• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Recognition & Rewards

Software firm’s culture centers on celebrations

12/19/2013

On the desk of every Benefitfocus employee is a cowbell, which the associate may ring to announce that he or she has closed a big deal—or gotten engaged or is expecting a baby. In fact, employees of the Charles­­ton, S.C.-based benefits software company spend a lot of time celebrating personal and professional milestones.

Wish list: 10 alternatives to Christmas cash

12/12/2013
Are you putting anything extra in employees’ stockings this holiday? While most employees say they’d prefer cash, padding paychecks isn’t the only way your organization can say “Happy Holi­­days!” Consider these wise alternatives:

Remodeling crews celebrate success, earn rewards

11/12/2013
Workers at Power Home Remodeling Group get extra vacation days every year—paid time off to attend the company’s annual, all-employee trip to a tropical destination.

5 most common recognition awards

10/21/2013
More than three-quarters of em­­ployers polled say they hand out certificates and plaques to reward employee accomplishments. Frankly, we’ll trade a plaque for a tasty snack any day.

Sheetz execs take N.C. recognition party on the road

10/14/2013
Sheetz execs celebrated the convenience store chain’s placement on a statewide “best companies” list this summer with a rolling party that brought them to all 56 of the organization’s North Carolina locations.

Health insurance firm pays employees to get healthy

10/09/2013
As employees of EmblemHealth get healthy, they get a little bit richer, too. Last year, the health insurance company handed out cash rewards ranging from $375 to $750 for activities like taking online classes, participating in fitness challenges and working with wellness coaches.

Handwritten notes: The pen is mightier than the send

10/08/2013

What would mean more to you … a “thank you” email from your organization’s CEO or a handwritten “thank you” note? The answer is obvious. Hand­written notes carry a greater impact.

Health care system honors nurses with week of ‘magic’

07/09/2013
Supplemental Health Care, which places nurses, therapists and other health care professionals in temporary jobs, celebrated National Nurses Week in May by rewarding the traveling nurses among its own employees.

Domino’s rewards boss for saving stranger’s life

06/25/2013
Domino’s Pizza recognizes employees for their best work, even when it’s not about pizza. The winner of its national Delivering More award won it after he dropped the pizza he was about to deliver and jumped into a river to help rescue a drowning man.

The case against perfect-attendance awards

04/12/2013
Many employers use perfect-attendance awards as a tool to cure their absenteeism problems. But for both legal and non-legal reasons, these may not be the right carrots. Here’s why: