No Cost Recognition Strategies

• Keep in mind that managers should serve as coaches to indirectly influence rather than demand desired behavior
  
• Pat on the Back - Draw an outline of your hand on a piece of paper. Photocopy enough copies for all residents on the floor. On each hand write a note that tells the resident why they deserve a “Pat on the Back”.
  
• Look around the office or at home for a white elephant item. Name the item for the award (Resident of the Month/Week, Great Idea Award, Gotcha Award - catch someone in the act of doing something good).
  
• Decorate a bulletin board or the door in recognition of your residents.
  
• Chalk the sidewalk in front of your office saying “thanks” to your residents or RMs.
  
• "You Rock" award - print "You Rock" on a rock and present it to someone when they go a good job. Encourage the student to present it to another resident of the floor when they observe someone doing a good job.
  
• Develop a peer recognition program (e.g. resident of the month/week - other students can give input or feedback) and place on a tag board or poster for public recognition.
  
• Ask students what motivates them and implement a recognition program that is based on individual preferences.
  
• Offer to be a mentor for residents
  
• Acknowledge personal achievements in a group.
  
• Provide letters of recommendation for residents who do well on their floor
  
• Acknowledge birthdays – card signed by all members of the staff
  
• Write a year-end letter to your staff, sharing the department’s successes for the year.
  
• Create a wall of fame
  
• Put a motivational quote on employees’ desk, or RMs door, at the beginning of each week, or before a big event.
  
• Award time off for a job well done.
  
• Highs and lows, Snaps and craps, apples and artichokes to start meeting.
  
• Include a staff member in a meeting that they wouldn’t normally attend.
  
• Have a cowboy day, everyone dresses up like a cowboy.
  
• Make a breakfast/lunch/dinner date off-campus with your staff.
  
• Make a thank you card by hand
  
• Establish a “Behind the Scenes” award specifically for those whose actions are not usually in the limelight
  
• Felix and Oscar - Give out Felix and Oscar awards to people with the neatest and messiest desks
  
• Name an Award - Name a continuing recognition award after an outstanding employee
  
• ABCD - Create and Above and Beyond the Call of Duty (ABCD) award
  
• Write a letter of praise recognizing specific contributions and accomplishments. Send a copy to senior management and the employee’s personnel file.
  
• Call an employee to your office to thank them (don’t discuss any other issue)
  
• Feedback - When you hear a positive remark about someone, repeat it to that person as soon as possible (face-to-face is best, email or voice mail are good in a pinch)
  
• Publish recognition - If you have a department newsletter, publish a “kudos” column and ask for nominations throughout the department
  
• Mug - Give a deserving employee a mug filled with treats
  
• Names - Greet staff members by name
  
• Specific job interests - Encourage staff to identify specific areas of interest in job-related skills. Then arrange for them to spend the day with an in-house “expert” to learn more about the topic
  
• Use the Internet for cool "freebies" to recognize your student employees:
  
  123 Greetings: http://www.123greetings.com
  1001.com: http://www.1001.com/postcards
  American Greeting Cards: http://www.americangreetings.com
  Awesome CyberCards: http://www.marlo.com/card.htm
  Blue Mountain Greeting Cards: http://www.bluemountain.com
  Cardmaster: http://www.cardmaster.com/
  Cards Up: http://www.cardsup.com
  Custom Greeting Cards: http://www.dltk-kids.com/cards/index.html
  Digital Postcards: http://www.all-yours.net/postcard/dp.html
  EGreetings: http://www.egreetings.com
  Go Greetings: http://www.gogreet.com/index.html?/
  Hallmark Greetings: http://www.hallmark.com
  Mail a Meal: http://www.mailameal.com/
  Print-free Cards: http://www.printfree.com
  Roadrunner Cards: http://www.roadrunner.pacprod.com
  Thundercloud: http://www.thundercloud.net
  Toon O Gram: http://www.toonogram.com/
  Virtual Florist: http://www.virtualflorist.com/
  Virtual Presents: http://www.virtualpresents.com/
  Wow Greetings: http://www.wowgreetings.com
  Yahoo Greetings: http://greetings.yahoo.com

Adapted from: College of Saint Benedict | Saint John's University, Student Employment resource. Available at http://www.csbsju.edu/se/Employee_of_Year/recognition_for_student_employee.htm

Hacker, Carol A. (2003) 450 low-cost, no-cost strategies for recognizing, rewarding, and retaining good people. Carol A. Hacker and Associates.