Trends in Employee Recognition

According to a joint survey conducted by WorldatWork and the National Association for Employee Recognition (NAER), employee recognition programs remain a key part of most employers’ human resources strategy. Eighty-nine percent of respondents reported having a recognition program, up from 87 percent in 2003. Of those companies, 60 percent have a written recognition strategy, and 95 percent of that subset feels it links directly to their organization’s overall goals.

Seven out of ten employers offer both formal and informal recognition programs. Formal programs are defined as planned recognition programs for achievements such as years of service, performance, retirement, and sales accomplishments. Informal programs are spontaneous and are often of little or no monetary value, such as a memo thanking an employee for going above and beyond the call of duty.

According to the study, the most common recognition programs are:

·         Length of service (89 percent)

·         "Above and beyond" performance (87 percent)

·         Sales performance (51 percent)

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