This post is part two in a series of blog posts discussing The Healthcare Employee Recognition Playbook. In case you missed the first post, you can read it here.
Once the need for a recognition program is established, where do you begin? From group outings to bonus days off to employee of the month designations to special appreciation events, there are countless ways to let employees know they are valued and appreciated.
In terms of formal recognition programs, we suggest thinking in terms of CARES: Celebrate, Acknowledge, Reward, Engage, and Survey. These are cornerstones of some of the most successful employee recognition programs in healthcare.
Let’s discuss each component of CARES in more detail.
C=CELEBRATE
To celebrate is to provide an environment where activities can be shared, celebrated, and reinforced in a communal setting raises morale and contributes to a more inclusive culture.
A=ACKNOWLEDGE
Spotlighting individuals for their specific behaviors is a core component of any successful recognition program. When a behavior is recognized by a peer or manager, the employee is motivated to perform even better.
R=REWARD
Surveys have shown again and again that employees believe management should reward them for a job well done when the particular action occurs. This encourages future behaviors that align with rewards.
E=ENGAGE
Employee engagement occurs when employees feel recognized for their good work and are celebrated for their achievements. Engagement leads to values like more collaboration, productivity, decreased errors, and higher retention.
S=SURVEY
Promoting a positive culture and workplace is more than doing; it’s also encouraging and listening to what employees say. By collecting and analyzing their feedback, employers learn what employees think could be done better to ensure their success and happiness at work. Feedback provided in surveys directly correlates to employee engagement and to the success of recognition programs.
In our next blog post, we’ll share how you can put the CARES concept into action at your healthcare organization.
Incentra has helped many leading healthcare organizations create and implement employee recognition programs. Click here to read one of our case studies to see how we helped Orlando Health revitalize its recognition program. Contact us to see how we can help you in this highly competitive market.
(This blog post is an excerpt from our technology partner WorkStride’s publication The Healthcare Employee Recognition Playbook.)
