Celebrate Top Performers: Employee of the Month Ideas That Motivate and Inspire

It’s important to recognize employees for their hard work, and Employee of the Month awards are a great way to highlight the efforts of top performers across your organization. Being recognized at work is always a great feeling, so when managers take a few moments to call out those who have gone above and beyond to get things done, it shows employees that their contributions really are being noticed. With a little planning and creativity, you can ensure that your employee recognition program gains popularity and has employees vying for that next Employee of the Month certificate, team shoutout or primo reserved parking spot (complete with its own Employee of the Month parking sign, of course)!

There are lots of great ways you can ensure your Employee of the Month program gains popularity among your staff, and the pros at Hallmark Business Connections are here to help. We’ve pulled together some of our favorite ideas for recognizing your top employees every month, and whether your budget is wide open or more on the cost-conscious side, there’s sure to be an idea (or several!) that will work for your business and your employees.

Benefits of Employee of the Month Awards

When your business creates a culture of employee recognition and appreciation, you will motivate individuals to do their best at work. You’ll create a positive environment where employees strive to succeed and surpass their own personal goals, plus you’ll likely see them challenge themselves and their teammates to meet and exceed company goals along the way. Some of the positive benefits of an Employee of the Month program include:

• Increased employee engagement

• Improved retention

Employees who are recognized at work are 63% more likely to stay at their current job.

SOURCE: Apollo Technical

• A positive company culture

• Increased productivity and motivation

• Reinforced company values

Fun Employee of the Month Ideas

Now that you know how great an employee recognition program can be for your business, it’s time to share some fantastic ideas that will really wow everyone on your team! From easy to elaborate, inexpensive to all-out, the possibilities are endless … and the bottom line is that your employees will appreciate all the gratitude and recognition you share with them.

If you’re looking for great Employee of the Month ideas that will amp up the fun at work and get your teams motivated, check out the ideas below:

Make it official with a certificate. Whether they’ve tackled a monster of a project or managed to handle a record number of client calls and requests, they deserve the spotlight, and a simple certificate is a budget-friendly way to share the love. There are numerous free templates available online or stretch your creative design skills and make your own.

Give Employee of the Month awards. A ‘Congratulations, Employee of the Month’ certificate that individuals can display in their workspace is a great way to let them know you’ve noticed all their hard work that month. Other great award ideas include an Employee of the Month plaque that is engraved with their name on it, an Employee of the Month frame in the breakroom that highlights a new team member every month, an Employee of the Month poster to share a few fun facts about each month’s recognized team member or even a creative Employee of the Month board that’s all about that month’s winner. Some great Employee of the Month board ideas include adding photos of each month’s employee throughout the year, adding fun quotes and decorations, asking employees for a few fun facts about themselves that can be shared, project highlights and wins … and you can even leave a blank space on your board to encourage coworkers to leave positive notes, too!

Say it with an Employee of the Month greeting card. Hallmark Business Connections offers a 12-pack Employee of the Month card pack that’s perfectly sized for recognizing one employee every month throughout the year. With a championship medal motif and bold hand lettering that recognizes their accomplishment, it’s perfect for anyone on your team and a great way to recognize above-and-beyond efforts. Congratulations Employee of the Month cards are an uplifting way to support and remind team members what a great job they’re doing, especially if you don’t see them every day or get to give them feedback often. We also offer a wide selection of employee appreciation cards that work for a variety of gratitude and recognition occasions throughout the year, so be sure to stock up so you’ll always have the perfect greeting on hand when the time comes.

Give a charitable donation. Many people have charities they support, so when team members are chosen as Employee of the Month at your organization, offer to donate a set amount or a designated gift to a charity of their choice as a reward for their dedication and hard work. This is also a great opportunity to get out and let your business be seen by the community. If charities are local and allow volunteers to donate their time, consider offering employees a few hours away from the office to lend a hand. You’ll be giving back to your community and boosting employee morale at the same time!

Give a gift card surprise. Employees who have worked hard deserve a treat, and what better way to reward them than with a gift card to a popular local restaurant, coffee shop or shopping hot spot? Keep in mind you don’t have to break the bank with gift cards; a modest amount is enough to show your appreciation. Recipients will be glad you noticed their contributions to the team, and they’ll be grateful to be treated with a reward.

Get gifty with tokens of appreciation. At Hallmark Business Connections, we have plenty of great Employee of the Month gift ideas, too. Gifts like inspirational bookmarks, designed notebooks and decadent chocolate gift sets from Christopher Elbow are excellent ways to thank Employees of the Month for their important contributions to your company’s mission. And standout employees will be the envy of everyone in the office with a fresh cut flower bouquet from Hallmark brightening their desk or office space.

It’s always nice to be recognized for a job well done, and as you plan a year full of celebrations in honor of Employee of the Month at your company, keep in mind the wide variety of greeting cards, meaningful gifts and tokens of appreciation that are at your fingertips with just a little bit of planning. When you make a point of reminding your employees that their hard work is valued and appreciated, you’re not only increasing morale, but you’re also fostering a positive work environment where everyone can feel valued and recognized for their contributions.

Want to read more about great recognition programs that will help you engage and retain your employees? Read Sharing the Love With your Employees.