
"Having a balanced approach—with both cash and noncash rewards—is most beneficial for employees and employers alike," says Alison Avalos, research manager at WorldatWork. "These programs should connect what employees are actually delivering to what the organization needs to deliver."
The top five goals of recognition programs remain the same as those reported in 2008: to recognize years of service, create a positive work environment, motivate high performance, create a culture of recognition, and increase morale. The most common types of recognition also have not changed recently: certificates or plaques, cash, gift certificates, company logo merchandise, and food.