Recognition - The Cure for Quiet Quitting

Quiet Quitting

You’ve probably heard the term quite quitting being thrown around, but what exactly is it? Quiet quitting is when employees do the bare minimum of what’s required of them to keep their job. This state of mind occurs most often when there is a lack of engagement, motivation, and recognition in the organization’s culture. For example, an employee might not put forth any extra effort to complete a project or meet a deadline, because they feel that their efforts won't be recognized.

In some cases, quiet quitting may seem harmless, but it can have serious consequences for your organization. It can lead to a decline in productivity, quality of work, and morale. It can also create an environment where negative behaviors are tolerated.

When done properly, employee recognition can be highly effective at fighting quiet quitting by boosting morale, engagement, and retention. In fact, one study found recognition to be the leading motivator for employees. Of the respondents, 37% said that recognition was the most important driver of producing high quality work. In may be surprising to learn that compensation came in at only 7%.

Here are just a few of the benefits that your organization can enjoy when you make recognition a part of your company culture:   

- Improved motivation: Everyone likes to feel appreciated, and employees are no exception. When you take the time to recognize your employees' hard work, you send a message that their efforts are valued. This can go a long way toward improving motivation levels across your organization.

- Higher engagement levels: Engaged employees are more likely to stick around than those who are disengaged. By showing your employees that their contributions matter, you can increase engagement levels and reduce turnover.

- Greater productivity: When employees feel appreciated, they're also more likely to be productive. In fact, companies find that engaged workers are directly related to an increase in productivity levels.

- Increased retention: Employees who feel recognized and appreciated are also less likely to quit. In fact, according to one survey, 87% of respondents said that they would be more likely to stay at their current job if they were recognized for their productivity.

- Better customer satisfaction: happy employees lead to happy customers. When your customers see that your employees are engaged and motivated, they'll be more likely to have a positive experience—which can lead to repeat business and increased sales.


How to implement a recognition program to combat quite quitting:

Recognition can have a profoundly positive impact on your business—but only if it's done right. So how do you make sure your awards and recognition program is effective? Here are a few tips:

- Make sure it's aligned with your business goals: Your awards and recognition program should support your business goals—not detract from them. For example, if one of your goals is to improve customer satisfaction levels, then focus on recognizing employees who provide exceptional customer service.

- Keep it simple: Employees should be able to easily understand how they can earn awards and recognition. Otherwise, they'll quickly become frustrated, and may even start looking for a new job where communication is clearer!

- Be consistent: Awarding haphazardly will only decrease the program's effectiveness over time. Employees need to know that there's a system in place—and that it's being followed consistently by everyone in the company.

- Get feedback from employees: Running an effective recognition program isn't possible without input from your team members. After all, they're the ones who will be participating in the program. Make sure to get feedback from employees on what's working well, and what could be improved on a regular basis. 

Contact us today for advice on starting a recognition program in your organization. We can help you design a program that will motivate and retain your best employees.