One of the top challenges of this uncertain economy include the rapid disintegration of employee loyalty, young employee's higher expectation of recurring recognition, and the critical need to eliminate expensive and questionable incentive & points programs. Employee Recognition budgets are taking a big hit when companies look for ways to save money, but what is surprising is that many cost cutters are discovering it was never the expensive rewards that made employee recognition successful!" What made a recognition program successful was in how it was communicated! It doesn't take big budgets to create a culture of appreciation, it just takes knowledge of employee's needs and how fulfill them. Their compensation needs were they were hired, they now need to know they belong, are valued, and appreciated.

Companies in this new economy won't have large budgets for rewards; they will spend far less on learning how to express their appreciation in effective and long lasting ways. Communication often includes Awards but the emphasis should always be on the sincere expression of measureable performance stemming from personal efforts.