Employee Award Title Generator + Creative Examples

Best Employee Recognition Awards to Boost Moral [Title Ideas]

If people weren’t people, gestures of appreciation towards their achievements or contributions wouldn’t matter. Considering this, even though it is easy and albeit logical to assume that since an employee is getting paid to contribute and help the organization achieve goals, a little bit of appreciation does no harm; in fact, it can do a whole world of good when it comes to employee loyalty!

According to Great Place to Work:

• Only 13% of employees are self-motivated, compared to a substantial 37% who prefer appreciation to other perks like an increase in wages (7%) or promotion (4%).
• There is a 2x greater chance of employees appreciating their workplace’s culture, contributing, and going the extra mile if they are appreciated first.

This solidifies the fact that employee recognition awards matter.

Why Employee Recognition Awards Matter

The greatest benefit of employee recognition awards is that they are integral in retaining top talent. As per a survey by Gallup, employees whose contributions and achievements are recognized are 45% less likely to make a job shift in the next 2 years. Employees who feel appreciated are more engaged and enjoy the culture of their workplace, which in turn affects retention.

7 Types of Employee Recognition Awards (top choices by industry experts)

Just having a system of employee recognition awards isn’t enough. They should be able to properly appreciate the diverse talents within the organization to prevent people from feeling left out. Thus, having some set types of employee recognition awards would be more effective. These awards can be based on award titles such as:

• Performance-Based Awards
• Peer-to-Peer Recognition Awards
• Milestone Awards
• Innovation Awards
• Culture Fit Awards
• Customer-Focused Awards
• Leadership Awards

Based on this list of award categories, there can be sub-categories or examples considered that make classification easier depending on company size and scale. Here are 10 examples of each of these types of employee recognition awards.

1. Performance-Based Awards

Performance-Based awards are result-orientated awards given to employees with the caliber to meet the company’s expectations. From awards for the Top Performer to the Sales Achiever of the Month, here are 10 names of awards for excellence that should make your best achievers get the recognition they deserve.

1. Employee of the Month/Year Award: This can also be a monthly or quarterly award for an employee whose overall performance exceeds the rest.
2. Top Performer Award: Employees who have performed at the top level as per metrics deserve more than private recognition. By receiving public appreciation, their motivation towards achievement will be higher.
3. Sales Achiever Award: An employee who consistently meets or exceeds the sales target deserves to be acknowledged. Based on budget constraints, this can be monthly or quarterly.
4. Highest Productivity Award: Some employees are very productive overall and are the backbone of their team but do not shine individually; they fit here.
5. Quality Customer Service Award: Some employees have a natural ability to build rapport with clients and reinforce brand loyalty, and they should be appreciated for this.
6. Most Improvement Award: When employees show that they want to improve and can change as per feedback, it is a trait to be recognized.
7. Exceeds Expectations Award: Employees who can meet and exceed expectations deserve recognition through this.
8. Goal Champ Award: Suits employees who can meet all the goals assigned to them consistently.
9. Stellar Achiever Award: Employees who are high achievers and enjoy taking up challenges would do well here.
10. Project Specialist Award: This position is for dedicated employees committed to seeing projects through to completion and taking ownership.

2. Peer-to-Peer Recognition Awards

Peer-to-Peer Recognition Awards acknowledge that while working independently is an appreciable skill, employees need to work in a team for the smooth running of the department. Employees who can motivate themselves and others and keep the team spirit alive must be recognized through awards like the Team Player Award or Best Collaborator Award. Below are listed 10 examples of Peer-to-Peer Recognition Awards so that other employees know these skills the organization prizes.

