An effective rewards and recognition program is a key component of a performance culture. On a very basic level, employees need tangible feedback in order to know when they are doing a good job. However, motivating top performance requires an even deeper commitment.
State employees point out that in our current system there is neither meaningful reward for remarkable performance, nor are there real consequences for poor performance. Many state employees agree that, currently, the most frequent reward for quality work is being assigned more work. The system sends the wrong message. Where there are no means of recognizing top performance, little incentive exists to achieve it.
Some basic benefits of effective rewards and recognition programs include the following:
- Improved morale
- Enhanced productivity
- Increased competitiveness
- Decreased stress
- Decreased absenteeism
- Decreased turnover
- Lower related operating costs
(The 1001 Rewards & Recognition Fieldbook by Bob Nelson , PhD and Dean Spitzer, PhD)
One strategy to improve rewards and recognition in an agency, and thus improve performance, is to create a "culture of recognition" which respects differences in individuals, their motivations and what drives them. Individuals are recognized in ways that are meaningful to them. When organizations have a "culture of recognition," there is measurable improvement in job performance and employee engagement. An effective rewards and recognition program can save money by helping organizations hold on to valued employees and realize sustained improvements in performance.
While cash compensation is often the centerpiece of a rewards package, rewards for North Carolina state employees go far beyond their salaries. North Carolina offers a competitive total compensation package to all of its regular full-time employees and has a number of rewards and recognition programs in place to acknowledge special achievements and outstanding service. But these are often not fully utilized or effectively communicated to employees. In addition, traditional forms of rewards and recognition are often not enough to motivate and retain quality talent.
In order to be truly effective, rewards and recognition programs should be customized to support the achievement of the organization's strategic goals and offer significant rewards to the employees who contribute to its success. Employees who consistently produce remarkable results should be recognized in a meaningful way for their contributions.
Once implemented, it is critical that an organization's Total Rewards (compensation, benefits, work-life, recognition and development) package be effectively communicated to potential employees as a recruitment tool and to existing employees as a means of promoting retention.
Some see rewards and recognition as being only compensation and benefits, but it is far more than that. A rewards and recognition program can include non-monetary methods that have meaning for the individual employees. A successful program involves creative and innovative methods for rewarding employees - time off, developmental opportunities, and special assignments, to name just a few.
The Rewards and Recognition portion of the Performance Solutions website provides tools and techniques for understanding and implementing such a "culture of recognition" in your organization, as well as increasing awareness of the Total Rewards that can go along with a career in North Carolina state government.
