Are you overlooking a vital part of your workforce?
Desk-based and deskless employees alike want to feel recognised for their efforts. However, acknowledging these different groups requires a tailored approach. Let's explore some ways to recognise those who don’t always sit behind a desk and why it’s crucial for your organisation’s success.
All employees, whether online, offline, stationary or mobile, crave value things:
- Purpose – Understanding how their role impacts the team
- Recognition – Feeling valued for their contributions
- Belonging – Building connections with their boss and teammates
To boost engagement, your recognition initiatives should contribute positively to your culture while being inclusive and timely for everyone. Whether your organisation is predominantly offline or has only a few non-desk-based roles, try out these five strategies to boost recognition engagement.
5 ways to boost offline worker recognition
1. Set up central recognition spots
For online employees, accessing a recognition program is as easy as opening a new browser tab. But offline workers can be anywhere, with limited access to technology or few opportunities to log in.
In non-office environments, set up central connection points in shared spaces, such as break rooms or staff areas. A good guide is one kiosk per site or per 100 employees, supported with clear signage to make it simple for people to recognise each other’s hard work and successes.
2. Get managers involved
Our latest Appreciation Index report shows the top driver of employee appreciation is recognition from managers and this applies equally to online and offline teams. Managers are your frontline defence against disengagement and turnover, so it’s vital they’re equipped to lead by example. Make sure they understand the recognition processes, and build time into schedules for them to bring groups of employees together. Use these sessions not only to show how the technology works, but also to explain why it matters.
Top tip: Practicing recognition gets easier with examples, practice and opportunity. Have managers build a few minutes into meeting agendas for recognition opportunities. Whether someone went above and beyond for a customer, solved a problem single-handedly, or simply completed an important task, this is the perfect time to call out the behaviours we want to encourage among our teams.
3. Cultivate some recognition champions
Recognition champions are employees and managers throughout your company who really understand the value of recognition and are willing to be a cheerleader for others to encourage up take and usage.
Train them to share best practices and support colleagues, especially those hesitant about using technology. Regular meetings focused on recognition can help these champions foster a culture of appreciation and inclusion that spreads throughout the entire organisation.
4. Embrace mobile technology
Almost everyone has a smartphone, and your offline workers can greatly benefit from that. A dedicated employee engagement app, can connect recognition activities and communications no matter where an employee is located or what time of day (or night!) they happen to be available.
Encourage everyone to download the app to view and send recognition moments, and remind managers and employees to turn on notification alerts for real-time acknowledgment.
5. Make recognition more strategic
Strategic recognition, or “AVI” recognition, highlights specific achievements tied to your organisation’s values. Follow these three steps:
- Action: Share the story so it’s clear what this person has done.
- Value: Connect the action in question to one of your organisational values or the mission.
- Impact: Emphasise the benefits of the action across teams.
With a little effort, your “thank you” can evolve into a message that resonates deeply with the entire organisation.
No recognition program yet? Reach out to one of our friendly employee experience experts today and let us help you make your corner of the world a better place to work.