1. Team Player Award: For employees who can work independently and well in a team environment (which is not everyone’s cup of tea).
2. Proactive Mentor Award: Suitable for employees who go out of their way to mentor their team and share their learning.
3. Supportive Teammate Award: While pushing one's team to achieve targets is essential, a supportive colleague who can empathize is integral to maintaining team morale.
4. Positive Paragon Award: At times, it is easier to see the glass as half empty rather than complete; in such situations, one needs an employee with the skill to maintain a positive mindset even in the worst times.
5. Excellent Communicator Award: Communication is not everyone’s forte and strong communicators who are tactful are essential to keeping the team together in tough times and avoiding misunderstandings.
6. Best Collaborator Award: Not all team members are good at team collaboration, but teams need to work together. Due to this, employees who are good at collaboration should be appreciated as they are the glue that holds the team together.
7. Team Maker: While creating and keeping a team together is not easy, some employees can hold the team together and overcome difficulties. These team makers boost the team's morale and see its overall growth.
8. Ethically Sound Award: Employees with a strong work ethic are an example for their colleagues to emulate, as when other employees see that such levels of dedication are possible and rewarded, they, too, in turn, are motivated to take positive action.
9. Pillar of Inspiration Award: Inspiration is required to keep team morale high. Inspiring employees motivate their team members to achieve new heights through positive examples of their achievements.
10. Leader in a Million Award: Within teams, even without an official designation, some employees possess leadership traits that make them born organizers for projects, events, etc. Such unofficial leadership and proactiveness deserve its due recognition.

3. Milestone Awards

Achievement of milestones is no mean feat, which is why employees feel more motivated and loyal by recognizing employee milestones, as their long-term dedication and commitment to the company is appreciated. This can be done through Work Anniversary and Years of Service awards, though more ideas can be found in the 10 examples of Milestone Awards shared below.

1. Work Anniversary Award (on completion of 5, 10, 15, etc. years): When employees can complete significant tenure within the company by appreciating them, their loyalty towards the organization increases.
2. Years of Service Award: Employees who complete several years of dedicated service with a company, whether they have received a promotion or not, should be appreciated so that their morale remains high.
3. Ace Attendance Award: Very few employees are dedicated enough to show up daily for work. Employees who display a remarkable tendency for dedication should be recognized so that a culture is created where employees take leave when needed and do not avoid work.
4. Milestone Achiever Award: If an employee can complete career milestones like tenure targets, it is a milestone achieved over time and deserves recognition.
5. Excellent Service Award: Providing dedicated and outstanding work consistently is not always possible, so employees who do that and should be appreciated for their superb service.
6. Pillar of Loyalty Award: Employees who remain dedicated to the same company without thinking of a change show a rare loyalty and motivation to others.
7. Most Dedicated Employee Award: Employees who repeatedly prove their dedication feel their loyalty reinforced when appreciated.
8. Exceptional Endurance Award: Being dedicated and loyal is not easy consistently, so when employees can be this disciplined, their endurance needs to be praised.
9. Terrific Trailblazer Award: When an employee has been able to be with a department for a long time and contribute significantly, they should be recognized as a trailblazer so that others too are encouraged to become the same.
10. Committed to Growth: Long-term commitment towards growth is not easy, so employees feel recognized when appreciated for consistency and discipline.

4. Innovation Awards

Problem-solving and creative thinking need encouragement, as they are proactive talents. With Innovation Awards, employees are motivated to adopt a mindset of continuous improvement. They are primarily awarded for their hard work through awards like the Best Idea Award, the Problem Solver of the Year Award, or one of the other awards illustrated in these 10 examples of Innovation Awards given below.

