5 ways to design a greener recognition programme
It’s not only the human experience which is evolving under the growing influence of global megatrends – the employee experience is also being directly impacted and shaped.
These trends can’t be ignored. All of them affect employee needs and expectations and that has consequences for reward and recognition.
One of the megatrends is climate change. From rising sea levels to growing demand for food and energy, climate change is a global crisis of our time. Green means go for employees
“We already do our bit for the environment,” you might be saying. “We’ve gone paperless and the company car’s electric.”
As well as the easy wins, consider how sustainability is reflected in your business’s employee experience and recognition activity.
Climate change is firmly embedded in the public consciousness and discussion and action surrounding the subject will only intensify with each new generation.
In fact, according to the Deloitte Gen Z and Millennial Survey 2022, after the cost of living, climate change was the second biggest concern for both these key employee demographics.
Attracting and keeping talent
For a growing number of people, the colour of your credentials is as much a deciding factor as the colour of your money. If it’s not green, you could find the talent pool you’re fishing in gets smaller.
Employees want to work for companies that reflect their own values and expect their employer to pursue an agenda that balances financial results with social issues, equity and inclusion, and environmental impact.
Make sustainability a part of your culture and back up your intentions with actions. Although employees are showing their commitment (90% of Millennials and Gen Zs are attempting to reduce their impact on the environment), many companies are only seen as talking rather than acting (less than 20% of Millennials and Gen Zs felt their employers were acting on climate change).
With research showing that 79% of Millennial employees are loyal to companies that care about their effect on society, having strong eco-commitments can positively affect both the work environment and the wider environment.
Five ways to a greener recognition programme
Putting sustainability at the heart of your company is clearly beneficial, and with PwC stating that it’s now the ‘lens through which a business is judged by its consumers, workforce, society and increasingly investors’, it’s something that needs serious consideration.
A recognition programme is uniquely placed to promote behaviours and celebrate successes. Whereas previously they were driven by an organisation’s vision and values, they’re now focused on organisational purpose, underpinned by the drive for better ESG strategies.
Five ways to improve your recognition offering and positively affect the environment and your employee experience.
1. Re-prioritise programme objectives
While not all the changes in behaviour needed to fight against climate change are within the power of employees, many are. Tailor the actions and values that you recognise and reward to encourage the behaviours that have an impact.
Incorporate objectives in your recognition programme, such as:
- Reducing energy consumption
- Reducing waste
- Optimising employee transportation
- Promoting environmentally friendly ways of working
- Raising awareness among employees, clients, and stakeholders
2. Choose aligned partners
As well as using recognition initiatives to support your company’s ESG strategy, the downstream delivery of your reward strategy can significantly affect those objectives. Make sure your suppliers are committed to the same, or better, ESG targets and create a commercial model that supports your sustainability.
3. Consider rewards
Use rewards sourced responsibly and locally, minimising the need for transport and environmental impact. Simply opting for vouchers doesn’t offset the responsibility and, as studies show, are significantly less effective at engaging employees.
4. Engaging experiences
Ensure experiences such as concert tickets, travel and cultural activities are part of your reward strategy to minimise manufacture, packaging and delivery, and maximise personal development and emotional engagement with your programme.
5. Encourage altruistic behaviour
With cost-of-living pinching on employee disposable income, their ability to donate and support causes of meaning to them may be limited. Allow them to use their rewards to close the gap between their desires and abilities.
For more insight into the impact of megatrends such as climate change on reward and recognition offerings, click here to read BI WORLDWIDE’s 'Shaping the Future' report.
Supplied by REBA Associate Member, BI WORLDWIDE
BI WORLDWIDE is a global engagement agency delivering measurable results for clients through inspirational employee and channel reward and recognition solutions.
