INEXPENSIVE INCENTIVES

INEXPENSIVE INCENTIVES FOR STAFF

While this list is not exhausted there are myriads of ways you can motivate your staff. Remember once the objective is to motivate and show appreciation the requisite results will be to the benefit of your department and ultimately you.

Gift Certificate (Hardware store, coffee shop, bus pass etc)
· May be given to staff who are never late, never absent, never ill during say a six-month interval (January to June, and July to December).
· May be given to an employee who consistently leaves their work area neat and tidy at the end of the work day.
· May be given to an employee who is always willing to assist other co-workers.

Scheduled time off
· Time off may be granted during the workday to browse the net.
· Time off may be given to come in late or leave early.
(Note, that the allocation of time off should not become counterproductive and should be allowed with minimal departmental disruption)

Positive/Inspirational messages
· Send daily quotes, anecdotes to your staff whether by email or text.

Departmental meetings
· While this may seem obvious, meetings must be held periodically to provide insights into the output of the department and how aligned these are with the objectives of the organization.
· Meetings must be effective in that the same issues should not always appear on the agenda.

Departmental Suggestion Box
· Encourage staff to volunteer their suggestions and reward them for those ideas that have been implemented by the organization.

Manager for a day
· Allow each staff to be the department’s manager for the day. Let your staff submit a schedule of their intended activities for the day and you both may iron out activities that may be possible. The aim is to let them know the pressures you face daily.

Movie Night
· Have a quarterly movie night where staff is given movie tickets, soda and popcorn money.

Departmental Fun Day
· Have a departmental B-B-Q where staff may bring their families. This may be once a year

Develop your staff
· Ensure that all your staff goes to a seminar or is exposed to some type of organizational learning every six months.