Appletree Answers - Recognition and Rewards

 Jack Taylor started Enterprise Leasing on the premise that if he treated his customers and employees well, profits would follow. 

Companies use rewards and recognition to motivate employees and demonstrate that they are appreciated. Often, rewards and recognition take the form of extra compensation for employees who carry out the activities in the role outcomes and meet their objectives. Rewards and recognition can also be given for team-based accomplishments. 

Even the best-trained and well-skilled staff cannot perform well when they are not motivated enough. This is why employee recognition in the workplace has to be an innate part of my company's culture. 

Employee recognition is the acknowledgement of a staff member who has performed exemplary service. This reinforces particular behaviour, practices or activities that result in better performance and positive results. 

It is important for employees to be held in high regard by their peers and that is what makes employee recognition important.  Even so, employee rewards can be as candid as a pat-on-the-back and a genuine compliment. It can also be as simple as a 'thank you' email or friendly greeting at work. 

• This makes employees happier
• that makes them more productive
• there is a feeling of job mastery and that they are fit for their role and for the company

A structured recognition program could look like this:

• All employees must be able to be recipients of recognition - that means include work anniversaries.
• Make sure celebrations are on their milestone date or as close as possible
• Take the time to personalize the reward experience
• If leaning towards a traditional program, seek a provider that can offer a catalogue of gift options
• Provide high-quality gifts 

Appletree Answers - Performance Appraisals and Handbooks

 The leadership team at Appletree used the time and space during appraisals and in the writing of their emplyee handbook to focus on the learning of the Core Values. The idea was not to make it a feel good exercise. In fact, the employees' performance was scored on how well they acted on their Core Values.

If we look at performance appraisals as a time to reflect together on purpose then you're not necessarily looking to weed out poor performers or decide who gets a raise. Rather, it's to strengthen our organization's culture and reinforce its values. 

Appletree Answers - Onboarding Process

At this point, the number 1 question has to be about getting buy-in from senior leadership. One way is to quote those in authority who have done reports on this such as the Boston Consulting Group Report. They suggest that onboarding is the leading driver for revenue followed by solid recruiting practices. That statement gets or should get attention.

Following that is a highlight on the cost of tunover when employees are not onbaorded the right way. There are some estimates that the cost of losing a position is 6-9 months of that former employee's salary. Add to that the cost of the hiring process and the price tag on turnover just became rather hefty. 

With 21% of Millenials switching jobs last year, we have a new workforce generation in a state of flux. This makes onboarding important.

Onboarding: Also know as organizational socialization, is the process of introducing your new employees to the expectations, skills, knowledge and culture of your company.

With 1 in 4 new hires leaving in 180 days, this has become expensive and time consuming. The time spent in making detailed and thoughtful onboarding processes more important than ever. 

There are a few great examples of how that is done best and Appletree Answers has a really proven method. So looking for a model matters. You might want to have two styles to consider - informal and formal. Usually it is better to go with the formal option.