Why are long service awards important?
The retention of staff is a key part of ensuring the longevity of a business. It’s more important than ever to recognise your loyal employees, and Long Service Awards are a fundamental and effective way of showing you care.
Not only do they tell people that you value their hard work and dedication, but they also boost morale and incentivise staff to stay in job roles longer. With a new generation of workforce climbing up the ranks, how do we take charge of the ‘job-hopping’ culture? The answer is rather simple. Recognise them.
With that in mind, here is a quick rundown of some suggested Long Service Award solutions.
| What constitutes long service in a role? |
| Say goodbye to the standard 5-year increments for LSAs, which can seem like such a long way off and unrelated to new employees. Our People Points reward and recognition package gives the option for rewarding LSAs as one of its modules, and we have seen a significant increase in clients using this platform to offer a reward for every single year an employee stays in the business. It’s typically in a tiered system, the longer someone stays, the higher the reward, so the incentive is still there to hold on to employees for the longer term too. |
| What are the best rewards for LSAs? |
| Historically, LSAs were about cash. Quick and easy, pop it on your paycheque and ultimately it ends up being spent on household bills. That’s not what this is about. Be creative, think outside the box, and give them something to talk about. At Active Consultancy, we constantly look for new and innovative ideas. Why not deliver your LSAs as a branded experience pack that can be presented in person or virtually? Recipients can choose from a wide range of exciting ideas, from fast-car experiences to family days out or even weekends away. Giving an experience that creates memories has a far more valuable and long-lasting impact. |
| What are the best gift cards to offer as rewards? |
| We’re not talking about your typical high street voucher – this is the gift of choice. We offer our very own, totally bespoke, Lifestyle Gift Voucher, redeemable via an online portal and usable to purchase gifts from a catalogue of over 5,000 items. Much like the experience pack, this is tangible for the recipient and also gives them the freedom to decide exactly what they want from their reward. |
| Why do employees value experiences? |
| Recent years have taught us the value of time with our loved ones and how a work-life balance is essential to good mental health. With this in mind, many employers are opting to reward staff with extra time off, which can be offered in place of, or in conjunction with, a physical reward. |
| How can I give our LSAs a personal touch? |
| Although branded items and plaques as LSAs are slowly becoming a thing of the past, the idea of a personal thank you alongside a reward from senior management makes a statement. Whilst verbal recognition is also important, a physical token can be appreciated as a reminder of an employee’s value to the company. Behind every milestone is a human being, so whilst the date is something to go by, what’s more important is a personal recognition of highlights and achievements. |
| Communication is key |
| Share the achievement, and celebrate it! Whether it’s announcing it in company meetings (virtually, of course), through your intranet or recognition platform or even a ‘wall of fame’, the reward itself means so much more when it’s public knowledge. Why not also involve fellow colleagues and line managers to make it more personal. |
| Can I personalise our LSA offerings? |
| The world is changing, and the workforce is too. Create a Long Service Award strategy, but review it regularly. Don’t keep it in place for years and years, ticking over with the same solution. You’ll need to consider your employees’ demographics and the circumstances. Maybe it’s time for a change? |
| Active Consultancy is an expert in designing bespoke employee recognition programmes. If you’re interested in discussing how we can help with your Long Service Awards, contact us today. |
Active Consultancy creates prizes and provides prize fulfilment for promotions and sales incentive programmes. If you need prize fulfilment services or prizes – from experiences, holidays and bespoke hampers to lifestyle gifts or high-tech items, please contact us.
