Employee separation is at an all-time high, according to a recent report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. People leave their jobs for a variety of reasons, ranging from economic downturns to relocation.
However, dissatisfaction is often the most prominent. To a large extent, feeling underpaid, overworked, and even unappreciated at work can all contribute to job dissatisfaction.
So, how can you ensure that everyone is happy with their job?
Starting an employee of the month program is one option. According to statistics from Survey Monkey, 82 percent of employees are happy when they are recognized at work. What better approach to recognize individuals for their contributions than to praise them for their achievements?
For the most part, an employee of the month program can raise morale, increase productivity, reduce errors, increase employee involvement, and lower turnover. We’ll go over some pointers for starting a successful employee of the month program, as well as templates to help you get started.
What is the Employee of the Month Program?
The employee of the Month (EOM) is a kind of incentive program offered by businesses (often to encourage the staff to work harder and more productively). It entails acknowledging employees for their achievements in their domains as well as being the best worker in all sectors. The award is traditionally given out once a month, but this is not always the case. In the United States, the system is well-liked.
Criteria of the Employee of the Month Program
The criterion used to determine who is the “best” worker for a given month is one of the primary factors that make the Employee of the Month programs unique. The two key factors, according to Employee of the Month Selection Criteria, are “quality of work standards” and “attitude standards.”
An employee of the month is usually chosen based on the previous month’s performance, quality, attendance, and a variety of other determining variables according to the associate’s function. The “best” employee is then awarded the title of “Employee of the Month” the following month. The associate is frequently given a diploma, trophy, or other awards during this month.
How to Begin a Month-to-Month Employee Recognition Program
The following serves as guidelines to abide by if you ever decide to introduce the employee of the month program in your company or rather build a template.
#1. Spark Some Creativity
It’s crucial to highlight right off the bat that it doesn’t have to be called “Employee of the Month.” For starters, the interval can be whatever you choose. If your company holds a yearly party or “kick-off” event, monthly awards are OK, but quarterly or even annual awards are also acceptable.
If you have hundreds or thousands of qualified employees, you might want to reconsider selecting only 12 people per year. Several employees may feel unappreciated or resentful of their lack of success. This dilemma can be solved by raising the bar for the award or having different types of awards.
Consider the following suggestions:
Dependability Award: Employees that have their company’s and other employees’ backs and are extremely dependable are recognized with this award.
Value Victors: A company’s basic values are important to them. Monthly awards should be given to people who exemplify each key value.
Customer Excellence Award: An employee that goes above and beyond for a customer receives this award.
Read Also: Customer Management: 11 Tips For Those In The Repair Business
Having numerous awards is a wonderful option if you want your employees to feel invested in your operation and demonstrate leadership skills, volunteer more, or simply promote a feeling of community.
More on this in the idea section below…
#2. Specify The Parameters
It’s time to explicitly set out the objectives and criteria after you’ve identified the award(s). Answer as many questions as possible ahead of time to eliminate any gray areas.
If required, create a FAQ sheet or slide deck to accompany the announcement in order to make the transition as seamless as feasible.
There may be some little details to iron out, such as:
- Is it possible to win several times?
- What happens if a tie occurs?
- Is it possible for part-time employees to qualify?
- What elements go into determining the winner?
- When is the winner going to be revealed?
The selection procedure should be as strict and transparent as possible, so that everyone believes they have a chance to win.
#3. Involve the Entire Team
Top-down recognition and awards are wonderful, but adding a layer of peer recognition can increase the effectiveness and appeal of the award.
People are naturally motivated to give their best for their boss and the firm. Even yet, there’s something special about being hailed as the “greatest” by your peers, who are likely to be more aware of your work than management.
Peer-nominated awards also have the added advantage of making the award appear more achievable, as leadership cannot play favorites or hand out participation trophies; it must be earned.
Including the team in the decision-making process for the rewards and award qualifications is also a good idea to consider. By involving them in the decision-making process, you may be able to produce more creative ideas and generate more excitement.
If you’re concerned about allowing too much leeway, you can send an anonymous survey to get suggestions and input to assist you to make your decision indirectly.
