Recognition of employees' work important for consistent performance

Washington, Dec 18 (ANI): Throwing parties, giving away bonuses and other forms of acknowledgement, including gifts, to employees can help improve their performance, a new study has found.

According to Tom Becker, chair and professor in the Department of Business Administration at the University of Delaware, sincere and credible recognition is appreciated by employees and can enhance their motivation and performance.

"They send a message that the employment relationship is more than simply a transactional one. That message is especially important to convey if employees have endured a year of no raises, extra workloads, threats of layoff or many of the other conditions common in workplaces right now," Kimberly Merriman from Pennsylvania State University, said.

The key to gift giving and other forms of recognition around the holidays is being sincere, explained Robert Eisenberger, a professor in the psychology department at the University of Houston.

"What's important is the genuineness of what you do," Eisenberger said.

"If the employer just goes through the motions of giving a gift that doesn't really indicate they value employees, then it doesn't count for much. What, really is important is a genuine indication of valuation and caring.

"One is the amount of time you are willing to spend on indicating you care about employees. For example, taking employees or subordinates out for a meal shows you really care about them, because it's easy to give them a few dollars, but taking the time to treat employees to a meal involves effort and planning," he said,

Becer said that it is important for the employer to know employees' needs and values.

"That's a key principle of management. This allows managers and others to select a form of recognition or reward that employees will welcome. For some it might be money and for others a simple and sincere verbal acknowledgement of a job well done," he said.

He also said that non-monetary recognition can be just as effective as a bonus.

"Forms of recognition besides money include written or verbal praise; symbolic rewards, such as plaques and certificates; small, meaningful gifts; or anything else that employees perceive as sincere recognition of their contributions and accomplishments," Becker added. (ANI)