When you hire a worker, you goal should be to keep them for their entire career. While this may not be realistic for every person who becomes a part of your company, lower turnover will result in lower labor costs for the organization. Therefore, it is important that you create conditions that increase the odds that a worker will want to stick around for the years to come.

Recognize Their Achievements

No one wants to work for a company that doesn't recognize the hard work that he or she puts in. Therefore, it is always a good idea to call out your workers when they do reach a sales goal, hit a service milestone or do anything else that is worthy of praise. The best part is that it doesn't take much to thank your people for the things that they do to make the company a powerhouse in its industry. In most cases, a pin, a plaque or a employee recognition certificate is enough to show that the company cares.

Offer Them a Competitive Salary

Most people go to work each day because they need their paycheck to provide for themselves and their families. This means that a person is less likely to stay with your company if he or she can make more elsewhere. If you can't afford to pay a competitive salary, you may be able to make up for it with stock options or other benefits to increase a worker's overall compensation package.

Offer Room for Advancement

One of the easiest ways for a person to increase his or her salary is through promotions up the corporate ladder. While not everyone can go from janitor to CEO, you should aim to help your people get the most out of their skills. In some cases, you may be able to help a worker move up by creating new positions that are tailored to his or her skill set.

Act as a Mentor to Your People

In the business world, there is nothing more important than a relationship with another person. By acting as a mentor, you are creating one of the strongest connections a worker and manager can have. When you choose to mentor someone, you are telling that person that you care about his or success on a personal level. That type of loyalty is likely to be reciprocated, which may lead to lower levels of turnover.

Create an Enjoyable Workplace Experience

If you can provide nothing else to your employees, provide them with an enjoyable workplace experience. This may include a game room, free breakfast on Friday or an atmosphere where colleagues are allowed to be social with both customers and each other. It is not uncommon for people to stay with a company because of the people who they work with or work for even when they aren't being paid top dollar.

The best companies are the one that treat their employees with respect. This is because employees who feel good about their employers will work harder to serve the needs of its customers. Furthermore, people are unlikely to leave a place where they feel valued and appreciated as this can be worth as much or more than any amount of financial compensation.

We're approaching the end of Quarter 1, and it's time to acknowledge the staff members that got the company off to a great start in 2017. While most of the awards that initially come to mind are for quantifiable results (ex: number of sales, star ratings, revenue, customer retention, etc), there are plenty of awards that you should also hand out that†recognize the vital employees that produce more†subjective results. Here's a list of appropriate awards for the end of the quarter. By no means are these the only awards you should give out-- feel free to get creative. The more opportunities you can make your team feel appreciated, the better. As your scroll through this blog post, remember this quote...

"Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole person - not just an employee -  are more productive, more satisfied, more fulfilled. Satisfied employees mean satisfied customers, which leads to profitability." - former CEO of Xerox, Anne Mulcahy

1) Top Salespeople

We'll start with the obvious: you need to reward your top salesperson. This could be the highest number of sales or biggest dollar amount of sales. We'd take it a step further. Find ways to give out multiple sales awards. Give out awards to all your top salespeople that surpassed a certain quota. If you keep your salespeople happy, they'll most likely return the favor in the form of increased productivity and sales. Here's an example of a sales award you could give out: our American Rosewood Plaque

Here's an example of a less serious sales award you could give out:†the Sales Shark trophy.

2) Highest Rated Customer Service Reps

Your customer service representatives are responsible for dealing with complicated product issues and disgruntled customers. It's a tough job that can be psychologically draining.†Don't overlook the customer service reps†that consistently keep the customer happy. Here's an example of an award you can customize for your highest rated customer service representatives.

3) Most Punctual

The snooze button is every employee's first obstacle every day. If they overcome the temptation of the snooze, they have to plan how they'll combat the morning rush hour. Getting to work on time isn't easy. Reward those that find a way to be there every weekday, 5 minutes before 9am. Here's a good award for your punctual employees.

4) Most Innovative / Best Idea(s)

Your salespeople convert the leads, but how do they get the leads in the first place? Your marketing team drives the leads that end up becoming customers. Your marketing team†not only needs to execute tried-and-true marketing strategies, they also need to come up with new cutting edge ideas to bring in new leads. For the best ideas in Q1, we think this unique award should suffice.

