Remember all of the talk about work-life balance as millennials entered the workplace? Yeah, that’s so 2015.
“It’s no longer about work-life balance, which suggests a compartmentalized lifestyle of work and leisure or work and family. Instead, it may be time for what Jeff Bezos calls work-life harmony,” states Brad Grossman in his 2018 Zeitguide. (Read our Q&A with Grossman on page 42 of this issue.)
“The reality is that to create true work-life harmony, the employee experience (EX for short) needs to be addressed,” Grossman adds. “Companies are looking at a new measure of future success: How happy, they want to know, are their employees?
“It’s not just about ping pong tables and kegged cold-brew coffee. It’s about operating with transparency and cooperation. It’s about giving employees the skills to navigate the new processes of the future, and helping them in a transformed labor market. It’s about being in an organization that not only rewards them for their work, but enables them to have work-life harmony.
“Taking employee experience into account inevitably adds up to good business. That’s because happy employees make for a better customer experience. And customer experience has an outsized impact on business success.”
The recognition ideas featured here can help you enhance your employees’ work-life harmony.
Experiences make more effective rewards
Although many companies rely on cash rewards to satisfy employees’ need for recognition, research from Globoforce, a provider of cloud-based human capital management software solutions, shows that experiential and gift-of-choice rewards are 8.5 times more effective in boosting engagement than cash. These rewards also don’t suffer from the problem of inflation, and employees are less likely to feel entitled to repeat rewards.
“Research from Globoforce’s WorkHuman Research Institute shows that to have an impact on someone’s level of engagement or to have an impact on someone’s probability of leaving an organization, which are two important factors that companies are often trying to drive, four experiential rewards [annually] would have an impact,” Derek Irvine, vice president of strategy and consulting at Globoforce, told HR Today.
If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right
In the U.S. alone, companies are spending $46 billion per year on recognition — about 2 percent of the total pay bill — but research shows that half of employees don’t even know that a recognition program exists, state authors Glenn Elliott and Debra Corey in “Build It: The Rebel Playbook for World-Class Employee Engagement.” The authors’ research shows that 80 percent of senior leaders surveyed claim their employees are recognized monthly, but only 17 percent of employees think their organization’s culture strongly supports recognition.
“Something is really wrong with what we’re doing,” they state. They offer these ideas for getting your money’s worth from your recognition spend:
- It’s never, ever, ever all about money. So many recognition programs spend 90 percent of the effort on the mechanics of the nomination or the transaction and misfire on explaining what the award is actually for, or they radically restrict the number of thank-yous that can be sent to hit a budget number. Many make the process of saying thank you so arduous that few ever get around to doing it.
- Recognition and visibility go together. What’s important is that recognition goes hand in hand with the deliberate efforts to improve the understanding of what different departments do and how their work contributes to the mission. When a salesperson wins a new client, who else was involved in crafting the winning bid? Does an e-mail go to all of your managers, reflecting the totality of the talent and effort involved?
- Make recognition personal. When investing in incentives, make them personal. Use an understanding of someone as an individual to buy a meaningful reward or experience or use technology to allow staff to share what they’re saving for or would like to receive.
Customers want experiences too
Experiential rewards aren’t just for employees. They work well in customer loyalty programs as well. Outdoor products company The North Face VIPeak program recognizes customer loyalty with experiences that align with the satisfaction customers get when they use North Face products. In delivering rewards such as ski lift tickets, climbing expeditions, race entries, film series and opportunities to interact with The North Face’s sponsored athletes, the company leverages its other marketing investments and only adds small marginal cost to deliver lifetime experiences.
You be you
“Truly experiential rewards systems are not limited to travel, shows or classes, but rather they provide a broad enough range of choices that help employees express their personalities, invest in their hobbies, participate in the activities that bring them happiness and joy, or do something nice for others who may not be as fortunate as themselves,” Jonathan McClellan, employee recognition segment director for Hallmark Business Connections, told HR Today. “When companies can unleash this potential through their recognition and rewards programs, they are more likely to increase loyalty and engagement.”
Individual cruise certificates
Royal Caribbean International offers a turnkey program that recognizes and rewards employees, business partners and clients with an incredible cruise vacation. The Royal Incentive Rewards Certificate Program treats recipients as the deserving individuals they are, giving them the freedom to go where they want, when they want. Choose from a wide variety of certificates to fit all budgets. Call 800-762-0458 to learn more.
The onsite gifting pioneer
A successful gift experience creates memories. Maui Jim pioneered the onsite gifting concept over 18 years ago. With a true brand experience, it shows a company is investing in that guest, just as much as that guest invests in that organization. For more information, contact Eric Linder of Maui Jim at 800-614-6790, email corporategifts@mauijim.com or visit mauijimcorporategifts.com.
BioLite CampStove 2 Bundle
The ultimate companion for the outdoor enthusiast is here with the BioLite CampStove 2 Bundle. Grill, boil, cook and charge electronics with this fully integrated system. Generate electricity from smokeless wood flames and cook meals with the portable grill and KettlePot attachments. Available now through Rymax Marketing Services, Inc. Call 866-RYMAX-11 or visit rymaxinc.com.
Lismore Reflections with Gold Band
Adding a unique touch to the original Lismore pattern, The Lismore Reflection with Gold Band collection features a mirror image of the iconic design rendered at the bottom and top. Stylish matte gold bands combined with modern cylinder shapes and beautiful cut crystal to create a new “reflection” treatment. The Lismore Reflection with Gold Band bowls, vases and hurricane have been designed to cast rays of light and shade creating a statement to any interior. A new modern take on the beloved classic. For more information, contact WWRD US Special Markets Department at 800-933-3370.
Car top cargo carrier
Have you got road trip lovers on your team? This USA made rooftop carrier provides 18 cubic feet of storage space. No tools required. Fits easily on most factory and aftermarket cross rail systems. Opens to the back providing three-sided entry for easy loading/unloading. Limited lifetime warranty. For more information, contact Jody Running of Top Brands, Inc., at 920-236-2800, e-mail sales@top-brands.com or visit top-brands.com.
Options for every lifestyle
Today’s employees appreciate incentives that work with their lifestyles — and they want choices. Specialty merchandise and trips and experiences they can share top the list. GC Incentives offers the personalized approach recipients look for with our high-value gift card choices. For more information, call 877-737-0200 or visit go.gcincentives.com/salesandmarketing for a demo.
Vitamix Pro 750 Heritage
Perfect for the foodie who loves to create his/her own dishes, the Vitamix Pro 750 Heritage has the quality and precision of premium commercial machines. Featuring stainless steel blades, 64-oz. container and 5 pre-programmed settings, this blender will become the ultimate sous chef for any home kitchen. For more information about this and other lifestyle rewards, contact Rymax Marketing Services, Inc. at 866-RYMAX-11 or visit rymaxinc.com.
Hinda warehouse dash
Imagine a warehouse filled with everything your heart desires. Now, imagine having 60 seconds to grab anything you want. You are imagining the world’s most exciting award opportunity — the Hinda Warehouse Dash®. See our video at hinda.com under “What We Offer.”
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