Incentive schemes 'must be implemented properly'

Date: 12/05/2009

Companies which are hoping to implement an employee of the month incentive scheme must be fully committed on all levels or it could fail, it has been stated.

According to the Financial Times, whether it is done over a period of a week, a month or a year, a slapdash attempt at setting down such a programme could prove to be fatal in terms of motivating employees, though it can be very valuable if done correctly.

Corporate psychologist Ben Williams said that in industries where people move around a lot, such incentive schemes can encourage them to stay with an organisation, though it is not without its faults.

He continued: "You need to avoid a celebrity-like cult of the individual. Teams need to be considered together. If everyone's a high performer, it can be divisive to only reward the single highest performer."

The key to a happy workforce is to make sure that any reward and recognition scheme targets morale and motivation only, with any extras being a bonus to the concept, according to the Washington Post.

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