1. Best Idea Award: Developing ideas requires proactiveness and moving out of a set job description. When an employee is willing to go the extra mile through this, offering a Best Idea Award will keep that morale high.
2. Problem Solver of the Year Award: While generally, it is considered the management’s task to solve problems, some employees put their thinking cap on themselves and develop innovative solutions that should be appreciated.
3. Out-of-Box Thinker Award: While managers encourage employees to embrace innovative approaches, it is not everyone’s cup of tea. Hence, employees should be acknowledged when they show the skill set and thinking capability to do so.
4. Innovative Genius Award: Innovation and creativity aren’t easy to come by, so when employees can meld both, they can improve the workplace while meeting the organization’s goals.
5. Process Improver Award: While management-approved processes need to be followed, these are not hard and fast and have scope for improvement. When employees can improve a method based on their understanding of its practical implementation, they can contribute beyond set expectations and should be acknowledged.
6. Creative Thinker Award: When an employee can find an innovative solution or improve an existing situation with a bit of creativity, this not only helps the manager involved but also helps other employees attain the goals set easily. Therefore, employees should be motivated to use their creativity as of all.
7. Technology Innovator Award: Technology and automation is an ever-expanding field. Employees who can inculcate both benefits and help the organization better meet goals deserve the credit so that others, too, are motivated.
8. Exemplary Innovator Award: Some employees have a born creative streak, which allows them to think quickly up things from the perspective of solutions and sales ideas. For employees who can bring in such creative ideas, appreciation is needed so that other employees adopt such an innovative approach.
9. Quick Thinker Award: When employees can provide their inputs and also think up new ideas and solutions quickly, they exceed their job role out of self-motivation, which deserves appreciation.
10. Fantastic Foresight Award: Similar to problem-solving, some employees can think a few steps in advance, identify and plan and execute for potential issues. This saves the organization not only in terms of time but also prevents costly mistakes, which is why such foresight should be encouraged.

5. Cultural Fit Awards

Employees need to feel comfortable in the culture of the company that they are in. With the introduction of the Culture Fit Awards, the company's values are reinforced, and employees who can embody the desired culture are recognized and valued.

With awards like the Spirit of the Company and the Most Enthusiastic Employee, other employees can appreciate their colleagues. The employees who feel recognized by the company will feel even more enthusiastic and determined to continue their good work. Here are 10 examples of employee award names for Cultural Fit Awards to get you started.

1. Spirit of the Company Award: Employees who embody the company's spirit should be recognized so that other employees are motivated to cultivate the company's culture.
2. Most Enthusiastic Employee Award: Enthusiasm cannot be externally created, so employees who have the spark of enthusiasm not only set an example but inspire others, which is why they should be acknowledged.
3. Exemplary Role Model Award: Employees who are role models can inspire their colleagues and the team to better adjust to company culture. By seeing them rewarded, other employees are motivated to follow their example.
4. Culture Guru Award: When an employee can become part of a company’s culture and take in the values, recognition is deserved, as it is not easy for most to meet the high ideals set by a company. When others see that an employee is being rewarded for the same, they are encouraged too.
5. Value Addition Award: Employees who add value through their optimism and positivity in following the workplace’s culture and making it appealing to other employees should be recognized to keep their motivation levels high.
6. Ethically Perfect Award: Employees who display a strong work ethic and are committed to the organization’s goals should be recognized to motivate other employees.
7. Positive Influence Award: When an employee spreads positivity through action and example and helps fellow employees enjoy the workplace culture, then by recognizing this positive aspect, employees are motivated towards being more positive.
8. Spirited Gem Award: Keeping one’s spirit up daily takes determination and self-motivation. Such traits take personal commitment towards the organization and, thus, should be recognized.
9. Vibe Regulator Award: Employees who can bring positivity to the workplace should be recognized on time so that they continue to be motivated to do so, as their positive vibes are infectious.
10. Value Leader Award: An employee who can be a leader in company-set values and who sees that others follow them should be rewarded so that the employee remains loyal and motivated.

6. Customer-Focused Awards

Customers are an irreplaceable element of running a successful business, so employees with the tact and empathy to manage customers well deserve to be acknowledged. By introducing awards like the Best Customer Service Award and the Client Champion Award

By awarding employees for excellent customer service, a company culture that emphasizes customer satisfaction and exceptional customer service is enforced. Given below are 10 examples of Customer-Focused Awards to help you make a start.

