A recent study showed when employees have an equal chance of being recognized for their work, they are more than twice as likely to go above and beyond their regular duties. When exploring ways to increase workplace efficiency—and in turn lower costs—the use of fun employee rewards can add a sense of joy and unity. Here are four ways to boost workplace efficiency plus fun employee incentive ideas to go along with them.
Start a peer recognition program
Create a space for employees to recognize each other. It could be a physical location, like a conference room bulletin board, or an online message board or social media group for remote workers. Encourage employees to give shoutouts to their team members by offering prizes for participation. Hold weekly drawings for coveted items, like a wireless charging pad and watch charger.
Offer prizes for those who earn accolades too. Put everyone mentioned into a raffle for an extra day of vacation. Branded swag, like beanies or hoodies, is another way to show appreciation for those lucky stars of the workplace.
Reduce time spent in meetings
Dropping the number of hours spent in meetings each week can provide more time for employees to focus on the work they need to get done. Evaluate which meetings can be shortened, combined or eliminated without sacrificing communication.
Be open to exploring new lines of communication and invite employees to come up with ways to make meeting time even more efficient. When somebody pitches an idea that catches on, surprise them with a wristwatch or desktop clock in recognition of their contribution to better time management. Give a new padfolio and a fun pen, like the Thumbs Up MopTopper Stylus Pen, to the staff member who volunteers to take notes and distribute them to those employees who weren’t in attendance.
Offer hybrid options
It’s no secret that flexible work options can boost employee satisfaction. But did you know that it can also save your company money and improve productivity? If possible, offer remote work options. This sort of flexibility can boost employee morale while positively impacting your organization’s bottom line.
Kick off your work-from-home initiative by offering a fun employee reward to those who successfully make the transition. An outdoor chair or picnic blanket is a playful way to acknowledge their new workspace and celebrate their continued success. Continue to hold in-person gatherings to unify your team, whether it be important meetings, team-building activities or social outings. When the full group does come together, surprise everyone with bucket hats and sunglasses to say thanks for working together through all the changes.
Establish new, clear goals
As the saying goes, what matters gets measured. Implement new goals or refine the current ones to be clear and precise using a SMART approach. SMART goals, as the acronym suggests, are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound.
Once goals are set or refined, share them with your entire team. Measure progress and provide updates as well as iterations. And don’t forget to celebrate when a goal is reached (after all, that’s the best part!). Consider ways to acknowledge improvements, consistency, effort and other desirable attributes. Seasonal gifts, like quilted flannel jackets for fall and puffer vests for winter, are rewards that are fun and functional. Gift a set of branded cocktail or wine glasses as a reward for employees who exceed their year-end benchmarks.
Fun employee rewards can make change easier
There can be bumps when implementing new procedures or strategies in a workplace. And there are ways to bring fun to these challenges too. By using strategies related to employee recognition, flexible work environments, better time management and achievable goals, and infusing those changes with fun employee rewards, you can increase efficiency and have a more joy-filled workplace.