How do you create an environment where people feel welcome and rewarded for a job well done? It’s a question we put to three top-performing agencies.

The three agencies we asked:

• Department of Financial Institutions
• Attorney General’s Office
• State Investment Board

All three have Performance Management Confirmation and can reward employees with pay. But each agency says employees welcome any kind of recognition for a job well done.

Specific practices at DFI

“We try to communicate our expectations to employees. This helps them to understand how their work fits in with the goals of the agency,” said DFI Director of Administration Gloria Papiez. At the Department of Financial Institutions, employees are recognized in a number of ways:

• Employee of the Month Awards: Employees are nominated by their peers, supervisors, or managers.
• “Get Caught Doing Something Right” Recognition Program: Employees and managers fill out an Employee Recognition form. The person also gives the employee an item from the Recognition Tool Kit (full of small treats).
• Individual recognition: Divisions within DFI also thank their employees in a variety of ways.

Specific practices at AGO

“We have always implemented best practice methods, techniques, and processes,” said AGO HR Director Pam Skinner. “This means including employees in the decision-making process and listening to them.” Some of the ways employees are recognized at the Attorney General’s Office:

• Employee Recognition E-mails: E-mails sent from Attorney General Rob McKenna to thank an employee for a particular accomplishment.
• Employee Recognition Awards: Peer driven nomination and selection program.
• Employee Newsletter Kudos: Another way of thanking employees publicly with a regular “kudos” column in the AGO newsletter.
• Individual unit recognition awards: The IT unit hands out ‘Star Awards’. Human Resources has a ‘Creativity Innovation Award’ given out quarterly to an employee with a bright idea.
• cc: approach: The AGO encourages employees to use cc: for e-mails to thank someone for doing something great and cc’ing the boss.

Specific practices at SIB

The State Investment Board has established a comprehensive recognition program for SIB employees. “You need to have the support of your Director and Senior Management Team to succeed – which we did. You must get managers to own recognition,” said Teresa Eckstein, Human Resource Manager for the SIB.

• Individual Thank-You’s: Agency Managers thanking their employees on a regular basis for both small and large accomplishments.
• Annual All-Staff Recognition Event: Traditional service awards and awards for those participating in big projects are recognized.
• Small Wins: At monthly staff meetings Senior Managers present a Small Win award to one of their employees. These are small gifts (up to $15).
• Quarterly Peer Recognition: Employees are nominated by their peers. They have a committee of staff who decide who wins. The employee being recognized is surprised by being given a treat for them and their coworkers in their work area and a $50 gift certificate from the place of their choice.
• Jim Collin’s book “Good to Great”: This is the model the agency follows, which is built on trust, respect, pride, and camaraderie.

All of the agencies say don’t be afraid to try new things to recognize employees’ good work. But they warn to stay with programs after they are put in place. It’s a win-win for everyone: Making employees feel appreciated for their work contributes to a good solid working environment for all.