1. Best Customer Service Award: Employees who make customers feel heard and essential to the company are a definite asset.
2. Client Champion Award: When employees take time out to help silence find solutions, they deserve to get credit for this, as they help indirectly retain clients.
3. Client Retainer Award: Acquiring new clients takes time and effort. Therefore, half the battle is won when you have employees who are proactive enough to keep clients satisfied. When these employees are appreciated, other employees get reinforcement of the importance of such behavior.
4. Customer Loyalty Award: When employees can help the company by ensuring customer loyalty through dedicated customer service, they should be rewarded so that other employees are motivated to do the same.
5. Customer Champ Award: Employees who show that they are good at handling customers and clients with the right professional attitude should be given recognition so that this positive behavior is reinforced, and other employees are motivated.
6. Customer Specialist Award: Some employees are excellent at fire-fighting, solving customer queries, and taking follow-ups to resolve the same. The dedication these employees put in makes them customer specialists, and their attitude and work ethic can be promoted through a suitable award that will motivate them and those around them.
7. Customer Relations Whiz Award: When an employee can maintain and nurture the customer’s loyalty towards an organization while smoothing ruffled feathers and providing solutions that the employee needs to acknowledge to continue the good work.
8. Customer Satisfaction Specialist Award: Satisfying customers is difficult, especially when things go south. Therefore, employees with the patience and empathy need to be recognized so that others can follow their example.
9. Customer Service Star Award: While employees can be trained and taught how to provide good customer service, putting this into practice takes personal effort. When employees are willing to go the extra mile and are appreciated, they are motivated to continue doing the same and inspire other employees.
10. Client Relation Builder Award: Keeping clients satisfied is not an easy thing to do, especially when it comes to long-term business relations. When an employee, through excellent customer service, can maintain customer brand loyalty, it is commendable.

7. Leadership Awards

Employees who motivate their colleagues, provide support, and help find innovative solutions deserve leadership recognition. Their inspiration to others and contribution to development should be appreciated by leadership awards like the Inspirational Leader Award or the Mentor of the Year Award. Below are 10 examples of Leadership Awards.

1. Inspirational Leader: Some employees might not be leaders but can inspire others by their example and words. Such inspirational leaders, when encouraged through recognition, not only boost their morale but that of their department, too.
2. Mentor of the Year Award: Employees who have mentorship qualities make things easier for their colleagues by being supported and training them whenever necessary. Such a spirit for sharing knowledge is commendable and can be boosted through proper recognition.
3. Exceptional Leadership Award: When employees are proactive and take on leadership roles without even having the designation and can meet it, they deserve their efforts to be acknowledged. Through such acknowledgment, other employees with similar skill sets are motivated.
4. Role Model Leadership Award: Employees who have leadership qualities that make others look up to them deliver quality work and help in supporting a positive workplace culture. By awarding them, a clear message is passed as to acceptable behavior models.
5. Leading with Motivation Award: Some employees can motivate their team through their leadership, which in turn helps managers, as team morale is boosted without too much manager intervention. By acknowledging these efforts, the employee will be further motivated and motivate other employees.
6. Inspirational Leader Award: For employees who can inspire their team, being given an Inspirational Leader Award would in turn encourage them to keep up the good work, and it would motivate other team members, too.
7. Intuitive Team Builder Award: When an employee can build teams on an intuitive basis and get work done with quality while meeting deadlines, this ability should be appreciated.
8. Visionary Leader Award: Employees who have vision and leadership abilities can inspire their team members with new ideas and thought patterns and provide them with a glimpse of the vision that they have.
9. Leadership Guru Award: Some employees have exceptional leadership talent, and using this, they can help their colleagues meet targets and motivate their department as a whole. When such leadership gurus are recognized, their peers also see the importance of being proactive and enthusiastic.
10. Leading by Example Award: When employees meet targets, are professional and positive, and show dedication and a strong work ethic, other employees are motivated too,, which is why recognizing employees who lead by example is essential.

When you incorporate various types of employee recognition awards, a more extensive range of talent is addressed and acknowledged. However, having just an award category is not enough; what is given as a memento too is of significance, which is why knowing the top employee recognition award ideas helps in getting the most value for the time, effort, and finance put into the process of employee recognition.

