Inspirus Blog

By Paula Ambrozic
Most companies formally recognize tenure in some way. The odds are good that your organization is among them. But chances are also good that, like most companies, yours is not realizing the full potential of its service awards program.

By Sean Mayo
Points-based employee recognition programs are designed to reward employees with tangible monetary awards while removing the negatives associated with cash.

By Kelley Briggs
It’s more important than ever for managers to make sure their employees feel valued and acknowledged for their efforts. It doesn’t take much, but during times like this, simple gestures can make a huge impact. One of the most effective ways to acknowledge employees is to know their recognition preferences. It can be as easy as knowing they prefer a quick thank you email instead of being recognized in front of others in a team meeting. Find what forms of recognition resonate most with your employees.

By Bill W. Tyler, CPS
One of the frustrating aspects of investing in an employee recognition program is the difficulty in making the connection between the investment and its improved business outcomes and financial returns. Ultimately, every company wants its employees to work together to achieve its vision.

By Theresa Harkins-Schulz
We become less efficient and more likely to make a mistake. Multi-tasking and high stress levels can dramatically increase the chance of job burnout. Are you being asked to do more with less resources? Are you juggling work with kids attending school online? Burnout can affect our physical and mental health, so finding balance in our lives is critically important. See if you identify with any of these signs of burnout. If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the signs of burnout above, here are some action steps you can take to help you manage and move through it.

By Gene Park
Inclusive leadership can be a competitive advantage that helps organizations succeed. Not only does a diverse and inclusive work environment build team culture, it also attracts and retains talented employees who remain engaged and are likely to continue advancing their careers within your organization. Diverse and inclusive leadership can have a major influence on inclusive behaviors and dynamics among employees. But it’s equally as advantageous for an organization’s bottom line.

By Kelley Briggs
You never get a second chance to make a great first impression. When it comes to introducing new hires to your company culture, the onboarding and training experience is a huge opportunity to initiate employee engagement by communicating your mission, vision, and values from day one. Employees who feel connected to the company's "why" bring more of themselves to work, are more engaged, and more loyal.

By Kelly Briggs
It’s no secret that the most highly regarded employers draw in the top talent in the industry. When your knowledge, experience, and natural gifts are considerable enough, you’re afforded the luxury of choice, and if you have a choice, then it follows that you’re most likely going to choose to work for a top company.

By Kelly Briggs
2020 was a year of seismic change— not just for those in the world of HR, but for the world as a whole. The COVID-19 pandemic caused many businesses to transition to remote work in order to continue forward. With that transition came a number of new problems for HR leaders that have required some innovative thinking to solve.

By Kelley BriggS
Employee engagement has grown in awareness and importance over the past decade, beyond human resources and into the offices of executives and organizational leaders. Why? Extensive research by Gallup found that, on average, 17.2 percent of an organization’s workforce is actively disengaged. Gallup also found that an actively disengaged employee costs their organization $3,400 for every $10,000 of salary, or 34 percent. That means an actively disengaged employee who makes $60,000 a year costs their company $20,400 a year! Couple that with Gartner research, which found a 13% increase.

By Kelley Briggs
With so many companies in HR technology talking about employee engagement, it’s easy to get confused. Maybe you’re even sick of hearing about employee engagement. That's understandable!

By Kelley Briggs
Companies today experience a much more diverse workforce than they have in the past. The age range among their employees is one of the widest in history, spanning from those born in the 1920's (the Silent Generation) to those born in the 1980's (the Millennials). With members of the Silent Generation staying in the workforce longer, and Millennials entering the workforce at a faster rate, it is important for companies to understand and manage the differences each generation brings to the company.

By Kelley Briggs
If you think about it, every day we get out of bed means another day of having our performance measured. Whether you complete a project before the deadline at work or exceed the amount of time you typically ride a stationary bike at the gym, measuring success is an integral part of life. Even our kids measure us, although their measurements tend to be a bit on the subjective side.

By Kelly Briggs
Our global economy and workforce are more interlocked than ever before and since technology enables us to work from anywhere, it’s not uncommon to communicate with teams that are dispersed across the globe. As more of us are working remotely, it’s a challenge to build the same level of connection and rapport that comes from working in person or being able to meet face-to-face. Yet in today’s economy, creating an environment in which a global team can build connection and trust is a necessity, as this can be a catalyst for creating a high-performing team that can meet and exceed business goals.

By Kelley Briggs
There is no question that designing and implementing an employee recognition plan is good for business. The question then becomes: "How do communicate its importance across the entire organization?"... You can possess the smoothest communication skills on the planet, but your communication skills will fall short if you don't understand every detail of your company’s recognition program. Spend time reviewing every component of the program before you begin sharing information with your team. If you have a question or two, do not hesitate to lean on your internal champion or your recognition program expert for guidance.