Best Employee Recognition Programs of 2024

Lani Le

HR Writer & Editor

5 min read

Published: Feb 12, 2024

Revised on: May 28, 2024

Looking for the best employee recognition program for your company? You’re not alone. Employee recognition programs have become an essential part of the modern workplace.

Choosing the right employee recognition program is no easy task. There are a lot of options out there, so it’s important to take the time to research the different platforms and identify which one is the best fit for your team. 

What Is Employee Recognition?

Employee recognition is the acknowledgment and appreciation of an employee's contributions, achievements, and efforts within an organization. This can take various forms, ranging from informal gestures to formal programs, and aims to boost morale, motivation, and job satisfaction. Recognizing employees can be achieved through methods such as verbal praise, written acknowledgments, awards, bonuses, promotions, or public recognition in team meetings or company-wide events. Effective employee recognition is consistent, specific, and tailored to the preferences and accomplishments of the individual employees. It fosters a positive workplace culture, enhances employee engagement, and can lead to increased productivity and loyalty.

Why Is Employee Recognition Important?

Employee recognition is a critical component of a successful and productive workplace. Here are several reasons why it is important:

1. Boosts Morale: Recognizing employees for their efforts and achievements can significantly improve their morale. When employees feel appreciated, they are more likely to have a positive outlook on their work and the organization.
2. Increases Engagement: Engaged employees are those who are fully absorbed and enthusiastic about their work. Recognition helps to foster this engagement by making employees feel valued and understood, which in turn can lead to higher levels of productivity and commitment.
3. Enhances Retention: High employee turnover can be costly for organizations. Recognition can help reduce turnover by making employees feel valued and satisfied in their roles, thereby increasing their loyalty and likelihood of staying with the company.
4. Improves Productivity: When employees are recognized for their hard work, they are often motivated to continue performing at a high level. This can lead to an overall increase in productivity and better organizational performance.
5. Encourages Positive Behavior: Recognition programs often reward specific behaviors or achievements. This can encourage employees to repeat those behaviors, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
6. Builds a Positive Workplace Culture: A culture of recognition helps create a positive workplace environment where employees feel respected and appreciated. This can lead to better teamwork, collaboration, and a more harmonious workplace.
7. Reinforces Organizational Values and Goals: Recognizing employees for achievements that align with organizational values and goals helps reinforce those values and keeps everyone focused on the same objectives. It ensures that employees understand what behaviors and accomplishments are important to the organization.
8. Increases Job Satisfaction: Employees who receive recognition for their efforts tend to be more satisfied with their jobs. Job satisfaction can lead to better job performance, lower absenteeism, and a more motivated workforce.
9. Attracts Top Talent: Organizations known for their recognition programs are often more attractive to top talent. Potential employees are more likely to join and stay with companies that have a reputation for valuing and recognizing their workforce.
10. Promotes a Growth Mindset: Recognition can encourage a growth mindset by acknowledging efforts and improvements, not just results. This can motivate employees to continue developing their skills and taking on new challenges.

What Is the Difference Between Recognition and Appreciation?

The difference between recognition and appreciation lies in the focus and the intent behind each concept.

Recognition:

• Focus: Recognition is typically focused on acknowledging specific achievements, accomplishments, or behaviors. It is often more formal and public.
• Intent: The intent behind recognition is to acknowledge and validate someone's specific contributions or performance. It often involves tangible rewards or public acknowledgment.
• Examples: An employee receiving an 'Employee of the Month' award, a student being honored for academic excellence, or a team being celebrated for meeting a significant goal.

Appreciation:

• Focus: Appreciation is broader and focuses on valuing the person as a whole, including their qualities, efforts, and presence. It is often more personal and private.
• Intent: The intent behind appreciation is to show gratitude and value for the person's overall contributions and existence. It can be expressed in small, everyday interactions.
• Examples: Thanking a colleague for their consistent support, expressing gratitude to a friend for their kindness, or telling a family member you appreciate them for who they are.

