Many businesses have an employee recognition program in place to acknowledge the good work employees do on a day-to-day basis. Such programs are important since something as simple as an employee award certificate or an employee appreciation certificate can boost morale, increase motivation and improve the environment around the workplace. No one likes to feel unappreciated, so whether your business decides to offer stellar workers an employee of the month certificate or reward productive weekly work with a simple employee service recognition form, it is important to show your workers that you are grateful for their contributions.

An employee recognition gift can take on any number of forms. Many businesses choose to reward their employees with a certificate or an award which details their contribution and positive work ethic. When it comes to employee recognition certificate types and styles, every company is going to have a style or format that appeals to them most. When considering employee recognition certificate types and styles, you should:

1. Research handmade or homemade employee recognition reward.

2. Locate professionally designed and developed business award certificate creations and products.

3. Find employee recognition award templates.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Distribute a handmade or homemade employee recognition reward

Some individuals are just so talented that they can make beautiful and creative employee recognition reward pieces right from their very own homes or offices. An employee recognition program does not have to be elaborate, nor do the employee recognition awards being handed out. For businesses that are talented or on a budget, consider homemade options.

I recommend: NIU.edu discusses a number of employee recognition reward options, such as homemade cookies after impressive business periods and cakes or sweets to celebrate birthdays. Additional ideas for employee recognition reward options, such as receiving a day off and a handwritten note or priority parking, can be found at 101Rewards.com and eHow.com, respectively.

Order professionally designed employee of the month certificate creations and personalized gifts

Especially in the case of more momentous rewards, such as an employee of the month certificate, it may be a better idea to have the employee recognition ideas professionally created. There are a number of vendors who cater to just this need. Benefits of this option include the professionalism with which the work is done.

I recommend: Personalized gifts show how much a business truly cares about its individual workers. Baudville.com offers a number of professionally designed and engraved employee recognition gifts. Professional employee of the month certificates and awards can be found at GiftsforProfessionals.com.

Use stylish templates for your employee recognition certificate handouts

Sometimes templates are the way to go. This employee appreciation certificate option is a gracious mix of handmade and professionally designed awards. It also lets business leaders save and print out the employee recognition awards so they are ready and available at a moment's notice.

I recommend: SouthWorth.com offers a number of employee achievement templates, free of charge, including safety awards and awards of excellence. Meanwhile, certificate papers, offering an at-cost template for employee recognition awards, can be found at PaperDirect.com.

Whether you choose to recognize your employees with a fancy "Employee of the Month" certificate suitable for framing or you choose fun and funny employee recognition awards, make recognizing and thanking your employees a priority and you'll see an increase in employee morale and productivity.

Evaluate your expectations before you implement an employee recognition program. Make sure the program you select provides you with opportunities to meet those expectations by allowing you to recognize both common and unusual achievements.

1. Design an employee motivation recognition program that suits the size of your business.

2. Create employee service recognition letters and certificates from your computer.

3. Purchase employee recognition letters and certificates.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hire a professional to create your employee recognition program

Rely on the experts to design a recognition program that's unique to your company. Discuss the specifics you want to recognize such as anniversaries and outstanding achievements as well as outstanding service awards. Ask for samples so you can compare the various certificates and award letters side-by-side before you make a final decision.

I recommend: Maritz is prepared to help you increase your company's productivity as well as morale by designing an employee recognition program specifically for you regardless of the size of your business. ReThink Rewards is prepared to help you create the perfect employee recognition reward program for your employees.

Take advantage of your computer to make employee service recognition products

Look for free templates that you can download and print on your office computer. You'll be able to recognize achievements much faster and still provide your employees with a product worthy of framing.

I recommend: Southworth has a variety of employee recognition certificates that you can download for free, saving you time and money while recognizing the efforts of your employees. Funny Employee Awards offers a book with 75 downloadable recognition certificates and five customizable templates that are designed to bring laughter to your recognition meetings.

Select a company to provide you with employee service recognition letters and certificates

Review a variety of companies that provide recognition letters and certificates before you settle. You can have awards customized with your employee's details including things like their name and number of years of service to make the award even more meaningful and personal.

I recommend: Baudville offers you a variety of employee recognition ideas, including fill-in-the-blank employee appreciation certificate options or custom-printed employee award certificate options. PaperDirect has an impressive array of simple and extravagant award and recognition certificates for employees.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make your employee recognition reward match the action you're recognizing. If your employee caught an error that saved your company thousands of dollars, choose something more than an inexpensive gift card to recognize that employee.