Employee EngagementRecognition & Rewards

The Baker’s Dozen: Employee Recognition

We rank the top providers in employee recognition solutions.
 
A key challenge for any executive is to keep the company’s workforce engaged. Whether in services or manufacturing, employees must feel valued as the most important corporate asset. Sponsoring an employee recognition program is not enough if it doesn’t help your organization improve performance.
 
This imperative must be kept front and center when assessing efforts to engage and reward employees for their contributions. In HRO Today’s annual look at the employee recognition market, we explore market trends, analyze case studies, and rank the top-performing employee recognition and incentives service providers in the market today.
 
The rankings provided to the right are based on customer feedback collected in the last 90 days through an online survey of more than 300 active recognition customers. For this survey, we received sufficient data to index 11 providers based on feedback from these verified customers. An overall index compiled of quality of service, scope of service, and size of deal data (click here) was used to determine the top companies. Survey respondents were verified by e-mail addresses. 
 
Also of note is that the number of employees serviced by each provider as listed in the provider profile is volunteered by the vendor and could not be independently verified. Because it is sourced from the provider, these numbers are not used in the ranking indices.  The survey instrument uses other survey questions in the determination of the size and scope of the services that are calculated in the categories referred to as “Size of Deal” and “Breadth of Service” (click here) and "Quality of Service" (click here).
 
1. O.C. Tanner                                                        
Employees Incented: 2.5 million* 
www.octanner.com
 
O.C. Tanner’s discipline is appreciation and that carries through their services, products, and 1,600 employees. O.C. Tanner offers solutions in performace, experience, results, and relationships. They also have a host of consultants to deliver customized recognition programs and training teams for their sought-after Carrot Principle.
Key clients in 2008: AvisBudget Group; Baker Hughes; Dunkin’ Brands; KPMG; Quest Diagnostics; Schlumberger; The Auto Club Group; and The Nielsen Company.
Services provided: O.C. Tanner designs and operates incentive, recognition, gifting, and service solutions for its clients. Services include program design, training, consulting, program management, communications and branding, measurement, technology, and award services.
Most important metrics: Metrics are client specific and link to corporate goals, mission, vision, values, and program goals/outcomes.
 
 
2. Michael C. Fina                                   
Employees Incented: More than one million*                        
www.mcfina.com
 
Michael C. Fina provides innovative solutions to improve the effectiveness of an organization’s employee recognition strategy. Through their proven One Source Total Recognition approach, Michael C. Fina delivers cohesive celebration strategies that align with the business objectives and core values of an organization. Headquartered in New York since 1935, Michael C. Fina is a family-owned and operated business whose recognition solutions and expertise are relied upon by many Fortune 500 companies.
Key clients in 2008: Citi; Dunkin Brands; EFH (Energy Future Holdings); Hershey’s; Hertz; Marriott; McDonald’s; North Shore Long Island Jewish hospital system; Penske; Pfizer; PNC; Reynolds American; and Turner Construction; United Airlines.
Services provided: Programs include service anniversary; new arrivals; nominations; on-the-spot; onboarding; safety, training; wellness.
Solutions include FANS (Fina Advanced Nomination Solutions); lifestyles inspiration; spark rewards (on-the-spot); total vision recognition (points-based); e-service recognition.
Most important metrics: 20,000 total shipments per week; 5,000 contacts to recipient contact center per week; and average online ordering rate of 89 percent across all customers.
 
 
3.ReThink Rewards/I love Rewards                                               
Employees Incented: 58,406*                                    
www.iloverewards.com
 
ReThink Rewards is a provider of results-driven rewards and recognition solutions. Employers choose ReThink Rewards for best practices in launching and sustaining successful, ROI-based programs. Its focus is to recruit, retain, and inspire your employees, and align them to your company’s goals. Our technology, industry-leading rewards catalog, and commitment to delivering exceptional customer service has established delivers results-driven employee and sales incentive solutions.
Key clients in 2008: KPMG LLP; Rogers Communications Inc.; Bell Canada; Boomerang/LoJack; Cara Operations Limited; Elite Vertical Blinds Manufacturing Company Limited; BDO Canada; New Balance; Clarks; Marriott International, Inc; Cara Operations Limited.
Services provided: Employee recognition and rewards; live company values; recruiting; years of service awards; employee driven cost-savings; employee motivation; sales incentives; dealers incentives; call center performance; SPIF programs; lead generation; and channel sales.
Most important metrics: Overall benefit to the organization and achievement of program objectives; increase in employee engagement levels; increase in sales; increase in cost-savings; increase in employee retention; and increase in employee candidate referrals.
 