5 Top Employee Recognition Award Ideas

When people are appreciated, they tend to be more dedicated, careful about their work, and optimistic — this applies to employees, too. Hence, proper employee recognition is integral to creating a positive work culture, boosting morale, and motivating employees. The awards that are given are important as they represent the company’s appreciation for the employees' skills, and so they need to be on par with the message that is to be conveyed.

Here’s a list of the 5 top employee recognition award ideas, from personalized to team awards, that should help you set the ball rolling on employee recognition.

1. Creative and Personalized Awards

Customized awards are considered more valuable than usual methods of recognition, as the personalization involved indicates that the employee is being valued. Non-monetary rewards like personalized trophies, plaques, or digital badges indicate the value the company puts on the individual employee, and in turn they directly benefit the company through:

• Boosting employee morale, job satisfaction, and self-confidence
• Improving employee engagement
• Creating a more positive workplace culture

Here are 10 examples of personalized awards that your employees definitely will love.

1. Customized Trophies: Even though it may seem like a small gesture, employees tend to treasure the trophy they win from their company, as it is a physical manifestation of the achievement and a reminder of work well done that was acknowledged.
2. Personalized Plaques: Plaques, like trophies, are moments that visually reinforce the appreciation and recognition provided by the company for the employee’s achievement. Plaques can be customized to include a photo and message, too which further adds to the value.
3. Digital Badges: While not tangible, digital badges are perfect for employees to display on their social handles as a symbol of achievements and skills that are recognized.
4. Personalized Notes or Cards: Personalized notes and cards are highly effective when handwritten, as they signal time taken in giving appreciation, which adds to their appeal and value.
5. Certificates of Achievement: Employees enjoy displaying trophies and plaques, but the same is valid for certificates, too, which can highlight how the employee was able to help the company do better.
6. Personalized Gifts: Gift articles with a customized touch, like the employee’s name, the occasion of the award, etc.; too are displayed with pride as they are considered articles that display the employee’s merit.
7. Company Branded Accessories: Accessories like T-shirts, mugs, pens, belts, wallets, and bags that have the company’s logo on them are also appreciated by employees and build brand loyalty.
8. Mentorship Awards: This award recognizes excellent employees when it comes to mentoring their colleagues and encourages team collaboration.
9. Exceptional Customer Service Awards: This is for the recognition of employees who can provide exceptional customer service.
10. Innovation Awards: These awards are for employees who consistently develop innovative solutions and creative ideas.

2. Team Awards

Team awards are integral to improving teamwork and creating a sense of shared purpose and collaboration. When teamwork is awarded through awards like the Best Team Collaboration Award or the Department of the Year Award, employees are encouraged to celebrate their successes collectively and encourage employees to work together. By working together effectively, employees can increase their productivity while boasting of a higher morale.

Through team awards, employers can recognize teams that can consistently meet as well as exceed the performance expectations assigned to them. Listed below are 10 examples of team awards.

1. Best Team Collaboration Award: Collaboration among team members is the secret sauce to the successful and effortless running of operations. When employees collaborate and can set their differences aside towards a common goal, they need to be appreciated.
2. Department of the Year Award: When employees work amicably together and can help each other reach the department’s goal, they should be awarded so that different teams learn the same.
3. Always on Time Team Award: Dedicated teams who are motivated towards meeting goals and deadlines on time consistently show patience and dedication that deserves appreciation.
4. Innovative Champs Team Award: Creatively inclined Teams tend to add this creative flair to their work and improve the same. That so many creative minds can work efficiently and collaboratively together should be acknowledged.
5. Highest-Performing Team Award: For one employee to consistently perform well is in itself problematic; thus, when team spirit motivates employees towards reaching new heights together, it is very beneficial to the organization as a whole as they can provide quality work while meeting the expectations that have been set.
6. Proactive Team Award: Teams that are proactive in completing work and reaching solutions to work-related problems deserve to be acknowledged for their dedication.
7. Most Collaborative Team Award: Getting employees to work in the same team and with other teams without friction is not easy. Therefore, when teams show a collaborative spirit, this should be acknowledged so that others take up this as an example.
8. Unbeatable Team Spirit Award: Team spirit takes teamwork, and so when teams go the extra mile to display the same when they are motivated through awards, other teams too are motivated towards achieving the same.
9. Quality-is-First Team Award: Teams that provide quality while consistently meeting deadlines need to be recognized as they motivate other teams to do the same.
10. Cross-Functional Team Award: Teams that can work with other teams or departments and get the job done deserve recognition, as they are solidifying the spirit of teamwork.

