Read the full post on the SharedHR blog.

Recognition. With holiday season upon us, your organization may be assessing various options for end of the year employee recognition. In the past, your organization may have been fortunate enough to provide raises, bonuses, holiday parties, gifts, additional time off or all of the above. If you have had a successful year, your organization may be considering one or a combination of the various options for employee recognition. This decision should not be taken lightly, as it will set the tone for the New Year. You want to incentivize employees in a way that shows them how much you truly appreciate their hard work, while staying within a set budget.

The biggest mistake an organization can make at this time, however, is to not communicate the recognition for all the hard work effectively. Simply handing over a bonus, just because it’s the holidays, does not relay a message of appreciation but rather one of procedure. So what should you do?

Yes, the initial thought is that employee’s will value financial recognition above all else, and the greater the number the better. This however, is only one aspect of the recognition process. Putting the financial value aside, this is an opportunity to formally acknowledge the successes of the organization and the employees. Taking the holiday season as an occasion to provide celebratory parties, bonuses and other forms of recognition has symbolic value beyond the financial worth attached. Not only are you acknowledging your employees, but you are also celebrating them! If you are having a holiday party, take a moment at the gathering to provide a personal thank you to the group, to relay your sincerity. If you are providing a small bonus or gift, be sure the information is relayed to each employee individually to ensure that the genuineness is not lost in translation.

Read the full post on the SharedHR blog.