           
4. Diamond H Recognition                               
Employees Incented: More than one million*                        
www.diamondh.com
 
Diamond H Recognition is focused on delivering total recognition solutions to support HR professionals in inspiring and engaging their workforce. Guided by experienced thought leaders, it offers a suite of platforms called Inspirus, which was developed to deliver powerful reinforcement, recognition, and reward solutions.
Key clients in 2008: Delta Air Lines; Wells Fargo; Geico; Tesoro; Valero; and Humana.
Services provided: Diamond H Recognition provides an end-to-end recognition solution supported by personalized service and support. Services include service awards and on-the-spot recognition as well as multifaceted SaaS recognition platforms that can enhance recognition program management, communication, integration, budgeting, reporting, and ROI modeling.
Most important metrics: Above all, demonstrating quantifiable program returns: achievement of client business objectives, employee participation rates, recognition contacts, recognition impressions, surveys, and engagement indices.
 
 
5. Rideau Recognition Solutions                       
Employees Incented: 1.6 million*                        
www.rideau.com
 
Rideau offers a complete suite of traditional and web-based recognition and incentive programs that can scale to any customer size. A vertically integrated company, it provides high-performance, end-to-end solutions from program conceptualization, design and branding through manufacturing, product merchandising, data management, and global 24-hour distribution.
Key clients in 2008: Boeing; H&R Block; CIBC; Air Canada; and RBC.
Services provided: Rideau’s solutions include a wide range of tailor-made programs that increase customer and employee performance, retention, loyalty, engagement, and ultimately ROI. Most popular programs include corporate merchandise, service awards, performance awards, performance management, safety incentives, and cash incentives.
Most important metrics: Number of employees incentivized in 2008; number of rewards and recognition programs administered; and company net sales.
 
 
6. Perks.com                                                            
Employees Incented: 3 million*                                    
www.perks.com
 
Headquartered in Los Angeles and with offices in Austin, TX; Boston; Houston; Little Rock, AR; London; and New York, Perks.com serves national and international clients across five continents.
Key clients in 2008: PNC Bank; Charter Communications; Microsoft; BP; and Seagate.
Services provided: Program design; internet technology delivery; program management; international translation services; international rewards fulfillment (Asia, Europe, South America, Central America, North America); employee recognition; salesforce incentives; dealer incentives; customer loyalty; and marketing research incentives.
Most important metrics:  Engagement as measured by opt-in response, frequency and velocity of response, and adoption of target behavior.
 
           
7. TharpeRobbins                                    
Employees Incented: More than 1 million*                                    
www.corporategifts.com
 
TharpeRobbins Company is a recogniton solutions provider with a client list including many Fortune 1000 corporations. Headquartered in Statesville, NC, TharpeRobbins delivers millions of awards to participants in more than 100 countries worldwide. The mission of The TharpeRobbins Company is centered on fostering performance in organizations by creating new standards for employee recognition and rewards.
Key clients in 2008: Verizon; Aflac; Ford Motor Company; Honeywell; Procter & Gamble; Coca-Cola; Land O’Lakes; YUM Brands; Bristol-Myers Squibb; and Kindred Healthcare.
Services provided: Service award programs; performance award programs; innovative and specialized technology solutions; custom jewelry manufacturing; in-house customization of awards with logo; full-service fulfillment and distribution; person-to-person customer service; training; creative design services; printing services; presentation packaging; and competitive warranty.
Most important metrics: On-time award distribution rate of 98 percent; 4.5 out of 5 average rating on customer satisfaction surveys; and less than one percent award return rate.
 
