Ideas for Employee Appreciation for Good Customer Service
Organizations plan for customer service excellence by building a culture of high expectations, accountability, continuous improvement and employee appreciation. An important aspect of customer service is rewarding employees who demonstrate good customer service. Recognition tells employees that their efforts are appreciated and customer service excellence is highly valued. Organizations can single out deserving employees for appreciation in a number of ways.
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Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
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The Above and Beyond the Call of Duty (ABCD) award has a fun and memorable name, making it a good idea for a standard and recognizable appreciation item. The award can be a small plaque or desktop item, such as a star or imprinted coffee mug. Adam Bernhardt writes in an article for Inc. Magazine about a construction company that places ABCD stickers on hard hats to communicate the company's commitment to customer service. Purdue University, for example, gives a $300 award to student employees who are nominated four times in an academic year.
Annual Appreciation Award
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Larger organizations might consider an annual award in appreciation of good customer service. Employees can nominate individuals or groups for recognition. The University System of Georgia uses its annual award to highlight employee-led customer service projects and improvement initiatives and exceptional performance of daily customer service duties.
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Personal Thanks
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David Brown, president of a St. Louis-based IT company, explains in an article written by Nadine Heintz for Inc. that he personally thanks employees for customer service excellence. Brown changed the way his company acknowledges good work after learning that employees valued a personal note or "thank you" more than gift cards and an email. After learning of employee excellence at staff meetings, Brown puts notes in employees' mailboxes and encourages management to thank employees in person.
Award Points
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Some companies award points, coupons and tokens that employees can collect and use to purchase items from a catalog. Boeing employees can use Pride@Boeing award points to purchase items at the Boeing Store. The Pride@Boeing program recognizes employees for exceptional performance. Companies can regularly award points for good customer service, which allows employees to build enough points quickly for purchases.
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References
- University Systems of Georgia: Overview of Customer Service Plan
- University System of Georgia: Recognition Program
- Inc.; Adam Bernhardt; "Let Awards Go to Their Heads;" January 1997
- Purdue University: Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Award
- Inc.; Nadine Heintz; "Building a Culture of Employee Appreciation;" September 2009
- The Boeing Store: Pride@Boeing Points and Service Awards
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
