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Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

EJB Official affirms importance of employee recognition programs


Mon 01 Mar 2021 | 09:23 PM
Yara Sameh

Mohamed Elkholi, a member of the Egyptian Junior Businessmen Association (EJB) and CEO of employee engagement consultancy firm DOTMENT2018, said 2018 witnessed a surge in employee engagement levels in the Middle East and North Africa, with rewards and recognitions being the most active domain.

'Across the Levant and North Africa, Egypt led the surge with engagement levels reaching highs of 70%, followed by Algeria, Tunisia and finally, Morocco, all with rewards and recognition at the forefront, according to reports by AON. This is expected to continue," Elkholi noted.

The coronavirus pandemic has expedited the need to increase employee engagement levels even more and it is expected for that surge to maintain growth well over the coming years, with reward and recognition programs to continue in the lead.

'Both companies and employees have been shaken by the pandemic,' Elkholi said.

He added: 'And despite fluctuating productivity levels, employees are seeing their companies through to the other side of this global crisis. Companies are grateful, and they want to show it,'.

A well-planned recognition program fosters a culture of appreciation, helping retain top talent, increase employee engagement and encourage high performance. Several studies correlate positive outcomes including outperforming competition (by 20%), higher sales (up to 37%), satisfaction (50%) and reduced absenteeism (10 times fewer sick days).

But how companies go about employee rewards and recognitions now may need to change, with budget constraints and employee mindsets facing unprecedented shifts.

'In these unusual times, the carrot and stick approach just won’t cut it. Employees need to feel socially recognized more than they want to be financially rewarded for their efforts, especially with the impact that social distancing has made on their psyche. Rewards are important, but so is recognition,'  Elkholi commented.

While companies want to reward and recognize employees for their efforts, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, they need to do it in ways that are simultaneously effective and cost-efficient.

Solutions like digital reward platforms and celebratory internal communications are being utilized and peer-to-peer recognitions are becoming more and more popular, as opposed to management-to-subordinate.

According to a Globoforce Employee Recognition Survey, peer-to-peer recognition is approximately 36% more likely to have a positive impact on the employee’s commitment and engagement within the company’s goals. An employee is also more likely to feel a greater sense of achievement when they receive recognition in front of their peers where the entire organization celebrates their success.

Elkholi continued: 'Inclusivity is another crucial part of the equation. A balanced recognition program is key where employees are recognized both inpidually and as teams. Leaving some people out is a pitfall which companies should avoid,'.

Reward and recognition programs are among the leading factors companies are hinging on to recover from the losses of the coronavirus pandemic. While criteria such as budgets, organizational alignment, and correlating employee achievements are critical, effectiveness remains key.

'Employees are motivated by more than money. Companies need to develop recognition programs that reflect their organization’s culture, core values, and workplace persity.' concluded Elkholi.