3. Achievement-Based Awards

When employees are motivated by appreciation of their achievements, they are motivated to move towards excellence. Through Achievement-Based Awards, individual and team effort is recognized and this drives teams towards continuous improvement.

When achievements are acknowledged, employees are motivated to work harder as they are rewarded for results, and this, in turn, improves their performance. Here are 10 Achievement-Based Awards, from the Project Completion Award to the Quarterly Targets Achievers Award, that will drive your employees towards further excellence.

1. Project Completion Award: For employees who complete projects with enthusiasm and on time,, a bit of reciprocation goes a long way in ensuring that they keep up the good work wit renewed vigor.
2. Quarterly Targets Achievers Award: Achieving targets with consistency takes dedication and determination. To keep up this enthusiasm, such target achievers should receive recognition so that they are motivated towards further achievement.
3. Best Sales Achiever Award: Employees who are focused on achieving sales targets consistently need to receive positive feedback and motivation through recognition so that their focus on the same does not waver and is boosted.
4. Ace at Customer Acquisition Award: Acquiring customers takes passion, patience, and determination. When employees are recognized for the additional effort they put in, their focus on further improving increases.
5. Continuous Quality Improvement Award: Improving quality continuously is not an easy task, but when there is a constant quality improvement, a recognition of the same will boost the employee’s morale to continue with the same.
6. Costing Genius Award: Being a whiz at finance is not everyone’s cup of tea and this can be acknowledged through a recognition award for the same, where employees who can tweak project costs innovatively and have shown extra commitment to the company can be rewarded.
7. Consistent Improvement Award: Improving oneself takes a lot of effort and dedication. When employees focus consistently on improvement and show headway, they deserve to be motivated through an award.
8. Pro Leadership Award: Some employees are born leaders and able to inspire and motivate their colleagues with their leadership traits. Their additional effort should be noticed as it will reinforce their enthusiasm.
9. Brand Loyalty Builder Award: Professionalism with empathy and a thirst to find solutions is what governs employees who can build brand loyalty in the customer’s heart by showing the best side of the organization. Employees who work towards building brand loyalty would be more motivated to do so if their efforts are commended.
10. Innovative Expert Award: Adding innovation to projects can produce surprisingly positive results, but this takes extra work. Dedicated employees with a strong work ethic deserve acknowledgment so that they know that the innovative efforts they are putting in are recognized.

4. Funny Recognition Awards

While employee recognition awards are a serious business, adding a touch of humor is a powerful ingredient in boosting morale. With Funny Recognition Awards, there is a touch of lighthearted fun that creates camaraderie, boosting collaboration.

Funny Recognition Awards like the Best Desk Decorator or Office Entertainer improve employee morale by reducing stress and creating a positive workplace. Below are examples of 10 such creative award titles for employees:

