How to Reward Employees Other Than With Money

For years, companies have realized that salary is fourth or fifth on the list of benefits that employees consider important. Heading up that list was being recognized by the employer as having made a significant contribution to the organization. There are several other ways for an employer to say “thank you” to its employees besides money. Here are some of the ways you can reward your employees with something outside of their paychecks.

Instructions

1. Provide your employees with opportunities to advance their careers. For example, you can offer online courses that will enhance employees' opportunities to add to their base of skills. Or you can send your employees to worthwhile seminars and conferences, then ask them to present what they learned at the next company meeting. Tell employees that career development is part of their job and that time has been set aside for each of them to take advantage of these opportunities.

2. Give public recognition for a job well done. Every employee yearns for acceptance by his peers. If he does something worthy of company recognition, praise him by public announcement as well as by making your feelings known directly to him. Honor that person with a plaque or trophy that can be displayed.

3. Give your employees a clear career path. For the day each of them is hired, every employee should understand how they can achieve promotions. This should happen to everyone, from the new mail room hire to the senior executives. Furthermore, a system should be in place when the employee can be made aware of her progress and be told what she needs to do to reach the next level. Each employee should be assured of future growth within the organization if she follows the path set forth.

4. Reward your employees by offering them flexible hours. Simple habit causes most employers to insist employees show up for work at a particular time, take lunch breaks at noon, and stay until the appointed hour in the late afternoon. Most do not realize they are imposing a hardship on many of their employees because of commitments at home or a desire to work during other hours. Consider giving your employees more control over when they work.

5. Send a handwritten thank you note when an employee goes beyond his job description to successfully complete a task. Also indicate that those actions will end up in his personnel file.