#4. Tack On a Truly Amazing Prize
It’s never easy to come up with worthwhile rewards. Everyone has different interests, and there will always be some compromises, especially if you’re on a budget.
Gift cards and cash rewards are two simple options. If you can afford it, all-expenses-paid trips can be a great motivator and a lot of fun too.
On the flip side, if you’re on a budget, go for something less flashy but still memorable, like extra paid time off, a front-row parking place, and maybe a small trophy or plaque to commemorate their achievement for years to come.
Meanwhile, offering networking opportunities, such as dinner with the CEO, is another feasible alternative.
#5. Make The Announcement a Big Deal
It all comes down to how the employee of the month award is announced to make it feel authentic and important. It’s not enough to send them an email with a gift card and place a trophy on their desk. The award is a good motivator for many people, but what really motivates them is public acknowledgment.
Announce the program in a team meeting, post it on the company site or newsletter, and even share it on social media to make it more effective. Allow the entire world to witness how fantastic your team is.
Have their manager or a close friend present the award and offer a thoughtful speech on their contribution to the team to really turn it up a notch. The finer points count here; if you nail the achievement, they’ll remember the experience for the rest of their lives.
Ideas to Help You Revolutionize Your Employee of the Month Program
The following ideas will help you with revolutionizing your Employee of the month program and hopefully a template to follow.
#1. Customized Employee Shoutouts
Employee recognition is vital, but it doesn’t necessarily come in a box. A simple fix to this would be to create your own unique employee of the month program centered on the “shoutout.”
Whether you want to go the traditional route and recognize a monthly “Star Individual” or develop your own awards, the social recognition generated by the awards is critical to building a great work environment for the entire team, not just one employee.
#2. Value Victor
“Value Victors” could be a term for workers that exhibit one or more of your companies’ fundamental values. The prize may include priority parking, a trophy, or a large bag of nutritious snacks.
For the most part, employees who have been designated as Value Victors should demonstrate the following core values:
- Health first above everything.
- Demonstrate grit without being egotistical.
- Serve and motivate others.
- Seek to expand indefinitely.
- Spread happiness and positivity.
#3. GEM Program (from Staten Island University Hospital Radiology Lab)
The GEM Program stands for “Go the Extra Mile,” a program that takes on new meaning when you learn that it awards hospital personnel for transferring patients throughout the hospital promptly and efficiently.
Employees nominate each other for doing anything that improves the department’s work through the program. At the conclusion of each month, leadership counts the nominations to determine the winner.
Employees at the hospital increased their number of motions per hour from 2.2 to 2.8 as a result of the program.
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
- Helpfulness
- Efficiency by increased number of patient rounds per hour,
#4. Make Others Great
Limeade, a company that specializes in employee engagement, knows how to engage its own employees. They created the Make Others Great award to recognize team members who “go above and beyond to assist others in doing their best work via collaboration and teamwork.”
This award avoids any potential jealously by praising activities that benefit others rather than recognizing excellent individual achievement. Maybe it doesn’t completely eliminate jealousy, but recipients of the Make Others Great program get to retain a sparkling greenshoe for a month.
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
- A focus-on-the-team Attitude
- Proactive assistance
#5. Collaboration of the Month
A monthly recognition award does not have to be given to a single person. Consider rewarding a standout collaboration that resulted in a business or departmental win if you’re attempting to improve communication in your office.
Basically, every employee participating is eligible for an award, and any message you send out about the winners should focus on the why, how, and what of the accomplishment so that other employees can learn from it.
Consider the following scenario:
Ben and Gina Create a Unique New Product
Why: Training Specialist Gina recognized that her online training courses for onboarding new staff were uninteresting, but she lacked the design abilities to change them. Gina decided to ask Digital Designer Ben if he had time to collaborate with her on a project after meeting with him, despite the fact that he worked in a different department.
How: Gina emailed Ben’s boss to request permission to contact Ben to check on his bandwidth. She gave a thumbs-up, and Ben said he’d be happy to assist.
What: As a result of the collaboration, the company was honored at a recent industry showcase with an award for outstanding online training resources.