1. Best Desk Decorator Award: Adding a personal touch to the workplace makes it an employee’s comfort zone and indicates dedication and commitment. This can be honored in a fun way through a Best Desk Decorator Award.
2. Office Entertainer Award:
3. Positively Perfect Award: Performance scores or productivity metrics don’t often take in an essential ingredient to employee and organizational success, which is how positive an employee is. When optimistic employees are recognized, it reinforces the positive traits in the company’s culture that other employees can emulate.
4. Always Punctual Award: Punctuality is not easy, but few employees are conscious of the time and punctual when turning up for work, meetings, events, etc. That the time and effort they are taking is appreciated and noticed will motivate them to continue.
5. Snack King/Queen Award: To encourage team bonding and add a bit of fun to otherwise severe employee award categories, appreciating talents not linked directly to work comes in. For employees who have a sharing spirit and enjoy providing their team with tasty tidbits, a snack award will fuel further culinary charity.
6. Most Spontaneous Award: Employees who display an adaptability to change, are flexible and, are able to work under pressure should be recognized so that abilities like flexibility and adaptability are prized.
7. Unbeaten in Procrastination Award: While leadership and innovation awards are heard of, an award for procrastination might raise eyebrows but is just a fun gesture minus any critique. Non-serious awards increase award scalability and encourage a more relaxed attitude towards employee feedback, making it more acceptable to the receiver.
8. Coffee Addict Award: Some employees cannot function without caffeine and simply need their coffee or tea handy. To inject some fun into the employee recognition award, this trait can be recognized to lighten up the recognition process.
9. Techno-Wizard Award: This is for the employee who can solve everyone’s technology-related problems or is proactive enough when it comes to searching and applying a solution. While being a techno-whiz might be an employee’s passion, what matters is that the employee can add further value to the organization, and this should be appreciated.
10. Best for Laughs Award: This is for the comedian of the company who can always bring positivity through laughter. This happy vibe should be recognized so that the employee stays positive towards the same.

5. Health and Wellness Awards

While meeting deadlines and being productive is one aspect of a successful workplace, ensuring the mental and physical wellness of employees is another factor, as without health, employees cannot sustain productivity. Due to this, awards like the Fitness Leader Award and the Wellness Advocate Award motivate employees towards the adopting healthier lifestyles.

Healthy employees have better productivity and need to take fewer days off sick. Furthermore, upon seeing that the organization is conscious about their health, employees feel more positive and motivated toward the success of the organization as they feel they too are a priority.

1. Fitness Leader Award: When employees feel that the company cares for them and their health, they feel more loyal to the company, and this shows through increased dedication to work.
2. Wellness Advocate Award: A balance between work and life is rather challenging. Through company-promoted fitness goals, when employees can turn into wellness advocates, they appreciate the difference in their health and the motivation that comes with being an inspiration.
3. Mindfulness Guru Award: With workplace stress causing burnout, having an employee who can combat this stress through mindfulness effectively sends a message to other employees to that stress can be managed holistically, and this improves their attendance as stress impacts health, which results in more sick days.
4. Health 360° Award: When an employee manages to turn their health situation positively, they should be appreciated, as getting support will boost their productivity and send a positive message that the company cares.
5. King/Queen of the Stairs Award: While taking the stairs is recommended, employees who show their drive towards balancing work and fitness through simple lifestyle changes like taking the stairs should be motivated, as they, in turn, motivate others.
6. Health Volunteer Award: When an employee is an enthusiastic volunteer for health events that the organization keeps, this individual’s enthusiasm is infectious and helps in getting other employees to participate.
7. Healthy Champion Award: An employee who is an example for others by working well, eating right and working out is a champion for fitness. Through recognition, the company gives a clear message that it cares for the health of its employees.
8. Proactive Healthy Eater Award: An employee who is conscious of food choices and consistently makes and advocates healthy choices should be reciprocated so that other employees take the organization in a good light for caring for their health and food choices.
9. Fitness Influencer Award: When employees are dedicated to a fit lifestyle and motivated through recognition, they motivate their peers to build a healthy workplace culture.
10. Team Wellness Award: For teams that are fitness-centric and prove that work and fitness go together, an award that celebrates their teamwork ushers in a positive work culture.

Through the employment of various awards, a larger pool of talent is appreciated and this, in turn, creates a work environment that is rewarding, positive and one that motivates employees to excel. Still, you must remember that just giving the award is not enough.

