About "rewards" at work

[Ughnotagain]

My department at work are always asking for opinions on their "reward and recognition" policies. We've had an employee of the month thing in place for a while where you get a bottle of wine or beer or box of chocs. Which is fine.

But... They recently sent round a document showing what else they've got planned, what else is already in place. And it struck me that it's all food related. We have the occasional team lunch, and this EOTM thing, and they're on about bringing in some "nice goodies and treats" for us to have, and I'm just like... I don't care. This isn't motivational for me. I can buy myself a bloody donut if I want one. It doesn't exactly inspire me to strive to do my best at work.

AIBU to feel like this? I think they should try and incorporate other stuff too. I don't know what, but surely there are other ways to incentivise staff than treating them like toddlers being bribed with chocolate buttons. (Though, I suppose, the idea of an incentive in the first place works along similar lines!)

[Dfg15]

Oh god no I'd be half the size of a house if my work did this - no willpower where cakes/chocs are concerned. Cash or gift card incentives are the way to go

[CaughtUpNearTimbuktu]

Financial and TOIL incentives are the only thing to work with me

[daisychain01]

surely there are other ways to incentivise staff than treating them like toddlers being bribed with chocolate buttons

[Ughnotagain]

I would honestly rather just be given like, a pound coin or something! At least it's honest.

Eesh, I don't know. We've had a lot of changes and been ridiculously busy lately, it just almost seems insulting to say "here's a reward, have a biscuit!".

[Atenco]

I don't like this rewards stuff at work. They forget that everytime they give it to one person, other people are finding out they are not good enough.

[ArgyMargy]

Er, you say they're always asking for opinions... So why don't you give them your opinion?! Suggest something non-food. It is sooooooo easy - cinema tickets, half day off, spa voucher, OMG I just thought of all those in three seconds.

[SuperCee7]

My work do this. They swear down the "sugar rush" gives the team a massive boost in work that gets cleared. The stats are there to prove it. but not motivational for me at all, YANBU.

[ctjoy103]

So you're complaining but not really adding anything yourself? Why don't you give them suggestions which you think are better.

[BombadierFritz]

God i'd hate this. What a knobbish idea. You could suggest they try genuinely valuing staff instead but thats harder to fake

[VulcanWoman]

Cold hard cash or vouchers suit me.

[HereIAm20]

a day off as a reward always goes down well

[VulcanWoman]

Yes, even better.

[BombadierFritz]

I think i'd have to leave a company that did this. Dont people outgrow this aged about 6?

[notsmartenough]

Where I used to work there was an employee of the month award (certificate) then the winners would go forward to an employee of the year award.

At the annual awards there would also be lots of categories - best team, innovation, commitment etc., etc.

If you had a boss interested enough to put forward a nomination you had a great night out (by all accounts) free of charge.

Huge venue, dinner, drinks, entertainment, prizes for winners and nominees.

I did wonder if it was the best use of NHS funding.

[Ughnotagain]

I think they do it because it's cheap. No way they'd give us a day off. Or any additional time off really.

Cinema tickets might be a good shout though. I'll suggest that.

[Flumplet]

Absolutely sweet fuck all!! in fact a donut every so often would be welcome.

[Ughnotagain]

Bombadier it's gradually crept in I think. Never used to be like this. We used to get our Christmas meal paid for and there'd be EOTM and that was that.

Then they decided it'd be better to spread it out over the year so now we pay for our own Christmas meal and get this instead. Which I don't think anyone actually wants!

[catgirl1976]

Where I work we get:

Free toast on a Monday
Free hot drinks vending machines
Free tea and coffee
Free biscuits
Free crisps
Free fruit
Free cereal bars
Free "healthy snacks"
Free pizza, wine and beer on a Friday
Free breakfast on a Friday
Monthly paid for lunch out
Name a Star thingy where people get wine or chocs
Roses / chocolates on Valentines day
Pancakes on pancake day

Thankfully we also get subsidised gym membership

I very much get what your saying though. The amount of people I hear saying things like "I''d trade the free pizza for being respected and valued" is amazing. Other people see it as bribes.

I think these things are the 'icing' but if the cake isn't right (the culture, the management, how engaged people are) then it just feels like a bit of an insult.

[topcat2014]

This is always a hostage to fortune. Everyone knows (hopefully) what a great manager is like - and also (unfortunately) what a crap one is like.

This kind of stuff (ie corporate thanks) is just bollocks.

In one job, I started just before Easter. I bought my new team easter eggs (from my own money).

This went round the factory - other departments complained that they had missed out. I must admit their managers looked a bit sheepish when they had to admit that it wasn't company money that bought them.

In my first job (post uni) I worked in a bank (similar to what would now be a call centre). If you did a good job, you would come in to find a helium balloon tied to your chair. I still shudder at the embarrasment now.

[JassyRadlett]

My work does Amazon vouchers for employee recognition - and the recipients are peer-nominated then approved by managers, rather than management choices, which helps to identify the people who go above and beyond but don't make a song and dance about it.

Just about everyone can use an Amazon voucher.

[Stoneagemum]

We do a one4all gift card for EOTM which we have personalised with the company logo and the words Employee of the Month, seems to go down well with the eligible staff as it can be spent in lots of different places

[starving]

At my work our "Rewards" section now process our Pay. That really irritates me. After 25 years service we get invited to a do and are given a bottle of cava and a box of chocolates. I am a teatotal diabetic. I don't have to accept it if I don't want it I am told. I will take it and regift, but that pisses me off as well!

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

We all have a pre paid reward card and money is added on for awards , recognition etc. It all adds up across the year . I

[edwinbear]

At my work there is a complicated system whereby you have a certain number of points you can award to people who have helped you, or done something well. You can save them up and buy something from a gift catalogue. 2000 points gets you a candle if your lucky. We get about 50 points a quarter to allocate. So we're all really motivated.

[cheminotte]

I worked at Virgin and the reward was an extra days leave and the employee of the year got 5 days! As an introvert I hate the idea of a big meal etc with other work people. Another employer did a restaurant voucher for you and whoever you wanted to take with you.