How Do You Develop an Employee Recognition Program?

Developing an employee recognition program starts with understanding the needs of your team. You need to identify the objectives you want to achieve, such as improved team morale, increased productivity, or better customer service. Once you have a clear understanding of your goals, you can then start to plan out the details of your program. This includes choosing the types of recognition you’ll offer, such as awards, bonuses, or rewards, as well as how often you’ll recognize employees. 

Here are some things to consider when looking for recognition software for your organization: 

• Do you have an existing culture of peer-to-peer recognition?
• Do employees and managers publicly recognize or celebrate each other currently, and how often?
• What are the current engagement and communication tools?
• How will you be able to show the impact of the recognition program?

10 Best Employee Recognition Programs

To help you start your search, here’s a list of the 10 best employee recognition programs of 2024 that could be an excellent fit for your organization based on your goals and budget.

1

Awardco

Pricing

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• Free version
• Free trial available
• Seat Minimum: 1 User

Rating 4.8 (6,264)

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Awardco is an employee recognition platform that helps teams recognize and reward employees for their accomplishments that is based on the Amazon Business partnership. They work with Amazon to bring millions of reward choices so that your employees are guaranteed to find something they like. It is simple to set up and offers an easy way to receive rewards with great redemption options.

Features:

• Amazon Business partnership - access to Amazon gift cards 
• Simple and easy-to-use layout and software 
• Promotes internal recognition and celebration

Pros

1. Easy to use and user friendly interface. Many reviews mention how simple and intuitive the platform is.
2. Wide variety of redemption options, including gift cards, donations, and products through Amazon. Provides employees choice in how they want to be rewarded.
3. Ability to recognize coworkers both publicly and privately. Allows for flexibility in giving praise.
4. Integration with Amazon for product redemptions. Gives access to a huge catalog of items.
5. Features like the recognition feed increase engagement and positivity among employees. Helps boost morale.

Cons

1. Limited selection of products compared to full Amazon catalog. Not all options on Amazon are available.
2. Inability to pay difference when order total exceeds points balance. Must have exact points amount.
3. Reporting capabilities could be more robust for admins. Some want more data analysis options.
4. Navigation issues like having to reload item list when going back to browsing. Causes inconvenience.
5. Lack of ability to track shipments of ordered items. Status not always clear after ordering.

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2

Assembly

Pricing

$2.80 per user/month

• Free version
• Free trial available
• Seat Minimum: 1 User

Rating 4.7 (291)

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Take your culture to the next level with Assembly and strengthen your team with Assembly's Culture Suite. With Assembly's Culture Suite, you can reinforce the unique parts of your company culture and design Assembly around them. Start simple with peer-to-peer recognition and rewards to make employees feel appreciated and acknowledged for their hard work. Integrate additional engagement initiatives as you grow.

Features:

• Easily align core values with recognition to encourage the team to embrace them every day.
• Never miss an important milestone with automated anniversary and birthday recognition
• An extensive catalog of rewards with gift cards, custom swag, culture rewards, and charity donations
• Integrate easily into Slack and Microsoft teams as well as 40+ Hris integrations (ADP, BambooHR, Ceridian, Workday, Zenefits, Rippling, UKG, and many more)
• Engage your team with 1:1’s, contests, icebreakers, employee nominations, announcements, and more - all included in the cost of the platform

Pros

1. Easy to use and intuitive interface. Many reviews mentioned Assembly is simple, easy to navigate, and user-friendly.
2. Good customer support. Reviews mentioned Assembly's support team is responsive in resolving issues.
3. Rewards redemption process is smooth. Users liked the gift card and other reward options that can be redeemed with points.
4. Integrates well with Slack and Microsoft Teams. The integration makes giving recognition quick and seamless.
5. Good for employee recognition and engagement. Reviews highlighted Assembly's peer-to-peer recognition features that help boost employee morale.

