Global recognition schemes need base line principles, says Vikki Gledhill of Cox Automotive
Speaking at the Using recognition to encourage a people-centric organisation REBA webinar on 5 June 2024, Vikki Gledhill, Cox Automotive’s senior director of international total rewards, explained that operating a consistent recognition scheme across different countries and workforces is a challenge.
“Our original mission was to create a culture of recognition and appreciation to create a positive work environment where we reinforce desired behaviours,” she said.
“And we want to motivate high performance within that as well. We have managed to do that in part and so we've made that recognition part of our overall total reward offering.”
The automotive services and technology provider has slightly different recognition practices in different countries but has a baseline of recognition principles which are the same everywhere: fairness and balance.
“That’s giving all team members the opportunity to recognise and be recognised. And providing a range of recognition tools that appreciate and recognise in different ways to hit those different populations,” Gledhill added.
The company gives managers a “pot to play with” to give out every day, instant awards, and has monthly winners who have demonstrated the company’s guiding principles. It also has non-monetary recognition, with e-cards. “We’ve made it really easy to use and understand,” Gledhill added.
The company uses the term ‘glocal’ to recognise that things must be done differently in different countries. “There are taxes, cultural norms, benefit rules. What means something to somebody in a country doesn't mean anything into another country,” Gledhill added. For example, the company gives out cash rewards in the UK, but vouchers in other European countries.
