The Dark Side of Recognition: Unintended Consequences of Praise

An employee recognition and rewards program is a strategic initiative that is designed to acknowledge and reward employees for their contributions, achievements, and other positive behaviors in the workplace. When these programs are used successfully, they can help increase morale, productivity, engagement, and even retention. They also contribute to an ongoing culture of appreciation and high performance as more and more employees strive for excellence.

Yet there can be unintended downsides to employee recognition. For example, what happens when the praise leads to unintended behaviors and other work-related trends?

This blog article will take a closer look at the potential pitfalls related to employee recognition. It will also describe larger implications that may occur and provide best practices for any company looking to avoid these possible bumps in the road. 

Potential Pitfalls Related to Employee Recognition

Many executives are often surprised to learn that, if they’re not careful, employee recognition programs can lead to unintended challenges down the road. After all, what could go wrong with a company-wide program designed to appreciate employees?

Without the right controls in place, employee recognition can lead to negative consequences such as:

• Perceived favoritism and/or inequitable treatment of certain employees. This can be especially true if a few employees tend to receive more praise or if a small percentage of workers are never recognized. 

• Low morale or jealous employees who may be envious of peers who may be in the spotlight more than them. This can even lead to the resentment of coworkers or managers who they may believe overlook their efforts. 

• The perception that the recognition is not sincere or is a fake token of appreciation. 

• The company’s over-reliance on employee recognition programs as a way to motivate the workforce, especially if there are other root-cause problems that require a larger strategy to resolve them. 

If these issues remain unresolved, they can lead to unhappy employees, lower productivity, and turnover – everything the employee recognition program was designed to address. 

More Inclusivity is Needed

One solution? More inclusive employee recognition programs. 

This is an important step to make sure that all employees feel like the program has been designed to make them feel valued and appreciated, regardless of their role, background, or day-to-day contributions.

By recognizing a wide group of employees – by factoring in their different perspectives, values, and achievements – these inclusive employee recognition programs can lead to more collaboration and teamwork. All of this helps avoid the possible negative consequences described above while increasing overall employee engagement and satisfaction with the program in place. 

Best Practices to Implement the Most Successful Recognition Program Possible

To avoid possible missteps and maximize your chance of success, there are many best practices that you can follow to implement a more effective recognition program. These include the following:

• Design the program to include regular review and feedback steps to make sure the initiative is aligned with employees’ needs and the company’s larger goals. 

• Conduct periodic evaluations to identify any gaps, continue to eradicate bias, and incorporate employee feedback to improve overall effectiveness.

• Encourage ongoing feedback from all users to enhance transparency and reinforce the company’s commitment to employee appreciation. 

One other best practice is to balance formal and informal recognition. For example, formal recognition includes what we think of when it comes to recognition: public awards, celebrations, and other ways of putting employees in the spotlight. Yet informal recognition, such as a simple, organic thank-you or a spontaneous “kudos”, also goes a long way to acknowledge employees’ day-to-day efforts. Achieving this balance gives companies new and better ways to make sure their employees feel seen and valued for all they do. 

Building Fair, Effective Recognition Programs

While employee recognition programs offer tremendous benefits, they are not without potential pitfalls, such as perceptions of favoritism or insincerity, which can undermine their effectiveness. 

By adopting best practices like regular reviews, fostering inclusivity, and balancing formal and informal recognition, employers can overcome these challenges and create a program that genuinely engages and motivates employees. 

It is important to remember that fairness is the cornerstone of any successful recognition initiative, ensuring all employees feel valued and appreciated for their unique contributions. Now is the time for employers to reflect on their current practices, address any gaps, and actively adapt their programs to build a stronger, more equitable culture of appreciation.

FAQs

1. What can companies do if employees believe there is favoritism in the recognition program?

One of the best ways to address – and overcome – perceived favoritism is to encourage clear, measurable criteria for recognition levels and outcomes. This clarifies the process while preventing bias, and helping contribute to overall program integrity.

2. How can I encourage a culture of inclusivity in our recognition program?

Companies can build a more inclusive recognition program by celebrating more diverse contributions (especially any creative ideas not normally thought of when it comes to recognition). They can also make sure employees are involved in nominating their peers and creating various feedback methods to make sure all employees have a chance to voice their opinions, suggestions, or concerns.

3. What are some alternative motivation strategies besides recognition?

There are many alternative motivation strategies available today, including professional development opportunities, more flexible work arrangements, employee communication methods, and aligning employees’ work with their personal goals and values. All of this can go a long way to creating a happier workforce. 

Author:

This article is written by a marketing team member at HR Cloud. HR Cloud is a leading provider of proven HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee communications & engagement, and rewards & recognition. Our user-friendly software increases employee productivity, delivers time and cost savings, and minimizes compliance risk.