Cons

1. Limitations in analytics and reporting features. Some reviews wanted more detailed analytics and user statistics.
2. Creating flows and automations can be tricky. Reviews noted workflows and automations are sometimes hard to setup.
3. Limited customization options for recognitions. Users wanted more ways to customize recognitions with images/GIFs.
4. Lack of mobile apps earlier on. Reviews mentioned lack of mobile apps made it hard to use when not by a computer.
5. Confusion due to branding changes. Reviews noted frequent name changes of the reward units was confusing initially.

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3

Motivosity

Pricing

$2.00 per user/month

• Seat Minimum: 10 Users

Rating 4.7 (3,996)

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Motivosity is an employee recognition platform that helps teams recognize and reward employees for their hard work. It is designed to help companies recognize and appreciate what employees do and create a workplace community. Motivosity makes it easy to reward employees and team members for the extra efforts they show on a regular basis.

Features:

• Insights page with an overview of metrics and engagement 
• Company-wide leaderboard to see how employees stack up against peers 
• Option to make recognition public or private

Pros

1. Makes it easy and fun to recognize and reward peers and employees. Many reviews mentioned how Motivosity makes it simple to give thanks and praise to coworkers.
2. Improves employee morale, culture, and engagement. Multiple reviews highlighted how Motivosity has enhanced company culture, boosted team morale, and improved employee engagement.
3. Fosters connections between remote/hybrid teams. Reviews noted how Motivosity helps remote and dispersed teams stay connected.
4. Provides visibility into what's happening across the company. Reviews liked being able to see praise and recognition across the organization.
5. User-friendly interface. Many reviews complimented Motivosity's clean and easy-to-use interface.

Cons

1. Leaderboards can cause unwanted competition. Some reviews felt the leaderboards promoted competition instead of true recognition.
2. Money rewards aren't always motivating. A few reviewers felt the money wasn't the real motivator - the recognition was more meaningful.
3. Reporting and analytics could be better. Some reviews wanted more robust reporting capabilities.
4. Mobile app lacks functionality. The mobile app was called out for missing key desktop features.
5. Technical glitches. A couple reviews cited occasional technical issues with the software.

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4

Nectar

Pricing

$2.75 per user/month

• Seat Minimum: 50 Users

Rating 4.6 (4,018)

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Nectar is a 360 recognition and rewards platform that allows employees to send meaningful recognition based on the company’s core values. Nectar helps streamline incentives and maintain a connected culture regardless of whether your workforce is centralized or distributed. It's a great solution for small teams everywhere. 

Features:

• Integrations with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and HRIS software  
• Custom swag options that are shipped directly to the employee 
• Incorporate wellness initiatives or challenges that reward employees for participation

Pros

1. Makes it easy to recognize and reward employees (praise, points, gifts)
2. Boosts employee morale and positivity in the workplace
3. Allows recognition across departments and remote teams
4. Simple and intuitive interface, easy to use
5. Provides analytics and insights into employee recognition

Cons

1. Limited options for rewards in some regions/countries
2. Can feel like a popularity contest with the leaderboards
3. Monthly points expire if not used quickly enough
4. Not integrated with common workplace tools like Slack or Teams
5. Mobile app is not as robust as desktop site

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5

WorkTango

Pricing

Contact sales for pricing

• Seat Minimum: 150 Users

Rating 4.5 (962)

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WorkTango is a work hub that is focused on cultural creation regardless of the employee location. It allows companies to combine goals and OKRs, feedback, and conversations, and receive recognition along the way. This visible progress motivates employees to grow and develop.

Features:

• Easy way to track ongoing feedback and conversations 
• Pulse surveys for managers to make smarter decisions
• 360 Reviews and historical data  

Pros

1. Easy to use and user-friendly interface. Many reviews mentioned how simple and intuitive the platform is.
2. Ability to easily recognize and reward coworkers. Giving points and recognition is seamless.
3. Fun way to boost employee morale. The gamification and rewards help motivate employees.
4. Provides insight into employee engagement. The data and analytics provide valuable insights.
5. Good variety of rewards to choose from. Many gift cards and merchandise options in the catalog.

