Recognition programs are central to a positive workplace culture. However, many people mistakenly believe rewards are the key to their success. Rewards certainly have their place, but true recognition is about much more. It's about a culture where appreciation is intrinsic, genuine, and part of everyday interactions.
Today, we’ll debunk common myths about recognition and reward programs. We’ll also highlight strategies that work. From building a culture of gratitude to using tools like HeyTaco, we'll explore simple, cost-effective approaches that can have a lasting impact on your organization's culture.
The 3 biggest recognition and reward program myths
“There’s no use in starting a recognition program. We have to figure out rewards, and they’ll just want more money. We can’t afford it.” This not-unheard-of (and honestly, unnecessarily negative 😤) statement summarizes all three myths.
Recognition isn’t a substitute for fair pay. If compensation is under control, recognition is an easy add-on that makes everything your company offers more appealing.
MYTH #1: “You can’t have a successful recognition program without rewards.”
This assumes people won’t recognize and thank their teammates for great work unless they get something for it.
Some people are motivated by extrinsic rewards and money specifically. However, many people aren’t. They genuinely enjoy sharing and receiving genuine appreciation. The obstacle to sharing it is that they forget, or the company doesn’t (yet) have a habit of sharing appreciation publicly.
Running a recognition program without rewards
Start by creating a place where people can publicly share gratitude and see how others respond. You can do so in two simple steps by creating a public channel in your collaboration platform, like Slack or Microsoft Teams. Share messages of appreciation, and add ‘Appreciations’ as an agenda item to your All Company Meetings.
This will cost you nothing and help you build an intrinsic habit of appreciation.
With HeyTaco, people will have fun sending tacos in your appreciation channel and enjoying the feeling of giving and receiving recognition. Some teams that use HeyTaco don’t offer rewards because they’ve found the giving is rewarding enough.
Ready to make appreciation an everyday habit?
Try HeyTaco free for 30 days. No credit card required.
Try HeyTaco freeMYTH #2: “Monetary rewards are the most effective rewards.”
Do you remember what you spent your last $10 Amazon gift card on? You probably put it toward a recent purchase, including dishwasher detergent, socks, and a new basketball.
Gift cards are easy to automate. But do they accomplish what you set out to do: build a culture of recognition? Monetary rewards have a place and a time. If used exclusively, they can make recognition feel and become transactional, where people engage only to get something in return.
Creating meaning with non-monetary rewards
Create rewards that are more experiential and/or cost very little. We’ve compiled a list of employee rewards that teams have used successfully over the years and that you can't find in any online store.
Use Team Rewards instead. Create an experience that the whole team can contribute to and enjoy, such as Tacos for Charity. Or, try a virtual/in-person team-building activity.
Purchase or make fun Taco Trophies and award them to the top Taco Givers and Taco Receivers. The team will have fun creating these trophies (or finding one online) and proudly displaying them on their desk.
MYTH #3: “Recognition programs are expensive.”
See myth #2 above. If you think gift cards are the way you create a successful cultural practice, then yes. Your recognition program will probably be expensive and less sustainable long-term.
Building a rewarding culture on a tiny budget
Not ready or interested in using rewards for budgetary reasons? Focus on highlighting your top Taco Givers and Taco Receivers, either monthly or quarterly.
Use the Leaderboard to identify the winners and recognize them publicly. Add a small token of appreciation (Taco Trophy, a fun T-shirt) to create a physical representation of their taco awesomeness.
Encourage people to tag company values when giving a taco using Taco Tags, and publicly celebrate people who are living your company values.
A culture of appreciation is just a handful of tacos away
While rewards can play a role, they should complement, not define, your recognition efforts. By focusing on intrinsic recognition, creating meaningful experiences, and celebrating values-driven behavior, you can create a culture where recognition is genuine, impactful, and sustainable.
Start small, experiment, and listen to your team's feedback. With the right approach, you can foster a culture where recognition is a natural part of your organization's DNA.
Ready to get started with HeyTaco and start building your culture of gratitude? You can do so here.
