Staff offered incentives to increase motivation and productivity would most like to see prizes contain cash and days off, according to a recent survey.
Research conducted by print specialists Purely Digital looked at the types of prize on offer to workers as part of internal campaigns to improve morale and boost performance.
Forward-thinking HR departments have begun to employ a range of incentives aimed at boosting morale and eliciting the best performance from employees
Out of almost 900 answers, 39.1 per cent said they would most like to receive a ‘small financial reward’ as the top prize of a work-based ‘competition’ or strategy, such as a scratch card or bingo campaign.
‘More annual leave’ came in second at 36.9 per cent, while less than half this number voted for the third most popular answer, ‘activity days’.
Incentives can be used to encourage a type of behaviour or ethos that those in the company believe will lead to greater business success in the future.
The research suggests that the best way to motivate workers when using an internal campaign is to offer prizes that give staff the freedom to choose what they want to do.
Andrew Edmondson, Managing Director at Purely Digital, said:
“Campaigns that involve giving scratch cards or other incentives to staff who have performed well are very popular at present.
“I’ve seen managers and HR departments offer a range of prizes, anything from cash bonuses and extra days off to 10 per cent discounts on the company’s range of goods and services. However, the data seems to show that awaydays and special offers are too prescriptive, with employees preferring to receive prizes that give them more freedom of choice.
“For a company that already realises the importance of incentivising staff through such techniques, this information is very useful and could make the difference between an average-performing campaign and one that truly motivates its employees to go that extra mile.”
Rebecca joined the HRreview editorial team in January 2016. After graduating from the University of Sheffield Hallam in 2013 with a BA in English Literature, Rebecca has spent five years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past she has been part of the editorial teams at Sleeper and Dezeen and has founded her own arts collective.
