common form of recognition, though recognition to encourage specific behaviors is on the rise. “Above and beyond performance” was reported by 79% of respondents, while “safety performance” recognition was down to 22% from its high of 33% in 2005.
In their report, WorldAtWork concludes: “Specific applications may change as the environment, economy and labor markets shift, but new data suggests that even with a recession and some visible blips in the data over the past few years, recognition programs remain an important variable in the total rewards equation.
The complete Trends report can be viewed via WorldAtWork here.