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Recognition

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Is the question designed to illicit a response to consider the employee's appreciation as being a primary objective within the workplace? More than likely, the question assumes that both money and recognition serve as primary means to motivate an employee to greater productivity, loyalty and reliability. Money, an intrinsic necessity and recognition, an extrinsic nicety, both serve as incentives. Get a bonus and an "attaboy" for a job well done. Either way, a positive acknowledgment is appreciated. That said, only money can be taken to the bank. Money is where the rubber meets the road. Money enhances buying power, raises one's standard of living. Money can be counted! Recognition feeds the ego but egos deflate pretty quickly where money is withheld in light of meritorious performance, particularly in light on apparent benefits to the overall cause (enhanced revenue or retained earnings through production efficiencies). That said, monetary incentives are more an expectation rather than a source of appreciation. Meet a goal and receive a bonus.

Recognition for a job well done delivers an affirmation of significant psychological worth, a positive reinforcement that validates the employee's contribution to any collective endeavor. Recognizing an appreciated employee by heaping accolades while withholding financial rewards will ultimately leave a vacuum, an apparent disparity that may be perceived as empty rhetoric or manipulative jargon if intrinsic rewards are withheld. A terribly poor though appropriate example may be compared to training a pet. Trainers always use positive reinforcement but follow through with a treat. Human beings are really smart animals who are the only species with intellect, remarkable cognitive abilities, emotions and a soul or spirit. A comprehensive practice that incorporates both money and recognition as a means to communicate to the employee their value would optimize the desired response from the employee.

In the final analysis, the utilization of money as the only means of appreciation may produce effective results for the short term, but employee morale may suffer in the longer term. Recognition without the concomitant monetary acknowledgment will most assuredly lead to dissatisfaction in the workplace. So, the best practice would incorporate both money and recognition as a means to affirm the contributions of the exceptional employee.

Learn more about this author, Joe Palvado.
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