Cons

1. Point system not ideal. Reviews mentioned points being hard to earn or expiring too quickly.
2. Rewards catalog limitations. Some wanted more options, lower point costs, or better rewards.
3. Reporting and analytics could be better. Some found the data analysis functionality lacking.
4. Issues with notifications. Reviews cited missing or too frequent notifications as problems.
5. Navigation issues. Some found the site navigation confusing or unintuitive at times.

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6

Bucketlist

Pricing

Contact sales for pricing

• Free trial available

Rating 4.8 (700)

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Bucketlist makes it easy for employees and managers to recognize and reward one another for milestones, achievements, and outstanding performance. With interactive ways to make recognition fun - like GIFs and emojis-  Bucketlist allows for continuous recognition. 

Features:

• Easy to use and navigate interface 
• Tangible rewards that make it interesting to go an extra mile 
• An internal leaderboard that sparks healthy competition 

Pros

1. Easy to use and intuitive interface. Many reviews mentioned how simple and straightforward Bucketlist is to navigate.
2. Quick reward redemption process. Users like that gift cards and other rewards can be redeemed instantly.
3. Peer recognition. Bucketlist makes it easy to recognize coworkers and give "shout outs" for jobs well done.
4. Fun experience. Users enjoy the ability to use GIFs and emojis to liven up recognitions. Overall, Bucketlist makes recognition fun.
5. Customizable. Reviews highlighted the ability to customize Bucketlist to match company branding and values.

Cons

1. Limit on number of points to give out. Some users felt restricted by caps on how many points they could distribute to peers each month.
2. Lack of notification for comments/likes. Users wanted to be notified when someone interacts with their recognitions.
3. Sparse experience options. The "experiences" available to redeem points for were limited in some users' locations. More variety was desired.
4. No tracking of points. Users wanted an easier way to see how many points they've earned and spent over time.
5. Small amounts of points. A few reviews mentioned the points seeming like small amounts, likely due to company policies rather than the software itself.

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7

HeyTaco

Pricing

Contact sales for pricing

• Free version
• Free trial available

Rating 4.8 (370)

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HeyTaco is an easy-to-use Slack integration focused on verbal recognition and acts of kindness for employees. The idea is that all your employees use the taco icon as a universal way of showing appreciation and kudos for a job well done. There is no limit on the number of ‘tacos’ employees can give out, so it encourages ongoing recognition and support.  

Features:

• No limit on the number of Tacos team members can give out 
• Ability to unlock feature spotlights extra-special achievement
• Team rewards allow for a way to turn tacos in for a special reward 

Pros

1. Easy to use platform to recognize and reward teammates. Provides a seamless way to show appreciation.
2. Boosts employee morale and engagement. Employees feel valued through taco recognitions.
3. Fosters positive work culture and better relationships. Fun way to connect remote teams.
4. Incentivizes great work. Tacos motivate employees and create friendly competition.
5. Integrates well with Slack for easy taco giving. Makes recognizing others quick and simple.

Cons

1. Limit of 5 tacos per day feels restrictive for some users who want to recognize more people.
2. Virtual nature lacks personal touch of in-person recognition for some users.
3. Can get noisy in Slack channels with lots of taco activity cluttering things up.
4. Rewards/prizes don't provide enough value for amount of tacos for some users.
5. Technical issues with app integration can cause frustrations if tacos don't sync properly.

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8

O.C. Tanner

Pricing

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Rating 4.6 (297)

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O.C. Tanner is a carefully tailored employee recognition tool for large organizations and enterprises. It is currently serving thousands of large companies to develop strategic employee recognition and reward solutions. The O.C.Tanner Culture Cloud provides a suite of apps and solutions that enables you to showcase employee accomplishments. 