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
- Interdepartmental collaboration
- Effective Communication
- Willingness to dismantle barriers
#6. Achievement of the Month
This award may sound like something you used to get in kindergarten, but there’s a reason behind that. Highlighting accomplishments offers achievers the respect they deserve, as well as future achievers the motivation and inspiration to follow in their footsteps.
When framing the achievement, include the company need or benefit it met, as well as some background information on how the person made the achievement a reality.
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
- Excellence over complacency.
- Appreciation for those who work on projects that aren’t on the to-do list
- A desire for continuous improvement
#7. Utterly Inspiration Reward
Honor the employee that knows how to make you feel welcome at work by greeting you in the morning. This person can remind you why you’re passionate about your company and mission in just one sentence. They spit ideas that you love and support as fiercely as any of the ideas you jotted down during meetings.
#8. Customer Service Award
Depending on your company’s service culture, you can come up with a variety of inventive names for this award; you can even use it to recognize great service from other employees as well as consumers. Salt Lake County, for example, provides an award called “The Heart of It” that honors an employee who has shown exceptional caring in the service of a client or another employee.
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
- A commitment to providing outstanding service to everyone
- A genuine show of care for employees and customers
#9. Problem Solver Award
Some personnel thrive under duress—during those tense moments when everything seems to go wrong, all your plans are shredded, and the clock is ticking. Oftentimes, these individuals would not seek additional tasks, but when a problem emerges, they go above and beyond to find a solution. Employees who excel in their day-to-day work, on the other hand, may worry if something goes wrong. To keep a well-balanced, rewarded, and satisfied staff, it’s critical to acknowledge a variety of skill sets.
Create a monthly Problem Solver Award to recognize employees who know how to turn chaos into achievement and reward them for the solutions they generate. This reward may motivate other employees to think critically about how they can solve problems, and it may also urge your problem solvers to stay on board to deal with the next major batch of issues if, or when, they arise.
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
- The ability to think critically
- The ability to remain calm under duress.
- Ability to generate both creative and strategic problem-solving strategies
#10. Having Our Backs Award
Employees who always have their company’s (and/or coworkers’) backs are recognized with this award. These are the folks who everyone knows they can rely on, the people who are always trustworthy and steadfast even when things are difficult.
Swag.com’s fully customized backpack can be used as a gift idea. Sending a branded bag during a remote onboarding experience is also a wonderful approach to engage with your virtual colleagues. You may fill the pack with any goodies you like, adjusting the collection to meet the preferences of each awardee.
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
- Reliability
- Thinking with a goal in mind
- Teamwork
- Corporation and Collaboration
#11. Spotlight of the Month
Let’s face it, every single one of your staff is exceptional. Everyone on your team was hired because they exemplify the core values you look for in workers. Instead of an Employee of the Month, you can offer a Spotlight of the Month to ensure that everyone gets the credit they deserve.
Each month, the Spotlight of the Month honors a different member of your team, not for any particular accomplishment or attribute, but because they’re an important component of your team.
After you’ve chosen an employee at random, take a moment to consider which of your key principles they best embody. John may not have set any sales records last month, but he always shows a commendable willingness to pitch in and take on new tasks.
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
The precise core values upheld by each employee may vary, or you may try to find ways for each employee to represent all of your fundamental values. You’ll constantly highlight one fundamental characteristic:
- A consistent manifestation of essential values
#12. Office Cheer Award
Every office needs that one individual who always arrives with a smile on their face. This individual provides vigor and joy to the workplace. While smiles do not necessarily signify excellent on-paper job performance, positivity and all of the capabilities that come with it should be praised and promoted.
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
- Positivity and a can-do attitude
- A cheerful willingness to take on additional responsibilities
- The capacity to get rid of Monday blahs
#13. Fresh New Skills Award
The Fresh New Skills Award goes to the employee who took a tough public speaking program to better her client proposals on her own time. This go-above-and-beyond attitude displays a love for your company’s work, which should be praised and encouraged.
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
- Ambition and Initiative
- Dedicated to a career
- A spirit of continuous improvement
#14. Hopeful Award
A Piktochart award honoring the firm ideals encapsulated in the acronym HOPEFUL is a particular highlight. While the award isn’t solely dedicated to hope, the acronym was chosen since “they are a hopeful” group.
