Can I Give My Employees a Gift Card for Doing a Good Job?
Recognition is a powerful tool for motivation. Whether that recognition comes in the form of a shout out at a business meeting, a personal letter, a box of candy or a gift card, recognition reminds employees that they matter. There are a number of reasons why a gift card can be an appropriate and effective way to say thanks.
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Emotional Ownership
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It's great when an employee takes pride in her work and can add to a profitable bottom line. A company thrives, though, when employees take emotional ownership in the organization. When you remind an employee of how much she means to the company, she immediately feels invested. When she knows that the business would not be the same without her, she has a renewed sense of commitment. A gift card is a small way to help build a sense of camaraderie.
A Gift That Fits
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The strength of a gift card is that it isn't taste specific, particularly if you choose something from a business that provides a wide range of items. While a nice bottle of wine would be appreciated by some people, others might not ever open it. A gift card helps take the guesswork out of gift giving.
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A Nice Addition
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If you want to make that gift card really special, give it during a meeting while you're asking employees to tell you what they like most about their job. Let them describe how they would make improvements and if there are any new tasks within the company they would like to try. As the Hawthorne Studies of the 1920s and 1930s showed, employees are motivated by management showing an interest in them. Make it a point to really listen and to respond in a positive way to their insights.
No Favorites
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Gift cards should not be given as a reward for a small group of employees based upon competition with other employees. One group should not receive more than another. Keep it positive by viewing the entire group as a team and acknowledging them as such. The idea is for every employee to feel like this gift was meant specifically for him.
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References
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