Abenity Provides Benefit Programs for Human Resources, Discounts for Employees, Savings for Members.

It should come as no surprise to you by now that employees not only enjoy perks and benefits, but that it’s vital to offer these incentives to keep team members engaged. It’s especially important to find ways to reward those all-star employees you can’t afford to lose. The problem often comes when employees want (and deserve!) those extra perks but budgets don’t allow for large bonuses, expensive benefits packages, and a new corner office. We’ve compiled a list of ten simple and affordable employee rewards and recognition ideas to motivate and engage employees with the props they deserve! 

1) Flexible Work Hours

This is a highly valued reward that won’t cost you a dime! Offer your hard-working and star team members flexible work hours. 9-to-5 is becoming a schedule of the past with many jobs often requiring far more than 40 hours of work each week. Make the days more bearable allowing the team to assist in determining their schedule as long as the privilege is not abused. As pointed out by HR World, flex time is a perk that is one of the most valued by employees and the easiest to award by employers. 

2) Create A Welcoming Atmosphere

Many of today’s employees find themselves spending more time in their office or cubicle than they do in their own home. The working environment should be one that sparks creativity and encourages productivity, but the brutal truth is stale cubicle walls and florescent lighting tend to stifle this. Make those office “unavoidables” easier to bare with office gatherings, pizza parties, and an inviting lunch/break room. These incentives cost little but their effect goes a long way.

3) Free Abenity Concierge Membership

Let’s be honest… everyone enjoys a little pampering and an extra hand with those pesky daily tasks. Reward your all-star employees with a free Abenity Concierge membership! This unique service for Abenity clients provides members with daily personal assistance with all the little details of life, saving time and money. Your employees will be able to locate babysitters, make dinner reservations, plan a vacation, find a mechanic, and anything else they may need!

4) Extra Vacation Days

No matter how engaged a team member is in their work, sometimes a break is necessary, and no one has ever turned down a few extra vacation days. This can be especially valuable for the staff member who consistently puts in the extra hours, answers the weekend calls, and ensures the ball doesn’t drop on any given project. Engage your employees in a new way by creating a friendly competition each quarter or month to earn additional days off. You’ll increase both productivity and team morale! 

5) Gift Card Rewards

Gift cards are a great way to offer a simple reward without breaking your budget. Inc.com recommends these easy incentives because you can remain in your budget as well as offer a reward that is specific to the individual. Keep gift cards to popular locations on hand to give an extra “thanks” to that employee who helped out a new staff member, went the extra mile with a customer, or spearheaded that difficult project no one wanted to manage. 

6) Employee Led Events

Empower your team members by allowing them to lead an upcoming meeting, seminar, or other corporate event. By doing so, you’ll allow your team members to feel more connected to the overall goal of the organization as well as give them the opportunity to be the “expert” in their field and share fresh, new ideas with the team. 

7) Make A Note

We may live in a digital world, but nothing beats a good, old-fashioned letter. Express gratitude to an all-star employee by hand-writing a note expressing your gratitude for their hard work and outlining some of their accomplishments, explaining why their work matters. This is a simple (and free!) gesture for you but the sentiment behind the message will resonate with your employee and build engagement.

8) Appreciation & Recognition

Here’s another great reward that is absolutely free to you! Individuals who work hard and are truly engaged in your company’s work rarely do it for the recognition but that pat on the back will lift anyones spirits. Did a certain individual put in extra hours on a project to ensure it was a success? Mention it in your next staff meeting expressing your gratitude. Say “thanks” to team members simply for doing their job well. Individuals like to know how they are doing at their job, good or bad. So make it known next time you see them!

For Abenity clients, we offer a Recognition Email service that allows you to share your gratitude directly to employees with custom designed email templates.

9) Pick & Choose

It’s easy to get caught in a routine and find yourself on autopilot. Don’t let this happen to your team! “Giving your best employees a chance to pick their own projects or trade tasks with a colleague empowers and rewards them at the same time,” says says Dan Tynan of HR World. Not only that, you’ll help your team stay sharp and on their toes while growing their skill set. 

10) Priority Parking

Most companies reserve the priority parking spots for the CEO and upper management. HR World offers this tip to reward star employees and motivate the rest of the team to keep up the good work: “Reserve the best parking spot for employees who’ve done something truly worthwhile. And if it’s next to the CEO’s Lexus so the employee can chat him or her up on the way into work, so much the better.”

This is just a list to get you started. Take some time to get to know your employees as well as their wants and needs to create the best rewards and recognition program for your team! By doing so you’ll build team morale, encourage productivity, and works towards solid engagement.

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