Employee Motivation

How do you show your employees that you value them while eliminating a line item in your budget?

Give each employee a mug with the hospital name and a message.  

Once each employee had a mug the hospital was able to stop ordering disposable foam cups

Focus on recognition that feels genuine and tied to real contributions. The strongest programs make it easy for employees to understand what is being recognized, keep the messaging simple, and use rewards that match your culture (not random swag). When the “why” is clear and the recognition is consistent, it lands as authentic instead of gimmicky.

Usually it is a mix. Public recognition drives pride and momentum, while tangible rewards (gift choices, useful items, or experiences) add weight and excitement. What worked in this case was pairing a clear recognition moment with a reward employees actually wanted, so participation stayed high and the program felt worth engaging with.

Momentum comes from structure. Campaigns last when they have a simple cadence (weekly milestones, team updates, and visible progress), plus smaller “surprise” moments along the way. In this case, the program was designed so employees saw ongoing progress and recognition, not just a single kickoff and a distant finish.