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Award Program Fulfillment: Tips and Best Practices

Award and recognition programs are a great way to boost employee engagement and retention. They help to create a positive work environment where people feel appreciated and valued. However, if the award program is clunky, slow, and inefficient, it can have the opposite effect. Here are some best practices for employee award program fulfillment.

Be Punctual

Part of the award experience is the excitement and revelry in a job well done. If too much time passes between the employee’s achievement and their recognition, that excitement diminishes greatly. The employee may even forget about their achievement altogether! By rewarding employees in a timely manner, businesses can keep their recognition relevant and fresh. Gratitude shouldn’t feel like an afterthought.

Make a Plan

As we’ve discussed in previous blogs, it’s important to lay some firm groundwork when building a recognition program. One of the key elements in this plan is scheduling. When will employees receive their awards? Will it be monthly, quarterly, or even immediately? When companies consider what schedule suits their needs best, they also need to consider how quickly they can order their awards.

At Dion, we specialize in custom awards, which take longer to create than standard logoed products. This extra time allows us to design and create something truly special that can’t be found anywhere else. We’ve also made immediate add-ons for some of our clients, so they can stock up on awards and have them ready to go. When planning out an award program, businesses should take note of their award timelines. By building in the time before their award ceremonies or company meetings, they can ensure that no awardee will be left holding an IOU.

Make it Personal

If at all possible, awards should be given in person and in front of the recipient’s peers. Not only does this allow for personal connection and instant feedback, but it emphasizes the pride of the company in the individual. It’s a great moment to highlight the achievement, why the company celebrates it, and how appreciated the recipient’s hard work is.

If a personal exchange is off the table and the award must be shipped, businesses should strive to make the package as personal as possible. Special branded packaging can help separate the award from an ordinary parcel. A personal handwritten note can also go a long way to help establish a genuine connection. Even adding the employee’s favorite snack or brand of coffee into the package can help them feel cared for.

Have Options

Whenever possible, companies should give a few options for employees to pick from. Everyone has different tastes, and it can be a motivating factor to receive an award that was personally chosen. At Dion, we’ve made entire custom jewelry collections for this very purpose. While some employees may choose a pendant or bracelet, others may prefer a money clip or cufflinks.

Pick a Good Award Company

Nothing is more frustrating or disappointing than building and hyping up an amazing award program - only to have your award company fumble the ball. When choosing who to work with, it’s always wise to read reviews, ask questions, and assess the award company’s reliability. Sticking to a budget is important, but finding the cheapest deal possible shouldn’t eclipse quality, service, or reliability. If specific services, such as data management and reporting, drop shipping, or custom order websites are needed, they should be part of the company’s research as well.

With over 50 years in business, EA Dion is a leading expert on custom award jewelry. Our custom awards help celebrate success with designs tailored to our clients’ needs, and our top-notch customer service is there for you every step of the way. Start by browsing our gallery of past products, checking out our administration services, or send us an This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. give us a call, or message us to get started!