As the end of the year approaches, many companies begin reviewing their awards and recognition programs. But a quick refresh won’t always cut it. If your program is outdated, underused, or disconnected from business goals, now is the time to think bigger. Recognition isn’t just a feel-good initiative—it’s a critical business tool. The best programs drive retention, morale, culture, and even performance. And it all starts with intentional planning.
Start With What Matters
Recognition works best when it aligns with your company's values and goals. Do you want to reward innovation? Build community? Reduce turnover? Clarify your objectives before diving into tactics.
Evaluate What's Working—and What's Not
Take inventory of current recognition efforts. Are people engaged? Do employees understand how to earn awards? Are the rewards perceived as meaningful? Gather feedback and be honest about gaps.
Involve Stakeholders Early
Recognition doesn’t live in HR alone. Work with leadership, team managers, and culture champions to shape a program that works across departments. Their support is crucial to rollout and adoption.
Design for Scalability and Consistency
Whether you’re recognizing 100 employees or 10,000, your program should be easy to manage. Jewelry-based awards are ideal for scaling—offering tiered options across roles, regions, and levels of achievement.
Create a Year-Round Strategy
Recognition isn’t a one-and-done effort. Build a cadence: quarterly spotlights, annual milestones, peer-nominated events. Keep the rhythm going so employees stay engaged.
Give Awards Emotional Weight
Choose recognition formats that last. Custom jewelry, for example, tells a story each time it’s worn. It creates visible, wearable pride. Don’t underestimate the impact of physical keepsakes.
Set Your 2025 Recognition Goals
What will success look like? Consider metrics like engagement survey results, retention rates, award participation, and internal referrals. Establish baselines so you can measure program ROI.
Your award or recognition program isn’t just a nice gesture. It should (and can!) be a business advantage. Let the experts at E.A. Dion help you create your program with business results in mind. At E.A. Dion, we have over 50 years of experience creating unique, high-end, custom jewelry awards for a variety of industries. Get inspired by browsing our gallery of past products, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. give us a call, or fill out our New Project Form to get started!