Features:

• Culture Cloud Recognition mobile app 
• Fun and unique rewards like adventures, cool tech, concerts, and events 
• Create a Yearbook for each employee for a special occasion

Pros

1. Users appreciate the straightforward reward selection process and efficient delivery system.
2. Many users have praised the quick shipping times and the high-quality items available for redemption.
3. Many users have reported positive interactions with support staff who quickly resolve issues and provide assistance.
4. The platform offers various ways to recognize and appreciate employees, including sending e-cards, points for tangible rewards, and notifying supervisors of employee achievements.
5. Users have noted that the system makes employees feel valued and appreciated, boosting overall productivity and job satisfaction.

Cons

1. Some users have expressed frustration with the policy that points expire after a certain period.
2. There have been complaints about certain items being out of stock or unavailable, even though they are listed on the platform.
3. The fact that redeemed products are taxed has been noted as a minor downside.
4. There have been instances where users did not receive timely notifications or communications about their rewards.
5. Some users feel that the selection of redeemable merchandise could be broader.

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9

Preciate

Pricing

Contact sales for pricing

Rating 4.5 (43)

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Preciate utilizes Culture Nirvana,™ a mix of cognitive and emotional culture setups. They are focused on assisting companies in finding and optimizing any cultural difficulties that might be present in the workplace. Preciate emphasizes the need and value of holistic, authentic, and healthy cultures at work. 

Features:

• A catalog of badges, stickers, and awards
• Employee recognition is personal and shareable with a portraits feature
• Access for customers and applicants to see the Activity feeds 

Pros

1. Easy to use and set up. Makes it convenient to recognize colleagues.
2. Allows you to easily recognize remote/distant employees. Helps teams feel more connected.
3. Integrates with other platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, etc. Makes giving recognition quick without logging into another app.
4. Provides a way to regularly recognize employees between formal reviews/evaluations. Ongoing positive feedback.
5. Fun badges, stickers, gifs make giving recognition more personalized. Adds a "fun" element.

Cons

1. Not all employees have an account or use it regularly. Limits ability to recognize all employees.
2. Lack of incentives like rewards or gift cards reduces motivation to use it.
3. No way to include multiple people or groups in an appreciation. Limits recognition capabilities.
4. Difficulty going back to recognize someone who appreciated you. Miss opportunities to reciprocate.
5. Odd Microsoft Teams integration. Harder to use and not seamless. Could improve user experience.

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10

Achievers

Pricing

Contact sales for pricing

Rating 3.5 (904)

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Achievers is an Employee Success Platform centered around aligning employees with business objectives and company values through recognition and rewards. It offers an easy way to rack up points and exchange them for fun and exciting gifts. 

Features:

• Science and data-backed Recognize™technology
• Internal visibility, insights, and guidance through the listening tools 
• The extensive international marketplace for reward redemption 

Pros

1. Easy to use and intuitive platform. Many reviews mentioned how user-friendly the platform is.
2. Great for peer-to-peer and social recognition. Allows employees to recognize each other.
3. Good reward/points system. Employees can redeem points for gift cards, merchandise etc.
4. Helps improve company culture and employee engagement. Reviews mentioned increased engagement and belonging.
5. Excellent customer service. Many reviews specifically praised Achievers' customer service.

Cons

1. Reporting capabilities could be better. Some reviews wanted more detailed analytics and dashboards.
2. Rewards catalog could be expanded. Some wanted more redemption options in certain countries.
3. Limited customization for admins. Reviews mentioned wanting more ability to customize certain aspects.
4. Long reward delivery timeframes. A few noted long lags between reward redemption and receipt.
5. Pricing model and fees. A couple reviews cited the pricing model as a challenge.

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Conclusion

Employee recognition programs are an essential part of any successful business. Not only do they help boost morale, but they also help to create a positive work culture and improve team performance. With the right program, you can reward your employees for their hard work and dedication, making them feel valued and appreciated. As you can see, there are plenty of options out there, so make sure to do your research and choose the one that’s right for your team.