5) Key Milestones

Did you bring on any new employees in Q1? Is anyone retiring at the end of the month? These are the types of key milestones you'll want to acknowledge at the end of each quarter. Here's a good award for employees that are retiring: the Rosewood Mantle Clock

6) Best Support Staff Member / Best Teammate

You can't forget about the staff members whose primary role is to support other staff members. They're responsible for the company's success too. For the best teammates, this award is appropriate.

7) Exceptional Leadership

Every company has a group of employees that go above and beyond the call of duty. Maybe they organize weekend outings to boost company morale. Maybe they take the lead on a charity initiative. These staff members not only perform their job duties well, they take it upon themselves to do more.†Encourage these types of employees to continue to surpass expectations by showing a token of your appreciation. This award should do the trick: the Flight Eagle

Show your appreciation

Your employees made Q1 a success. Let them know how much you appreciate them. This will ensure that you keep the momentum rolling into Q2 and beyond. If you have any questions about our products, don't hesitate to call us at†800-377-8646.

Employees like to be recognized for good work and loyal service. That's why it's a smart move for managers to frequently acknowledge their most dedicated employees, and periodically give them awards for exceptional work or key milestones. The common work-related sitations you should already be giving awards for are:

• Employment anniversaries (ex: 25 years with the company)
• Employee of the Month
• Employees who surpass quotas
• The retirement of longtime employees

These essential employee awards will go a long way in retaining valued workers, but these aren't the only types of awards you can dole out. Running a business takes a collection of great efforts from a stellar team, and you should always be finding ways to acknowledge the people that make your company successful. We came up with a list of less common types of awards you can give to employees. Feel free to chime in with any unique award ideas you have in the comment section at the bottom of this post.

1) The Most Punctual Employee

It doesn't matter how much someone loves their job-- it's tough to avoid slamming the snooze button in order to arrive at work on time. Employees who continually show up to work on time should be commended for their discipline. You don't have to just give an award for workers who arrive at work on time though. You can also recognize employees who are never late for a weekly meeting or conference call. Any of these clock awards will work, but if we had to pick one, this is one of our most popular in this category.

2) Employees Who Work Overtime

You never want to overwork your team, but sometimes there are big projects that require extra hours so that they get finished by a strict deadline. If you have an employee or group of employees who worked extra hard to ensure the timeliness of a project, they should probably deserve a free day off (or at least half day) to relax. And what better way to relax, than with a custom-etched bottle of wine.

3) Employees who made a good judgement call

You can train your staff to deal with the most common hiccups, but you can't cover every situation during your employee orientation. Sometimes an employee needs to make a clutch judgement call. For employees who make a great judgement call during a tough situation, we recommend our gavel awards. This is a popular gavel award that we sell...

4) Holiday Party Planners

The office holiday party is a fun time every year, but there's always someone behind the scenes that stresses out in order to make it happen. You might be giving this person a Christmas bonus already, but it doesn't hurt to also give them a long-lasting token of your appreciation. We recommend our custom tree ornaments.  Here's one of our ornaments that our customers seem to like...

5) Costume Contest Winners

It's OK to have a little fun in the office from time to time. There's a good chance your company does a Halloween costume contest every October, and if you do, we have the perfect prize...

6) Office ninjas

This type of award goes to the employees who continually work hard, regardless of whether or not they're being monitored. This goes to employees who go above and beyond to make sure the office is running smoothly. This is an award for a worker who kicks butt... 

Don't be afraid to give awards to your most valued employees

As a manager or business owner, it's your job to make sure that your employees want to work for you. One of the easiest and cost-effective ways is to give them awards or trophies to make sure that they know they're appreciated. If you have any questions about our products, don't hesitate to call us at 800-377-8646. 

We're biased, but we believe that rewarding your top employees with custom awards, plaques, trophies, etc is an effective way to keep your team happy and motivated. Another good way though is to give your employees words of encourage or good quotes to sticky note to their desk. 

Below are 3 motivational quotes that we really like. Feel free to share them on Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn...you got the idea ;-)

We always appreciate customer feedback, good or bad. It helps us know if we're doing a good job and the areas where we need to improve. When we get a really glowing review, sometimes we like to feature them on Facebook or our other social media channels. Below are just 3 of the latest flattering reviews we've received. 