 
 
8. Anderson Performance Improvement Company                       
Employees Incented: 350,000*                                                
www.andersonperformance.com
 
Anderson Performance Improvement Company designs and implements behavior-based incentive and recognition programs that include analysis, measurement, communications, training, reinforcement, and rewards.
Key clients in 2008: N/A.
Services provided: Recognition including nomination, e-card peer-to-peer and manager recognition, and  manager discretionary awards; incentives include rewards for improvement or goal achievement in sales, service, operations/manufacturing, finance, and IT; channel incentives including rewarding dealers, distributors, and independent sales reps for targeted behaviors; years of service include client designed years-of-service point structure awards; wellness includes engagement and rewards associated with increased awareness, teaming for better health, increased and targeted activity.
Most important metrics: Profit increase; revenue growth; wellness financial impact; productivity; product sales; employee and customer satisfaction; first-pass resolution; product referrals; safety and lost time prevention.

 
 
9. Grass Roots                                                         
Employees Incented: More than 5 million*                        
www.grassrootsamerica.com
 
Grass Roots is a global performance improvement business that operates in all the major regions of the world–the U.S. and Canada, central and south America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. We work with more than 2,000 organizations around the world to help them achieve optimum performance and positively change behavior.
Key clients in 2008: N/A
Services provided: Global employee solutions; global channel solutions; global consumer solutions. Solutions are developed around five core disciplines: communication, education, measurement, rewards, and events.
Most important metrics: Measured through key performance indicators including on-time delivery (achieved); delivery accuracy; customer service Tier 2 escalation; and customer service on-time response.
 
 
10. Rymax Marketing Service                                   
Employees Incented: More than 250,000*                          
www.rymaxinc.com
 
Headquartered in Pine Brook, NJ, Rymax is unique in the industry in that it is a full-service incentive company and a manufacturer’s representative. Rymax provides recognition programs for clients within the following industries: airline, automotive, credit card providers, consumer products, financial services, food and beverage, gaming, government, hospitality, insurance, pharmaceutical, software, technology, and transportation.
Key clients in 2008: N/A.
Services provided: Customized incentive solutions including access to more than 200 name brand manufacturers at factory-direct pricing; multi-functional online rewards platform; comprehensive reporting capabilities and performance tracking; in-house marketing and print catalog design; multiple distribution facilities in the U.S. and aboard; a full in-house customer relations division; complete event planning and execution; reward banquets; shopping sprees; guided program launches; Race for Rewards; and Loyalty Plus. 
Most important metrics: Employee engagement and retention, program opt-in, ROI analysis, and sales lift.
 
 
11. Globoforce                                                           
Employees Incented: 1.7 million*                       
www.globoforce.com           
 
Globoforce helps the world’s largest and most complex companies engage and motivate their employees by fostering a culture of appreciation that breaks down the boundaries of country, language, and company position.
Key clients in 2008: Amgen; Avnet; Biogen Idec; CA; Celestica, Discovery Communications; Dow Chemical; Fairmont Hotels & Resorts; Global Crossing; Intel; Intuit; KPMG Europe; Logica; Orbitz; Polaris; Procter & Gamble; Quintiles; Red Hat; Symantec; Thomson Reuters; and Wrigley.
Services provided: Globoforce’s web-based software platform offers multiple languages and currencies, SOLI (standard of living index), manager-to-employee and peer-to-peer recognition, approvals workflow, allocation controls, reporting and administration, rewards selection, uper-user reporting dashboards, a full suite of online budget management, reporting and order tracking, Single Sign-On (SSO) and data flow, and integration with payroll systems such as PeopleSoft and SAP. The company also offers program design and deployment consulting, communications planning and execution, 24-hour multilingual customer service support for clients’ employees, and continual client service consulting post-program deployment.
Most important metrics: Weekly award nominations as a percent of total employee population; reward redemptions; employee engagement and satisfaction surveys pre- and post-program launch; user feedback surveys; and overall business results.
 
 
*Sourced from the provider.
 
 
 

 
 

Tags: Employee Engagement, Recognition & Rewards

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