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
Piktochart’s model for honoring Hopeful award winners
H – Humble
O – Open up
P – Passionate
E – Excellent
F – Fun-loving
U – User focused (why no dash here?)
L – Love
Piktochart.com (Employee of the month template)
#15. Best New Mistake
The Best New Mistake award, created by SurePayroll, encourages employees to take risks and try new things by reminding them that innovation will undoubtedly include a few glitches, which should be acknowledged for the ingenuity they represent.
This award emphasizes the importance of rewarding all employees who desire to make a difference, not just those whose ideas lead to successful ventures and rising earnings.
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
- Taking Risks
- Making mistakes as a result of solid, unique ideas
#16. Founder Legacy Award Winner
The Walt Disney Legacy Award honors Disney Parks Cast Members who exemplify the cultural ideals that Walt Disney, the company’s famed founder, and namesake, lived by—and would undoubtedly appreciate it if he were still alive today
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
- Motivating others
- Helpfulness
- Delivering Disney enchantment while embodying company values
#17. Disruption Award (Bonus)
According to Inc., ADG Creative, a communications corporation, gives out a yearly recognition award to recognize disruption—not in a creative sense, but in a literal one, meaning an employee whose life was entirely disrupted as a result of their work.
The incentive isn’t intended to make employees believe they have to go above and beyond to be recognized; rather, it aims to make those who did come in early and stay late feel respected and appreciated.
Recognized characteristics and accomplishments include:
- Relentlessness
- Putting the company first mentality
- Selflessness
Remember that, these are just ideas. It may not be entirely possible to incorporate every one of them. So make your picks; especially those that resonate perfectly with your company values.
Email Employee of the Month Template and Samples
Although a more preferable route is making these recognitions public, emails could serve as notifications. But then these should come with certifications, awards, or trophies.
#1. Employee of the Month template for Project Completion
Greetings, [Employee name],
Congratulations! You are the Employee of the Month for [business name]!
We’re aware of how diligently you’ve been working on [x] project. You and your team put forth a lot of work to meet all of the standards, arrange all of the events, and accomplish everything to a high standard.
The best part is that your coworkers have chosen you as Employee of the Month! It just goes to demonstrate how much they value your input.
We are proud of your accomplishment, and we hope to see you complete many more [x] projects in the future. Thank you for being such a dedicated project partner!
From all of us at [company name], Congratulations!
Thank you once more.
#2. Employee of the Month for Service Anniversary Email Template
Greetings, [Employee Name],
I’d like to express my congratulations on your [Xth] year with [business name].
Thank you for your commitment to the firm and for sticking with us for so long. We appreciate your efforts because they have enabled us to achieve excellent business achievements.
Every day, your knowledge, experience, and wonderful personality assist us in achieving excellence. That is why you have been chosen as our Employee of the Month!
We hope you accept this expression of appreciation as our sincere thanks for helping to make our firm what it is today. Thank you for all of your efforts on behalf of [business name]. Let’s hope you have many more work anniversaries!
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
#3. Employee of the Month for Sales Quota Achieved Email Template
Greetings, [Employee Name],
Congratulations on meeting or exceeding your performance targets!
Thank you so much for all of your efforts in closing several accounts, which enabled you to meet your sales quota. It must have taken a lot of patience and cooperation on your part to work with our product team.
We are naming you [business name]’s Employee of the Month because you have demonstrated the value of determination and collaboration.
We are proud of your accomplishments, and we are confident that there will be more in the years ahead.
From all of us, congratulations!
[Your Name]
#4. Employee of the Month for Customer Service Email Template
Greetings, [Employee Name],
Our customers have shown a higher level of satisfaction. We’ve named you Employee of the Month since you’re a member of our Customer Service team with the most resolved customer issues! Congratulations!
The quality of your contacts with customers has improved as a result of your civility and can-do attitude. Furthermore, your patience, professionalism, and helpfulness are core principles of [business name].
Thank you for putting your numerous talents to work for us! We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Thank you once again for providing our consumers with such a wonderful experience.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
#5. Employee of the Month for Teamwork Email Template
Greetings, [employee name],
You’ve been collaborating with your coworkers on the [x] project’s completion. They’ve told us about your outstanding teamwork abilities!
