Back to the Basics: Recognition, Appreciation, and Employee Engagement

Recognition and appreciation should be the foundation of your employee engagement strategy and at this moment in time, it should be at the top of every CEO’s priority list.

According to Gallup’s most recent survey published in January of 2023, “employee engagement in the U.S. saw its first annual decline in a decade — dropping from 36% engaged employees in 2020 to 34% in 2021. This pattern continued into 2022, as only 32% of full- and part-time employees working for organizations are now engaged, while 18% are actively disengaged.”1  What does this tell us? It tells us it’s time for change and time to step up your recognition efforts… so your company doesn’t become a statistic.

So how do you start? What do you need to be successful? Click here to learn how to get back to basics with five easy steps.

1https://www.gallup.com/workplace/468233/employee-engagement-needs-rebound-2023.aspx






#EmployeeRecognition #EmployeeEngagement #CompanyCulture

Maximize Your Recognition Strategy

Recognition is a powerful tool to show and tell employees how much they are valued. It provides a meaningful way to reinforce your core values and behaviors, to recognize great work and reward results.

While recognition and appreciation are often used interchangeably, for organizations looking to build stronger cultures, understanding the differences, while leveraging all types of recognition, is critical to success.

Click here to learn more about implementing a recognition strategy that leverages both recognition and appreciation and why creating more moments that matter is essential!






#EmployeeRecognition #RecognitionStrategy #CompanyCulture

Where do we go in 2023?
Recognition priorities for the new year and beyond.

2022 had a couple of road bumps – from quiet quitting to the great resignation – those real-life scenarios emerged, highlighting the need for strategies to retain employees. This is top of mind for us and it’s no surprise that at Incentive Services, we look at life through the lens of “employee-first.” And with that lens, we see a clear path to success through long-term recognition strategies.

How can you be a leader in creating a culture of belonging? By recognizing employees, you ensure that they are seen, heard, and that they know their contributions are valued. Recognition done right will help you grow engagement, fellowship, and camaraderie for happier teams and a stronger organization.

Learn how you can make 2023 your teams’ best year ever!






#CompanyCulture #EmployeeRetention #EmployeeExperience

The Role of Recognition for 2022: Rethinking Your Strategy.

Who’s looking forward to 2022? We are! As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “keep moving forward.” While many organizations are focused on messages of optimism and “moving forward,” employee retention is still a major concern. The last two years have impacted virtually every company when it comes to retaining employees.

So how can you keep your invaluable team? Recognition is a powerful tool for strengthening engagement and helping people to feel motivated and appreciated so that they stay with your organization.

Check out some ways to create an effective recognition strategy for 2022 to drive the engagement your teams want and the commitment that your organization needs!






#EmployeeRecognition #CompanyCulture #RecognitionStrategy

{Re}opening. {Re}connecting. {Re}turning to the Workplace.

It’s a hot topic among employees today; “when are we going back to the office?” Returning to the workplace for people who have been working remotely for the past year can be considered either exciting or scary (or inconsequential).

Incentive Services University is always looking for positive examples in the workplace, and in the past year, there were many positive ways companies improved their employees’ experiences. Better yet, these evolutions morphed into changes for the better within the workplace.

Learn more about how to how to help your employees have a smooth transition back to the office, and how to keep your engagement efforts working here!






#ReturnToTheWorkplace #EmployeeEngagement #CompanyCulture

We often hear people discuss the challenges of planning their recognition strategy for well-rounded teams of different generations. But with challenge comes opportunity to better embrace the collective positive experiences of working alongside a team of people, no matter when they were born. It’s all about understanding motivators and what makes people tick. So, when you develop your recognition strategy, it’s a good idea to consider your audience, what is important to them, and how they like to be recognized.

Learn more about the diverse perspectives, motivations and needs of every employee within your organization here!






#GenerationalDifferences #EmployeeRecognition #EmployeeMotivators #CompanyCulture

There has never been a time in history when diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has been more important to company culture than now. The heightened focus, plus the desire of company leaders to directly address the impact on and for their teams, creates an opportunity to bring about change; and an opportunity to develop the strongest, best performing, and most engaged employees ever. This is a change for the better.

Learn more about why DEI matters to your culture and how to optimize the impact of DEI within your organization here!






#CompanyCulture #DiversityEquityAndInclusion #InclusionAndBelonging

A hire-to-retire strategy in the context of recognition and rewards is the idea that celebrating employees isn’t just a singular event; it’s using your recognition strategy to formalize the connections you have with your employees throughout their entire journey with your company – from the time they are onboarded to the time they retire.

  1. Think C2: Consistent & Complementary
  2. Start early and recognize often
  3. Make it a big deal
  4. Make employees feel like they belong
  5. Personalize it

Learn more about how implementing a hire-to-retire recognition strategy can elevate your culture and benefit your organization here!






#EmployeeRetention #EmployeeRecognition #CompanyCulture

The Role of Virtual Engagement in a Non-Virtual Culture.

Companies have become extremely creative at keeping their remote employees engaged by ramping up their virtual engagement strategies. However, many people are not “working from wherever.” They are still showing up to work in healthcare, retail, and other essential businesses. Is it possible to apply some of these virtual engagement strategies to your on-site team? Absolutely! Virtual engagement is still relevant and important to building a strong employee experience for those who are still going to work outside of their home.

Check out virtual engagement strategies and best practices being utilized by top organizations across the country here!



#EmployeeEngagement #RemoteWorkStrategies #CompanyCulture

Employee recognition has never been more important. A new study in late 2020 reported that less than a quarter of employees felt supported during the pandemic outbreak and nearly half surveyed didn’t feel recognized for their work. The report also noted that 35% of employees are looking for more appreciation. However, on a positive note, 47% of employees who HAD received peer-to-peer recognition in the previous week felt very engaged. One of the top drivers of employee engagement is recognition for good work. By integrating a recognition strategy you elevate your employees’ experience, improve job satisfaction and inspire success.

What can you do to appreciate your employees so that everyone
can keep up the good work? Learn more here!



#EmployeeExperience #EmployeeRecognition #CompanyCulture