How an award is presented to matters, like is it a public acknowledgment of success? Has the memory been captured through photos or videos? Was there any build-up, i.e., storytelling, before the award? For employee recognition awards to be effective, there are best practices that need to be followed when presenting them. Below, we look at these in more detail.

7 Best Practices for Presenting Employee Recognition Awards

While Employee Recognition Awards are an effective means to promote a positive work culture and motivate the best employees, there are 7 best practices one must adhere to when presenting employee recognition awards.

1. Choose the right timing and frequency: Spasmodic employee recognition attempts are less effective than a structured and regular recognition schedule. Timing is crucial, as leaving off recognition for too long demotivates employees.
2. Personalize the award to the recipient: Since everyone is different, what might appeal to one employee might not appeal to someone else, so personalization of awards is required.
3. Highlight the achievement publicly: When there is public acknowledgment via team meetings, social media, or within the company internally, employees get a morale boost and feel the company work culture is positive and employee-centric.
4. Use a formal or informal event for presentation: Events are a public means of recognition and, hence, very effective whether they be significant awards (formal events) or a daily interaction (informal event). The type of event selected will depend on the prize.
5. Ensure the award aligns with company values: While awards can be fun, they need to align with the company's values and voice. Awards can be for innovation, teamwork, customer service, etc.; this helps employees know what values are rewarded.
6. Incorporate storytelling to highlight the achievement: That the employee receiving the award and others know the reason behind the achievement is important, as well as the impact of the work on the company overall.
7. Capture the moment with photos or videos: Having a chance to revisit or keep the memory for future reference is required, and so through the means of pictures and videos, a wider audience can be reached.

If you follow these best practices, the effectiveness of presenting Employee Recognition Awards will significantly increase, and employees will be better motivated. Listed below are other benefits of Employee Recognition Awards.

11 Benefits of Employee Recognition Awards

There is a lot of time that goes into a recognition ceremony and award presentation. Still, the reason organizations invest so heavily in this is that there is a score of benefits of employee recognition awards, as listed below:

1. Boosts employee morale and motivation: Unlike mere productivity metrics that appeal to those with a high achievement orientation, recognizing these award themes adds a sense of accomplishment and a desire to reach for excellence.
2. Increases employee engagement and productivity: Through recognition boards and feedback surveys, employees are kept engaged, and as a result, they feel more engaged in their work, improving productivity. Through recognition and performance evaluation, employees feel they matter, making a difference in how they perceive the company.
3. Improves employee retention rates: Through recognition of employees, their loyalty to the company increases, which, in turn, affects their retention.
4. Enhances workplace culture and positivity: When employee recognition is part of the organization’s culture, it is perceived to be more positive and supportive as employees have more excellent value since they are appreciated.
5. Encourages teamwork and collaboration: Due to being awarded for achievements, employees are more likely to collaborate and cooperate to achieve results faster.
6. Recognizes and reinforces desired behaviors and achievements: Awards are a means of positive reinforcement. Thus, when employees behave in a way that adheres to the company’s culture and are rewarded, those desired behaviors and the need for achievement get deeply ingrained.
7. Builds stronger relationships between employees and management: Through appreciation, employees realize the importance of positive feedback and are more open to coordinating with their managers.
8. Attracts top talent by showcasing a recognition-focused culture: Public awards boost employee morale and showcase that the company has a recognition-focused culture, which helps attract more employees of high caliber.
9. Increases overall job satisfaction and loyalty: Recognition is a great motivator, and by feeling appreciated, an employee’s sense of loyalty and satisfaction will increase as the employee feels valued.
10. Promotes a sense of purpose and accomplishment among employees:
11. Motivates employees to meet organizational goals: Employees who feel valued and supported want to meet targets for program success metrics, as they are part of the company’s goals. Employees begin to identify with the company, which compels them towards achievement.

Employee Recognition Awards are a structured means of employee engagement that impacts not only employees but the work culture, too. From Long Service Awards to Fun and Lighthearted Awards, they have a lot to offer in boosting morale, motivation, retention rates, and the organization's overall productivity.