Employee of the Month
The Employee of the Month program is a well-known recognition practice that rewards staff who go above and beyond. These monthly awards don’t just boost morale—they promote a positive work culture, increase engagement, and strengthen employee loyalty when done thoughtfully.
What is an employee of the month?
Employee of the Month is a monthly recognition awarded to a staff member who has shown exceptional performance, dedication, or contribution. It celebrates effort, attitude, or results depending on what the company values.
Why is the Employee of the Month program important?
Recognizing employees on a regular basis boosts morale, drives performance, and encourages others to strive for excellence. It also creates a ripple effect of appreciation and loyalty.
Who decides the Employee of the Month?
Decision-makers can vary across organizations. Selection can be based on performance metrics or nominations.
Key contributors may include:
- Managers and team leads
- HR or recognition committees
- Peer voting panels
- Analytics-based dashboards
Where should Employee of the Month be announced?
Making the recognition visible increases its impact. Announcements should reach both the employee and the wider team.
Popular announcement methods:
- Company-wide emails
- Team meetings or town halls
- Digital screens in offices
- Internal social platforms
When should you award Employee of the Month?
The award should ideally be given at the start of each month to celebrate the achievements of the previous month. Timeliness helps the recognition feel more meaningful.
What are some Employee of the Month program ideas?
You can personalize the program by tying it to specific values or categories.
Engaging program themes include:
- Innovation Leader
- Team Player Award
- Rookie of the Month
- Service Star
- Culture Carrier
What gifts can be given for Employee of the Month?
Rewarding employees with thoughtful gifts adds weight to the recognition.
Some gift ideas:
- Amazon or meal vouchers
- Extra paid leave
- Swag kits or gadgets
- Online course access
- Personalized trophy or memento
What should an Employee of the Month badge include?
A badge adds a visual identity to the award. It can be printed, digital, or wearable.
Badge elements may include:
- Employee name and photo
- Award title and date
- Reason for recognition
- Company branding
Employee pulse surveys:
These are short surveys that can be sent frequently to check what your employees think about an issue quickly. The survey comprises fewer questions (not more than 10) to get the information quickly. These can be administered at regular intervals (monthly/weekly/quarterly).
One-on-one meetings:
Having periodic, hour-long meetings for an informal chat with every team member is an excellent way to get a true sense of what’s happening with them. Since it is a safe and private conversation, it helps you get better details about an issue.
eNPS:
eNPS (employee Net Promoter score) is one of the simplest yet effective ways to assess your employee's opinion of your company. It includes one intriguing question that gauges loyalty. An example of eNPS questions include: How likely are you to recommend our company to others? Employees respond to the eNPS survey on a scale of 1-10, where 10 denotes they are ‘highly likely’ to recommend the company and 1 signifies they are ‘highly unlikely’ to recommend it.
Based on the responses, employees can be placed in three different categories:
- Promoters
Employees who have responded positively or agreed. - Detractors
Employees who have reacted negatively or disagreed. - Passives
Employees who have stayed neutral with their responses.
How to recognize an Employee of the Month publicly?
Public appreciation motivates not only the recipient but also the wider team. Recognition should feel personal and authentic.
Ways to recognize publicly:
- Social media post with a shoutout
- Intranet or internal newsletter feature
- Video messages from leadership
- Framed certificates or posters
Why does the Employee of the Month program work?
It creates a cycle of positive reinforcement. When consistent and fair, it sets performance benchmarks and motivates continued effort.
What are some good Employee of the Month examples?
Examples help guide others and demonstrate the kind of behavior that earns recognition.
Sample scenarios:
- A designer delivering a high-priority campaign early
- A support rep resolving all tickets with perfect feedback
- A junior employee improving a manual workflow
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