If you're a customer and would like to give us some online feedback, you can review us on Yelp, Facebook, Google, or send us an email. 

Crystal Awards

Desk Name Blocks

• Engraved plaque awards can be used for recognition, motivation , or a gift 
• Choose from traditional style cove-beveled plaque boards to sophisticated plaque frames and shadow boxes
• These are great for anniversary gifts or for other lifetime achievement awards

Engraved Pens

Employee Recognition Awards

Employee awards show your staff just how much you appreciate their hard work and effort around the office.

Earning awards can make employees strive towards a positive goal and it can improve office morale.

Types of Employee Awards

There isn’t just one type of award your employees can earn. They have the chance to show their commitment in many different ways. 

Some types of common employee awards include:

• Teamwork awards
• Employee of the month
• Sales awards

Glass and Crystal Awards

Glass and crystal awards are impressive and show your employees that their dedication is noticed and appreciated.

Striking glass and crystal awards last for much longer than other types of material and are usually used to craft more prestigious awards. 

Sports Awards

It doesn’t matter whether you use trophies, plaques, or medals, any sports team you support would be honored to have a recognition award for their team spirit and victorious wins!

Recognition awards aren’t just for employees, they can also be used to recognize sports teams as well. 

Acrylic Awards

Acrylic awards make wonderful recognition gifts for business and sales awards. They aren’t quite as expensive as crystal and glass awards, but they are stylish and can be easily engraved with any message you wish. 

Many acrylic awards can also be custom made for any type of occasion.

Custom Made Awards

Custom made awards can be crafted for any special event. 

As an employer, custom made awards show that you really believe receiving the award is a big deal and the employee deserves special recognition, not just a routine pat on the back. 

Custom Name Badges 

For minor awards and office contests, custom name badges and table displays are the perfect gift.

Personalized table displays are also an excellent way to commemorate the number of years an employee has been with the company. It shows that you value your employees like a family and you want to celebrate the time you’ve spent together. 

Academic and Religious Awards

Personalized awards can also be given for academic achievements or for religious ceremonies such as confirmation. 

Contests like spelling bees, art and music concerts, and academic club accomplishments are also suitable occasions to receive a custom award. 

Why Give Awards?

Giving awards of any kind shows appreciation for a job well done. It’s a tangible reminder of hard work and a strong commitment to excellence. Hard work isn’t always appreciated, but when it is, it’s all the more rewarding and satisfying.

• Every situation for reward is a unique one. Not only do the achievements differ, but the people being rewarded do as well.
• A thoughtful approach to what award to give can communicate more praise than even the award itself.
• By knowing what is available, and what is given in a certain situation, you can be sure to maximize the benefit of the reward.

Contemporary Awards

• This award is cut from a mixture of fine clear crystal and black glass and is etched deeply with either a gold or silver accent.
• It is a simple and sleek design which captures the attention of anyone walking by.
• These awards have a lot of room for engraving. This makes it a good choice for special honors being bestowed.

Optical Crystal

• This award is created by sweeping curve lines of optical crystals.
• The design is made by crystal cubes embedded in the award, with a sand etched custom engraving giving it a premium look.
• This is the perfect type of award for saying “Job well done”. 

Crystal Globes

• These awards are stunning and grab the attention of anyone who walks into the room. Great awards for over-the-top achievement.
• The trophy is mouth blown and then cut from crystal by hand. A customized message is then engraved on the base.
• Each globe is slightly unique as the nature of crystal blowing produces stylistic nuances. 

Specialty Awards

• Custom made crystal awards are perfect for garnering the “wow!” effect.
• Using optical crystal, near any design can be achieved. This is particularly good when you are honoring someone in a non-traditional manner.
• There is typically a small set-up fee for new designs.

Engraved Vases

• The fantastic thing about crystal vases is their distinctive shape and unique hand-cut patterns.
• The base is optional when buying these awards and can similarly be engraved with a custom message.
• These are considered elegant awards and are perfect for large presentations.

