Employee engagement is a key factor in the success of an organization. Taking time to recognize employees for outstanding work helps them feel valued, and increases their motivation, enthusiasm, and sense of belonging, which improves overall productivity. 

Why Employee Recognition Matters

According to research conducted by Wakefield Research for Blueboard, a survey of 400 employed Americans revealed that 67% say they don’t always feel appreciated for their contributions at work, and 42% of respondents say their company lacks a strong culture of appreciation.

While employee recognition is important for all workers, it is particularly vital for remote employees who can feel isolated or disconnected from their colleagues. As leaders, we have to put in processes that acknowledge and celebrate employees’ efforts. When done correctly, workplace recognition can be a powerful tool for motivating and engaging employees. It not only communicates the value we place on their contributions but underscores our commitment to their success.  

The W Awards: How WorkBetterNow Recognizes Its Team 

Being a fully remote company, we realized it was especially important to implement a formal employee recognition program. So in November 2022, we rolled out the W Awards – it’s our way of recognizing employees who go the extra mile. 

Any team member can nominate a colleague for a W Award when a WorkBetterNow employee goes above and beyond their duties. They complete a W Award nomination form, which includes how the employee’s actions are consistent with our core values. We review the nomination and once approved, we move forward with granting the award. 

We announce the W Award recipients at our Monday staff meetings so that our whole team comes together to celebrate them. The awardee receives a certificate and $50 in their next paycheck. 

These awards are more than just pats on the back; they factor into our team members’ performance evaluations, and there’s no limit to how many awards someone can receive. It’s all about giving credit where it’s due, and it reminds our team of our core values and how we are using them in our everyday work

What Our Team Says About the W Awards

Fernando, a WBN Project Coordinator, said his W Award was not about the money, but “about recognizing and appreciating other people’s efforts.” Recently, Fernando helped a client with an IT issue, even though it wasn’t part of his day-to-day job.