As you can imagine, with my role in Engagement Strategy here at Next Level, and as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF), I spend a lot of time thinking, reading, and talking about how organizations can make deeper connections with their employees, customers, and channel partners. After all, this engagement is proven to drive …
9 ways to celebrate your employees year-round
The workforce is always evolving—and your recognition and retention efforts should evolve with it. In the past three years, not only did we navigate a global pandemic that made a hybrid work environment the norm, but we welcomed a younger generation of employees into the mix of Baby Boomers and Generation Xers that previously dominated the workforce. According to the …
Halfway to the Holidays: Stand out with your rewards strategy
While the season of giving is an important time of the year to recognize your customer and employee relationships—there are many more opportunities year-round to take advantage of. A great reward strategy should do more than just simply “gift”—it should also help you stand out. According to Forbes, since the pandemic, over 80% of corporate gift-givers said gifts have improved …
Integrating health & wellness into your recognition program
Can promoting employee wellness boost overall well-being? A 2019 study conducted by the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) pointed to a growing body of research demonstrating that promoting employee health and well-being can have a positive impact on company performance. The CDC also says that healthy employees not only have better quality of life, they also benefit from having a lower …
Recognition & Incentives: What You Need to Know for 2023
No doubt about it, 2022 was a tumultuous year for businesses everywhere. Many companies strategically increased investment in recognition and incentive programs to stabilize their workforces, and to re-connect after long months of COVID separation from colleagues and clients. It wasn’t always easy, though, as market forces and a re-starting economy created challenges never encountered before – Awards? Stuck on …
Employee Appreciation in a Hybrid Environment
A hybrid work structure has become the norm for many companies following the COVID-19 pandemic—but has your company adjusted their employee appreciation strategy to account for these changes? The recently released Incentive Research Foundation’s Industry Outlook for 2023 cites a critical focus on attracting and retaining talent in this challenging period. It also shows that businesses are considering non-cash incentive …
A 2023 Guide to Timely Recognition and Appreciation
Research proves that companies with strong recognition programs enjoy increased productivity, lower job turnover, and greater returns on investment than other companies in the same industries (Harvard Research, January 2019). The more you prioritize recognition, the more likely you are to have a successful incentive program. Recently, Next Level Performance delivered a comprehensive solution that resulted in a three-year growth …
Resignation, Regret, And A Shifting Baseline
A recent survey of nearly 1,300 Americans conducted by Resume Builder shows that about 23% of employees will seek new jobs in 2022. Other surveys put the numbers much higher. A tight labor market drives people to push for higher salaries and better benefits. They see that a flexible work culture leads to a better work-life balance. So “the grass is always greener” takes hold, and leads to The Great Recession.
A Quick Look at the Psychology Behind Employee Engagement
Today, we’ll take a quick peek at the psychology behind why employee engagement and rewards programs work. And dip very briefly into a few considerations when setting up those plans.
The Great Resignation is Here. Now What?
Whether crafting a program to promote employee happiness and therefore company loyalty, or a program to incentivize achieving a sales highpoint or safety milestone, project completion or other company or departmental objective, there are dozens of considerations, best practices to emulate, as well as pitfalls to avoid.
Straight To The Point: The Misfire of Popular Choice
What is the best reward for employees?
Celebrating 45 Years
It’s time to celebrate our 45th Work Anniversary. Our company was founded in 1976 by Jim Dittman. He wanted to create a place where he would want to work not necessarily a big company, but a great company. In the years since, we have grown into a vibrant organization focused on helping companies move their people to the next level.