Incentive - June 2008 - (Page 10)

IN THE NEWS Recognition Goes Mainstream PAGE 12 The Recognition Professionals International conference attracted some corporate heavy hitters. But will recognition programs’ popularity survive the recession? Where Are We Now? PAGE 11 Can you place this picture? If so, you have a shot at winning a $100 Marriott TravelCard in this month’s Where Are We? contest Survey: Workplace Recognition Widespread Programs evolve, but senior executive support dips with economy, according to WorldatWork BY ALEX PALMER E mployee recognition continues to be a top concern for employers, and an expanding one, according to a WorldatWork report released at the end of April. The survey, Trends in Employee Recognition 2008, reports that over 90 percent of responding organizations are continuing all of their existing recognition programs or have increased them in the last 12 months, and more than half of respondents say they are planning new programs in the coming year. Only 7 percent of respondents say they are doing less recognition today than they were a year ago. The surveys were sent electronically to a random sample of WorldatWork members, who typically have five years of experience in human resources or compensation and are employed at the manager or assistant director level and above at their organization. Part of this increase in recognition efforts may be due to the expanding number of ways that workers are being shown appreciation. While the two most popular recognition programs continue to be “Programs like peer-to-peer recognition have gained popularity over the past few years [prompting us to expand the survey] and this popularity is expected to continue,” says WorldatWork’s Content Deployment Manager Alison Avalos, noting the expanding role of recognition. “The con- No More Kermit Jokes Research: Consumers are growing serious about green issues It may not be easy being green, but protecting the environment is becoming increasingly important to consumers, according to Nielsen Online, which reports that the online buzz around sustainability grew 50 percent in 2007. “Consumers are becoming increasingly vocal online about the issue of sustainability,” says Jessica Hogue, research director of Nielsen Online. “Blogger attention to issues like pollution, toxins and sustainable agriculture reveal an important intersection between personal health and environmental wellness.” “The concept of recognition has evolved.” –Alison Avalos, WorldatWork “length of service” (86 percent) and “above and beyond performance” (79 percent), “peer-to-peer” programs came in third, with 42 percent. Very good for an option that had not even made the list respondents were asked to choose from in previous years. cept of recognition has evolved into a new culture in the workplace…[employers are] now including a wider array of recognition types.” For the first time, the report also measured “programs to continued on page 13 10 | Incentive | June 2008 | incentivemag.com http://incentivemag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Incentive - June 2008

Incentive - June 2008 Contents Editor’s Note In The News Cover Story: Seventh Annual Industry Roundtable Incentive Interview Case Study Soft Incentives Empowerment and Engagement The Incentive Career Incentive Primer Travel News: Where To Go and What To Do The Cook Islands Field Report: Bermuda Potentials: Here and Now 50 Top Motivators: The Best of the Best Electronics: High-end Audio Equipment Gift Cards: Should One Be Enough? Advertiser Index Off The Cuff

Incentive - June 2008

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