We just wanted to express our gratitude for your altruistic sharing of your knowledge and active participation in brainstorming sessions, which has helped to foster a positive work environment. As a result, we’d like to honor you as our Employee of the Month!
Thank you so much for your time and effort! We anticipate many successful cooperation with other employees from you.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
#6. Employee of the Month for Innovation Email Template
Greetings, [employee name],
Your constant creative thinking propels us forward.
You keep us on our toes with your creativity, and you’re always improving [our product]. The snowball effect you create with your thoughts is incredible.
As a result, you have been named [business nameEmployee ]’s of the Month!
Keep up the wonderful work, and congratulations! I’m looking forward to your next suggestion.
Kindly,
[Your Name]
#7. Employee of the Month for Marketing Goals Achieved Email Template
Greetings, [employee name],
We’ve observed how hard you and your team have worked to achieve your objectives. Congratulations on achieving [a specified objective]!
Your performance is extremely important to [business name] because it is a need for us to meet our sales targets.
As you are aware, we polled the entire team to determine who contributed the most to the attainment of your objectives. It’s you, after all! Your team spirit, creativity, and perseverance, according to your coworkers, made a significant difference.
As a result, we are recognizing your achievements by designating you as [business name]’s Employee of the Month! Congratulations!
Here’s to many more of your dreams coming true!
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
#8. Employee of the Month for Most Fixed Bugs Email Template
Greetings, [employee name],
Congratulations! You are the Employee of the Month for [business name]!
We’re awarding you this award because you fixed the most bugs in the last month.
You’re a rock star! Thank you for all of your efforts. We are grateful for your assistance to [business name].
We’re excited to see how far you’ll go in the future.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
#9. Employee of the Month for Healthiest Employee Email Template
Greetings, [employee name],
We’ve seen you’re a regular runner who has sparked interest in fitness among your coworkers. We’ve named you [business name]’s Employee of the Month for your ongoing commitment to a healthy lifestyle! Congratulations!
As you are aware, we at [business name] are concerned about our employees’ health and fitness. We appreciate your active promotion of wellness because it has helped your employees realize the importance of preserving their health.
Keep up the good work. We’d like to invite you to a brainstorming session on ways to encourage [business name] employees to live healthier lives in the near future. More information will be forthcoming.
Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your efforts.
#10. Employee of the Month for Leadership email template
Greetings, [employee name],
For the past [x] period, you’ve been in charge of the [x] team. We’ve been doing staff surveys on a regular basis, as you are aware. Your subordinates gave us extremely clear comments. To be more specific, they all say you’ve been a motivating and supportive leader.
You have contributed to your team members’ professional advancement and demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities as a true model of guidance.
Because [Company name] values such abilities and behavior, we have chosen you as our Employee of the Month! Congratulations!
Thank you very much for demonstrating to us that perseverance and careful leadership are the keys to success.
Once again, thank you for being such a fantastic leader!
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
What Does the Employee of the Month Get?
An Employee of the Month, for the most part, gets recognition and either an award, trophy, or prize.
What Is the Criteria for Best Employee?
The criterion used to determine who is the “best” worker for a given month is one of the primary factors that make the Employee of the Month programs unique. The two key factors, according to Employee of the Month Selection Criteria, are “quality of work standards” and “attitude standards.”
Is Employee of the Month Worth It?
When firms set clear limits for the employee of the month award, it reinforces key values, which is a really strong weapon in my opinion. When awards are clearly linked to common ideals, the entire organization rallies around the rallying cry and that kind of power pervade even the most mundane daily chores.
For example, even if it’s stylized with a big type or a creative, quirky font, the term “integrity” floating around on a website signifies next to nothing by itself. Employees get the perfect example of integrity in action when you recognize Benny for exhibiting integrity when she admitted to an unsightly accounting mistake she made on last month’s statistics.
What Is Employee of the Month Based On?
Depending on the associate’s function, Employee of the Month is typically selected based on performance, quality, attendance, and other characteristics from the preceding month(s). The next month, the “best” employee receives the “Employee of the Month” title.
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