Workplace Incentives Your Employees Actually Want

Motivation is the catalyst for greatness. It is a drive that is either internally or externally spurred to life by a desired object or goal. However, it is also fickle. Becoming and staying motivated is wholly conditional.Offering incentives in the workplace to foster increased productivity can be a tricky proposition, because you need to offer something your employees actually want. And that varies drastically from person to person and situation to situation.

When creating a successful incentives program that encompasses a majority of your workforce, remains effective over time and is comprised of something your employees actually want, there are a few key factors to keep in mind.

Refrain From Extremes

Extreme incentives weaken your program. Having a "Wear Your Bathing Suit To Work Day" for the top performers in July might create fierce competition for a few hot weeks in the summer, but things will cool off quickly after that. Aim for something your workers want, but don't push the limits. Something as simple as a weekly dress down incentive would allow your employees to express their individuality and help them to feel more like a person and less like a cog.

Consider The Negative Ramifications

It is prudent to have an incentive that is attainable by many. While everyone can't be the winner, everyone can be part of a winning team. Although your top salesman receives praise from peers in public, there's a chance a few workers might be grumbling privately about the legitimacy of the contest, especially if the reward is an appreciable monetary gain. Consider incentives that involve your staff as a whole. If your employees exceed the storewide target set for January, "Free Hot Lunch Fridays" might be a nice February bonus that all of your workers would enjoy.

Change It Up

Offering something out of the ordinary that has a real benefit outside of the workplace is always golden. Gift cards, tickets to concerts, movie passes, free dinner or an overnight stay at a fancy hotel are all generous incentives. But there's something else that won't actually cost your company a dime and it will be greatly appreciated by your staff: Flex time. Don't punish your workers for having a life outside the job. If occasional variances in schedules help keep your employees happy, everyone can benefit from a little flexibility.

Make The Reward Worthy Of The Sacrifice

It's one thing to expect a little more out of your employees on a regular basis. However, if you're trying to get your workers to pull OT duty over a holiday crunch weekend, you'd better be offering something more than a BOGO coupon at the local convenience store. For those times when it's an intense one-and-done need, consider going above and beyond the norm. How about an extra paid day of vacation?

When it comes to offering incentives that your employees really want, refrain from the extremes, consider the ramifications, consistently involve as many team members as possible and remember that everyone has a life during the hours they are not clocked in. And one final bonus tip to help keep your company in the red: Think outside the box, not outside the budget!

The foregoing information is provided by City National Bank (CNB). Unless otherwise stated, opinions expressed are those of the respective authors and not necessarily those of CNB. The information is provided without warranty and no recommendation or endorsement by CNB is intended or should be inferred unless specifically stated.

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