Why Employee Nominations Should Be a Part of Your Total Rewards and Recognition Strategy

A great workplace rewards and recognition strategy isn’t just about showing appreciation to individual employees at the moment – it’s about creating a culture where contributions are celebrated and shared as often as possible. 

The most meaningful recognition often comes from someone who truly understands your work and efforts. It makes it feel more genuine. And that’s where the magic of nominations comes in. Having a nomination process as part of your recognition program invites employees and leaders to actively participate in celebrating each other’s achievements, making it a shared experience. 

Whether it’s a peer nominating a colleague for lending a hand during a busy week or a manager spotlighting someone who exemplifies your company’s core values, nominations bring a more personal and authentic touch to recognition efforts than a top-down only approach. 

Let’s dive into why nominations matter and how to make them work for your organization.

The Evolution of Total Rewards: From Basic Benefits to Holistic Recognition

Workplace recognition has come a long way. Gone are the days when a paycheck or year-end bonus was the accepted way of showing appreciation. Today’s employees want more than just financial rewards (although respectful compensation is still the starting point, of course!). People crave recognition that feels personal and meaningful. 

The Role of Recognition in Total Employee Rewards

A total rewards strategy includes everything an organization offers to its employees in exchange for their contributions, including compensation, benefits, work-life balance, career development opportunities – and, importantly, recognition programs. It’s a holistic approach that goes beyond paychecks and taps into purpose to make sure employees feel valued and happy at work. 

And it works: study after study demonstrates that employees who receive regular recognition are more likely to feel engaged in their work, leading to a greater sense of purpose. This, in turn, improves everything from productivity to job satisfaction to retention. 

Within a total rewards framework, employee recognition should include:

• Formal Recognition Programs: Structured initiatives like ‘Employee of the Month’ or service awards that celebrate major milestones and accomplishments.
• Social Recognition: Peer-to-peer nominations or shout-outs that encourage team members to celebrate each other’s individual contributions.
• Day-to-Day Appreciation: Informal gestures like a handwritten note, a quick thank-you in a company meeting or a manager acknowledging someone’s hard work during a project.

Why Nominations Are an Essential Part of Any Employee Rewards Program

Nominations are a perfect fit for the shifts happening in the workplace right now. Unlike traditional top-down recognition, it allows employees to actively celebrate their peers and managers to have more control over rewarding excellence. And that, in turn, creates a more positive company culture that keeps employee engagement and morale at the forefront.  

Why are nominations so effective?

• Encourage Employees: When deserving employees are recognized by their peers, managers and executives, it builds morale and fosters trust.
• Motivate Employees: Nominations tied to specific achievements inspire others to go the extra mile.
• Strengthen Employer Branding: A culture of recognition makes your organization attractive to top talent and helps boost retention rates.
• Reinforce Company Values: Nominations tied to core values help align employee behaviors with your organization’s culture.

How To Use Nominations in Rewards Programs 

Incorporating nominations into how you reward employees is a simple but powerful way to better engage and celebrate their contributions. 

#1 Choose the Right Platform for Recognition and Rewards

Gone are the days of inefficient nomination programs. Instead of manually gathering nominations through emails, verbal shout-outs, or even Google surveys, a recognition platform like Inspirus Connects makes the process seamless and far more impactful.  For example, with Inspirus, you can:

• Make Nominating Easy: Employees can nominate peers directly on the platform by sharing a short note and administrators can send rewards with a click of a button. 
• Encourage Regular Participation: Nominations become an everyday activity by being embedded into your digital recognition ecosystem and workflow.
• Centralize Nomination Programs: Manage all your nomination programs in one place, making it easy for administrators to track, review, and reward nominations seamlessly.

#2 Create Clear and Inclusive Criteria for Nominations

For your nomination process to remain effective and fair, you need to establish clear guidelines that everyone understands. Start by defining what types of contributions are eligible for tangible rewards. Ensure that the process is inclusive by encouraging nominations across all roles, departments and levels so everyone has the chance to be celebrated equally (that includes remote, hybrid and offline workers!)

#3 Make Recognition Visible to the Whole Team

There’s a right moment for both private and public recognition but it does bear noting that public recognition amplifies the impact, which can help foster a positive work environment where employees feel appreciated and connected. 

• Showcase Nominations: Highlight nomination award recipients through a dedicated spotlight section to celebrate their achievements and reinforce a company-wide culture of appreciation.
• Incorporate into Company Meetings: Highlight top nominees during team huddles or all-hands meetings to reinforce their contributions.
• Use Visual Displays: Post physical or digital boards in shared spaces showcasing recent nominees and their achievements.

#4 Tie Nominations to Rewards and Incentives

Recognition is even more impactful when it’s paired with thoughtful rewards.

• Include a Points-Based System: With Inspirus, employees can earn points for being nominated, which they can redeem for personalized rewards like gift cards, merchandise or charitable donations.
• Reward Nominators, Too: Encourage participation by recognizing those who take the time to nominate their peers with small incentives or shout-outs.
• Offer Non-Monetary Rewards: Include options like extra time off, flexible scheduling, or public acknowledgment to make rewards accessible to all.

#5 Build Momentum With Regular Recognition Campaigns

Keep nominations top of mind with consistent efforts to celebrate and encourage participation. For example, you can create monthly or quarterly themes that highlight specific values or behaviors – like collaboration or innovation – and encourage employees to nominate peers who show those traits. Organize regular events, like quarterly recognition ceremonies or an annual awards celebration, to amplify the impact of your rewards program and give employees something to look forward to.

#6 Track and Measure Nomination Impact

Take advantage of data-driven insights to refine and improve your employee rewards nomination process.

• Monitor Engagement Metrics: Use analytics built into your employee recognition and rewards platform to track the frequency and distribution of nominations, identifying which teams or departments are most engaged.
• Gather Feedback: Conducting surveys is a great way to understand how employees feel about the nomination process and your recognition program as a whole.
• Use Insights to Improve: Identify trends, listen to employee feedback, and adjust your recognition programs to align better with goals.

Bring Recognition to Everyone

Nominations aren’t just about acknowledgment – they’re a way to further align your incentive program with your organization’s values and goals. They give employees ownership in the recognition process, creating meaningful touchpoints that boost employee satisfaction and deepen their connection to your company.

A critical part of any successful reward program is ensuring that no one is left out, especially when it comes to appreciating employees who may not work in traditional office settings.

Want to learn how hosting nomination programs through Inspirus Connects can make recognition seamless and impactful? Talk to one of our specialists today!