The rewarding of an employee for a job well done is a happy moment for manager and worker alike. Here is the fruit of collaboration, with the employee going potentially above and beyond what was asked of them by their manager and truly shining. Experienced management knows that some workers will always go that extra distance out of sheer ethical dedication, even as other employees do just enough to fulfill their work obligations and nothing more. It’s simple human nature. But here are ten ways you can surprise a top worker, thank them for their hard work, and perhaps inspire other workers to a similar moment of glory.
1) Short-Term Personal Assistant– This is definitely a luxe option, but imagine the kind of impact having an assistant for a few days might have on a chosen worker in terms of inspiring their future. A taste of the kind of streamlining a second set of eyes can bring to their workday will be an irresistible treat.
2) Reward the Whole Team– Remember the scene in “Full Metal Jacket” where the drill sergeant finds a donut hidden in his overweight problem trainee’s trunk? And he makes the problem trainee eat the donut while the rest of the guys are made to do push-ups? Well, it’s like that, but the opposite: When one of you employee does a stellar job, give the whole team a perk in their honor. It’s a way to strengthen team-building and also inspire every teammate to strive harder.
3) Give Them a Kindle– This one is becoming a more common team reward, but its so thoughtful that it deserves another spotlight regardless. Giving your employee a Kindle reader (or a similar device) is a doorway to professional development, as well as a pushback against a U.S. culture increasingly weaning itself off reading. Whether the employee uses the device to read books about their profession or to dig deep into the time-worn genre of “vampires from space,” you’ve given them the very definition of a practical gift that doesn’t quit.
Data Snapshot: Two-thirds Would Recommend Their Work Department to a Friend
4) House Cleaners– Hire your star employee a one-time house cleaner, so they have less to worry about during the week and can look forward to coming home to a relaxing environment where they can unwind from their workday and prepare for the next one without having to scrape dishes or get rid of all that stuff on the coffee table.
5) Employee of the Month– Sure, this one is old hat, but everything that’s old is new again when U.S. culture gets repeatedly rebooted at the pace it has been for the last few decades. What seemed like a cheeseball afterthought is actually a reward that reminds your employee – and other employees – how appreciated they are for 30 straight days. And even the most cynical, hardened heart likes to feel appreciated, especially when they’ve seen other employees take the honor for a few months.
6) Day Pass Coupon– Now that’s a prize to be coveted: a coupon for a free day off, with no restrictions as to when that day might happen. It’s a pass good for one free shot of freedom, for the employee who deserves it. It’s also a good way to relieve any stress that employee may have gathered on the way to their current honor – let them know they can take a day off anytime they want, and you’re also letting them know that their work can and will be covered for in their absence.
7) Let Them Shadow You For a Day– And not as an employee so much as a pure observer. Watching the boss all day, seeing how much they manage to squeeze into a long day’s work (even with the personal assistant) can be eye-opening and hugely educational.
8) Buy Them Lessons– Get them guitar lessons, singing lessons, cooking lessons. Something that can lead them in the direction of a new interest or a new adventure, something that reminds them that you know their life keeps going outside of work, and that they are always looking to redefine themselves and squeeze more in beyond office hours.
9) Bring in a slew of puppies– Should all else fail to impress, always remember the nuclear option: many no-kill animal shelters will allow the loan-out of a bouquet of adorable puppies to play and romp in the office as a treat for the employee you want to reward and the whole team. And it’s good for the puppies, too, as socialization and comfort with people is what gets them adopted.
