{"id":15872,"date":"2010-03-01T14:20:12","date_gmt":"2010-03-01T14:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=15872"},"modified":"2010-03-01T14:48:59","modified_gmt":"2010-03-01T14:48:59","slug":"the-effective-employee-incentive-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/the-effective-employee-incentive-program\/","title":{"rendered":"The Effective Employee Incentive Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<p align=\"center\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\/\/ <![CDATA[\n   google_ad_client = \"pub-7021221536180758\"; \/* 468x60, created 11\/11\/09 *\/ google_ad_slot = \"1949837292\"; google_ad_width = 468; google_ad_height = 60;\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><script src=\"http:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #00ccff\">The following is by Andy Marken of <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.markencom.com\/index.htm\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.markencom.com\/index.htm', 'Marken Communications']);\" ><span style=\"color: #00ccff\">Marken Communications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #00ccff\">. He has kindly given us permission to republish his thought-provoking commentary. As with everything that we publish at AlienBabelTech, the opinions expressed are solely those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and the opinions of the rest of the ABT staff.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #00ccff\">&#8211;Mark Poppin<\/span> <span style=\"color: #00ccff\">ABT Editor-in-Chief<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/pic1seal.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15873\" title=\"pic1seal\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/pic1seal.jpg?resize=500%2C374\" alt=\"pic1seal\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/pic1seal.jpg?resize=500%2C374 715w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/pic1seal-300x224.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Downsized organizations, tough economic times, demands to reduce costs and improve quality and a myriad of other reasons can stimulate the need for an employee incentive program. Done properly, the investment can be minimal but it can produce very positive results.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to improve results and morale throughout the organization, here are some tips on ensuring your employee incentive program meets your goals:<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. <\/strong><strong>Realistic Pay for Realistic Performance\u2026Rewards for Extraordinary Efforts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Rewards are no substitute for a decent paycheck. For example company stockholders\/management shouldn\u2019t expect employees to give back benefits <strong><em>and<\/em><\/strong> go the extra mile. Especially in light of the side deals senior executives received just for showing up at the office. Given the tough economic environment the industry is operating in today management should expect decent performance for decent pay. At the same time, management \u2013 in any industry &#8212; should be creative in developing programs that will help encourage off-the-chart performance, even if the rewards are deferred.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>2. <\/strong><strong>Don\u2019t Let Them Strike Out Early<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If they are half way through the incentive program and half the team has no opportunity to be rewarded you have lost half your team. They have no incentive to push harder and be more efficient\/more effective if they are out of contention. Putting forth the extra effort and winning should be a team effort, not an individual effort. Keep the team interested and involved throughout the campaign.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. <\/strong><strong>Prepare the team, administer the program<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t launch your employee incentive program and then go about explaining it to members of the team as the program progresses. Plan a promotional campaign for the internal program just as you would for a product launch. Spend the time necessary to communicate the program to the employees and their significant others so that everyone is committed to the goals and the program. If you don\u2019t, don\u2019t expect to achieve your target objectives.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. <\/strong><strong>Announce Results with Flair<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Make a big deal about the winners and their prizes. Make them feel special. The way you promote your winners over the weeks following the program will be as important \u2013 if not more important than the prizes. Make certain everyone gets the message \u2013 performing pays big dividends (regardless of the dollar value of the awards).<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. <\/strong><strong>Involve the Family<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>If you want to get people excited and keep them excited don\u2019t overlook the importance of \u201cselling\u201d the family or significant other on the campaign. Make certain you send program information and progress reports to the employee\u2019s homes so everyone understands what the individual is doing and why he or she is doing it. Make the incentive program a household affair and everyone will win.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. <\/strong><strong>Be Consistent, Uncomplicated<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Make the incentive program rules easy-to-understand and simple. Forget the 4 point type legalities. These are employees that you have entrusted the success of your company to so be straightforward with the program. Once the program is underway maintain a steady course even if the program isn\u2019t the optimum program you want. Don\u2019t experiment and create confusion or change the rules half way through the race. If you discover some shortcomings in this program save the improvements for the next program.<\/p>\n<p><strong>7. <\/strong><strong>Post Standings Frequently<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Keep employees current on their standings in the competition. At least once a week let people know where their team stands and where they stand in their efforts to achieve the program\u2019s goals. Chart the progress on employee bulletin boards or on wall charts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8. <\/strong><strong>Meaningful Prizes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Prizes don\u2019t have to cost a lot to be valuable to employees but they do have to be meaningful. By the same token cheap prizes tells the employees management doesn\u2019t care about its goals. A six-day trip for two when the family has five kids they have to worry about isn\u2019t as attractive to some people as 2-3 evenings out during the month at a fine restaurant. The cost is not only less but the couple gets a chance to relax and enjoy themselves. Remember\u2026value is in the eyes of the beholder.<\/p>\n<p><strong>9. <\/strong><strong>Us Vs Us<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While sales incentives \u2013 usually the most common type of program \u2013 they pit us versus them (other territories, competition, etc) there are a number of incentive programs you can develop that create team efforts. Achieving Six Sigma quality, increasing production by 20% over a 3-month period, going from design concept to finished product in five months are all team incentive goals. Programs of these types produce not only the desired short-term goal but also produce long-range results. Promoting team efforts pulls the organization together and gets everyone going in the same direction. That camaraderie is hard to change once the program is completed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10. <\/strong><strong>Specific Objectives<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Make your goals for the incentive program as specific as possible and as measurable as possible. For example reducing product rework to .001% is more measurable (and more meaningfully) than improving production output. Reducing order errors to 001% of all orders processed is more measurable than reducing order paperwork by 20%. If possible, give employees benchmarks for the incentive program so they can see their progress and make the goals achievable.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/pic1boat.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15874\" title=\"pic1boat\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/pic1boat.jpg?resize=420%2C280\" alt=\"pic1boat\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/pic1boat.jpg?resize=420%2C280 700w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/pic1boat-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It doesn&#8217;t take much to make your incentive program moving in the right direction and producing results.<\/p>\n<p>Remember&#8230;you&#8217;re all in the boat together!!<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;\u00a0Andy Marken of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.markencom.com\/index.htm\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.markencom.com\/index.htm', 'Marken Communications']);\" ><span style=\"color: #00ccff\">Marken Communications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #00ccff\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ccff\">\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Please join us in our <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/abt\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Forums<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Become a Fan on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/AlienBabelTech\/123268467142\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/AlienBabelTech\/123268467142', 'Facebook']);\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Follow us on <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/alienbabeltech\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/twitter.com\/alienbabeltech', 'Twitter']);\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n<p>For the latest updates from ABT, please <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?feed=rss2\" target=\"_blank\">join our RSS News Feed<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Join our Distributed Computing teams<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Folding@Home &#8211; Team AlienBabelTech &#8211; 164304<\/li>\n<li>SETI@Home &#8211; Team AlienBabelTech &#8211; 138705<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.worldcommunitygrid.org\/reg\/viewRegister.do?teamID=3P39R3SRV1\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.worldcommunitygrid.org\/reg\/viewRegister.do?teamID=3P39R3SRV1', 'World Community Grid &#8211; Team AlienBabelTech']);\" target=\"_blank\">World Community Grid &#8211; Team AlienBabelTech<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The following is by Andy Marken of Marken Communications. He has kindly given us permission to republish his thought-provoking commentary. As with everything that we publish at AlienBabelTech, the opinions expressed are solely those&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":15874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[3190],"class_list":["post-15872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-employee-incentive"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15872"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15872\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}