Have you ever wondered if your recognition practices could be negatively impacting your business?
According to human resources experts, recognition at work is essential to meet the different needs of employees: the need to be recognized for their individuality, their efforts, their skills and their results. Whether it is involving employees in decision-making, recognizing their years of service, offering performance bonuses or congratulating a worker for their professionalism, these gestures are essential to nurture the commitment of team members. On the other hand, inappropriate recognition practices or a lack of recognition at work can have negative effects on employees, the company and its customers.
In this article, we present the perverse effects of poor recognition at work and some possible solutions to remedy this.
What is the purpose of employee recognition?
Generally speaking, employee recognition aims to increase employee engagement, motivation and satisfaction. When you recognize the contributions and achievements of the members of your company, you, as an employer or HR manager, create an environment in which everyone feels valued.
While the act of recognizing an employee's efforts is usually motivated by good intentions, it is crucial to be careful about how recognition is expressed in order to avoid negative feedback.
The perverse effects of poor recognition at work
Inappropriate recognition or lack of recognition at work can lead to the following perverse effects.
Risk of transforming intrinsic motivation into extrinsic motivation
If your recognition program is limited to external rewards such as financial bonuses or promotions , it risks diverting your employees’ desire to learn and develop towards a desire for financial benefits and public recognition. Instead of striving to excel for the sake of success, employees are likely to focus solely on tangible rewards and social status. The result? Their long-term job satisfaction will be compromised.
Also read: Effective recognition practices at work
Perception of injustice
Unequal or selective recognition can lead to feelings of unfairness among team members. For example, some employees are regularly rewarded or praised for their efforts, while others are ignored or undervalued. While they can manifest themselves at the recruitment stage, cognitive biases can also influence your choices when it comes to evaluating and recognizing your employees. Try to be aware of them and establish rigorous criteria to make fairer decisions. The perception of unfairness can create a feeling of bias and frustration within the company. Subsequently, this feeling of unfairness can lead to a decrease in motivation as well as interpersonal tensions.
Competitive climate
If recognition in a company is focused solely on individual results, it can foster an unhealthy competitive environment. For example, employees will be encouraged to compete with their colleagues for rewards or promotions. Limiting recognition to results can lead to a culture of rivalry and distrust. Instead of collaborating and sharing knowledge, workers may feel pressured to protect and outdo each other. All of this can harm team effectiveness and cohesion.
Dependence on the gaze of others
A lack of recognition at work can lead employees to develop a dependency on approval from their superiors or peers. When their value and contribution are not recognized or validated, they can feel a lack of confidence and chronic dissatisfaction. This dependency on external opinion can negatively affect their self-esteem and mental well-being. It can make them vulnerable to burnout.
Also discover: How to prevent and avoid burnout in business?
Accolad, the ideal choice for appropriate recognition
To avoid the perverse effects of inadequate recognition, it is essential to adopt recognition practices that meet all employee needs and promote a healthy and motivating work environment. Take the time to take stock of your recognition practices. Make sure they address the 4 forms of recognition at work and vary your methods. Remember that recognition is practiced daily and is everyone's responsibility. It must also be authentic and personalized. If necessary, do not hesitate to review your recognition program to adjust the course.
To prevent recognition from becoming a burden on your HR team, opt for an automated and customizable recognition solution to reward your employees effectively. The Accolad self-service recognition platform is probably the best choice available if you have a small number of employees or a small budget. In just a few clicks, it allows you to offer personalized recognition gifts to an unlimited number of employees. Each employee is then free to exchange the Accolad discount code received for a gift card of their choice in the Accolad Rewards Store.
Are you often short on time due to work commitments? Accolad Self-Service is the solution you need to save time and make your recognition program a success. No need to spend hours searching the Internet for gift ideas. Accolad offers everything you need to celebrate birthdays, career achievements and other special occasions in one place. Want to learn more? Get a demo of Accolad Self-Service.