Goal Setter Awards

• This is an exciting and innovative way of keeping your employees motivated, while also rewarding them for what is being done.
• The award comes with a set of removable “blocks” of crystal which can be added as milestones are reached.
• The award and the blocks are shipped in different packages, which means you can keep surprising the recipient with further additions.

Putting it All Together

• Now that you know, you are empowered to make the best decision in rewarding that special achiever.
• Take time to consider what is the best for the situation. Ask yourself how you can best convey your message.
• Regardless of whether you go with traditional or custom awards, the time and thought put into the decision will be noted.

Everyone Deserves Recognition

Awards and Plaques Motivate 

Employees do their best work when they feel they are appreciated

Recognition awards let your workers know you see their commitment to the company

Teamwork Is a Praiseworthy Accomplishment

As a manager it is often difficult to get employees to work together  productively.

Recognizing exceptional teamwork sets a benchmark for cooperation, and incentive to reach it.

Employee Morale Is a Valuable Commodity

People find personal value  through what they are able to achieve.

Being recognized as a leader amongst peers boosts employee self esteem, which in turn encourages exceptional work.

Recognizing Those Who Have Devoted Years…

Shows Corporate Loyalty to new employees. This in turn elicits employee loyalty.

Gives employees something to work towards in the long-run.

Awards Improve the Work Environment

Mutual goals bring a sense of family and camaraderie to the workplace.

A work environment in which employees are routinely appreciated is a less negative one.

Research Shows…

…that by recognizing past behavior, employees are more motivated to do the same in the future

…that plaques and awards are overall more effective than monetary awards

Managing Employees is Not Easy Work

Employees want to know that their contributions are appreciated and that they make a difference.

By considering ways to reward your employees, you show that you are committed to those you are managing, and not just what they can do for you.

Employee recognition not only increases office morale, but motivates employees to do their very best.

By rewarding excellent work and dedication, you show that you are a manager who cares about the individuals in your team.

Rewarding Client Loyalty

Maintaining good relationships with clients is Business 101. There are a variety of methods you can use to show your clients your appreciation for their continued business. Holiday gifts are a time-honored tradition for client appreciation and are typically well-received by customers during the winter holidays. Recognition awards, plaques, and trophy awards are a cost-effective and convenient way to thank clients and customers for their contributions to the ongoing success of your organization.

Possible Rewards For Clients

When providing holiday rewards for clients, you have several options to choose from including:

Reasons To Provide Holiday Recognition

The Effectiveness Of Gratitude

Showing gratitude toward customers increases their positive opinion of your business and may help serve as a buffer against any bumps you may hit in your relationship. A visible reminder of your gratitude, such plaques and awards can help reinforce this positive opinion and keep your business in the mind of customers when they need services or products.

Elements Of A Good Customer Recognition Award

When designing your customer recognition awards, be sure to keep quality in mind. Shoddy or poorly designed awards will leave the customer with a negative impression of your company. Here are a few tips for good award design:

• Legibility. Having an award your clients can read is essential to getting the message across.
• Correct. Misspelling the client’s name can be highly embarrassing and may offend the client.
• Attractive. Your reward should be a plaque, trophy, statue or certificate your clients will be proud to show in their homes or offices.
• Safety. Your customer recognition awards should be made of quality materials and be safe.

Work With A Designer

A company dedicated to creating award statues, plaques, etc. can help you design the right awards for your specific customer base. They can help you avoid common mistakes in design and ensure that you create an award that will be cherished by its recipients.

Incorporate It Into A Loyalty Program

Providing clients and customers with recognition awards over the holidays may be more effective if you roll the awards into a loyalty program. By combining an awards program with a program that provides discounts and special offers you can enhance the effectiveness of both. Gallup Poll research shows that loyalty programs must engage and activate customers to be truly effective. Adding holiday recognitions to the program gives you another avenue to reach your customers.

Cost Effective Recognition

Making a bulk order of custom awards will typically be more cost-effective than just buying a few awards. It will give you the opportunity to reach more customers and discounts may be offered for bulk orders. 

About Edco

Edco provides custom awards, plaques and other awards for various academic, sports and business clients. Located in Florida, Edco has been in the business of celebrating the milestones and achievements of our customers and their clients and partners for more than 40 years.