Focus

Explore current recognition programs in place at U-M and determine the best methods of providing recognition on an organization-wide basis that will encourage staff as they contribute to the University in research, teaching, service, and patient care.

Objectives

• Identify best practice reward programs that can be used to provide additional value-added options for employees
• Evaluate options for recognition strategies that can be implemented on an organization-wide basis
• Identify best practices and supervisor/manager education or tools to integrate recognition into daily work life

Wins

• Consolidated two VOICES Network teams (Performance Management & Recognition and Benefits & Rewards) into one unified team working on the subject of rewards & recognition throughout the University of Michigan.
• Participated in the VOICES Supervisor Conference with a session on “Recognition Basics for Supervisors.” Provided Supervisor Recognition Toolkits as takeaways for all participants.
• Partnership with University Human Resources (UHR) Recognition Committee to review their proposal for a recognition roll-out in their departments. Reviewed plans and made recommendations prior to roll-out.
• Partnership with Institute for Social Research (ISR) Leadership Team to discuss concept of Recognition and how their lead team could develop a Recognition Program for 1100 staff and faculty. Provided resources, information and guidance on development of a plan.
• Partnership with Uniquely Michigan website to discuss strategies to increase awareness of the website.
• Partnership with MCard to discuss improvements in marketing the discounts available through use of the card to employees.
  • Shared information with MCard about communication vehicles available through the Health System (Bulletin, Screen Savers, Applause!)

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Work in Progress

• Discussions in progress to assist HR Committee working on the topic of Vacation and Paid Time Off, who are creating a business proposal regarding a donation policy.
• Working on the creation of a Business Proposal for further marketing of the employee rewards available through MCard and the Uniquely Michigan websites.
• Planning for the creation of a Business Proposal for the creation of an institution-wide recognition system (including training, education and supervisor resources).

Findings

Recognition Resources

• Guiding Principles of Recognition (doc)
• How to Create a Recognition Program (doc)
• Employee Recognition Preference Profile (doc)
• Employee Recognition Inventory (doc)
• Employee Recognition “Thank You” Notes (doc)
• A Catalog of Employee Recognition Ideas from A to Z (doc)
• Recognition & Retention Options (doc)
• UMHS Scheduled Time Off Certificate (doc)
• UMHS Time Off Guidelines for Reward and Recognition of Staff (pdf)
• Standard Practice Guide: Travel and Business Hosting “Gifts, Prizes and Awards Procedures” (pdf)

Recognition throughout University of Michigan

U-M Hospitals and Health Centers Formal Recognition

• You’re Super Awards
• Shining Star Awards
• Gifts of Art Employee Awards
• Safety Management Academy Awards
• M-Fit Wellness Champion Awards
• Length of Service Awards
• Laurita Thomas Diversity Champion Awards
• Daisy Nursing Awards
• Employee Suggestion Program Awards
• Holiday Gift Passes
• UMHHC Quarterly Recognition Receptions
• UMHHC Employee Appreciation Picnics & Ice Cream Socials
• U-M Campus Formal Recognition
• UMatter! Staff Recognition Program
• Length of Service Awards
• Maize and Blue Community Awards
• Workplace Awards
• Candace J. Johnson Staff Award for Excellence

Suggested Websites

• Recognition Professionals International — www.recognition.org
  The organization provides a forum for information and best practices sharing as well as education to foster the use, excitement, effectiveness, and enthusiasm of recognition.
• Baudville Company — www.baudville.com
  This company provides recognition products to assist you in building your program from scratch or adding to your existing program.
• Nelson Motivation, Inc. — www.nelson-motivation.com
  Dr. Bob Nelson’s company offers low cost recognition resources, seminars, training materials, articles and other methods for enhancing your recognition efforts.
• Barbara Glanz — www.barbaraglanz.com
  Barbara Glanz is a motivational speaker who works with organizations that want to improve morale, retention, service and with people who want to rediscover the joy in their work and in their lives.
• Awards and Recognition Association — www.ara.org
  Organization of 4,000 companies dedicated to increasing the professionalism of recognition specialists and advancing the awards and engraving industry.
• The Fish Philosophy — www.fishphilosophy.com
  A philosophy offering fresh inspiration through a blend of films, books, speakers, curriculum and consulting to help us all feel more alive and engaged in the work we do.
• UMHS Employee Recognition — www.med.umich.edu/umhshr/recognition
  Features upcoming events, resource library, strategies and highlights from recognition activities aimed at helping to create a successful department recognition program.
• National Observances & Holidays — www.pohly.com/dates.html
  A calendar of all 12 months of observation and recognition dates for the health, medical and hospital industry.

Recommended Reading

• You Made My Day: Creating Co-Worker Recognition and Relationships (Janis Allen & Michael McCarthy)
• Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service (Kristin Anderson)
• Priceless Motivation: Quick tips to excite and inspire your most valuable asset...people (Baudville Inc.)
• How to Recognize and Reward Employees (Donna Deeprose)
• Care Packages for the Workplace: Dozens of little things you can do to regenerate spirit at work (Barbara Glanz)
• Handle with Care: Motivating and Retaining Employees (Barbara Glanz)
• Managing With Carrots: Using Recognition To Attract and Retain The Best People (Adrian Gostick & Chester Elton)
• The 24 Carrot Manager: A remarkable story of how a leader can unleash human potential (Adrian Gostick & Chester Elton)
• The 24 Carrot Manager Toolkit (Adrian Gostick & Chester Elton)
• Getting Employees to Fall in Love with Your Company (Jim Harris, Ph.D.)
• Please Don’t Just Do What I Tell You (Bob Nelson)
• The Rewards of Recognition: How To Generate The Energy Your Organization Needs (Bob Nelson)
• 1001 Ways to Rewards Employees (Bob Nelson)
• Recognition, Gratitude, Celebration: Best Management Practices (Patrick L. Townsend & Joan Gebhardt)
• Retaining Your Employees: Using Respect, Recognition and Rewards for Positive Results (Barb Winfield & Janice Berry)
• For a comprehensive, downloadable list of Employee Recognition Resources, click here. (doc)

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Network Team Members

Contact the Voices Rewards & Recognition Team
voices.rewards@umich.edu

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