A new recognition policy has been devised as a way of 'rewarding' staff. This is based on the fact that is nigh on impossible now to get a pay rise through this system and so alternatives have been sought.
They have come up with this .
It is gobsmackingly naive 
Awards can range from written appreciation such as certificates/ letters to gym memberships or branded items such as mugs. The awards do not need to have any or significant monetary value, but should have a high perceived value to the employee. They can include the following:
o Merit Certificates
o Personal Message from Leader
o Branded merchandise
o A profile of the employee to be published in employee newsletter
o Membership of the local authority Leisure Centre Gym
o Adopt-a Tree (Under consideration)
o Tea with the Lord Mayor in the Mayor’s parlour
o Coffee with the Leader
o Motivational events
Merit Certificates
These could be produced on a monthly basis, and presented at staff meetings. Individual service areas might like to have a Wall of Fame where all such certificates were displayed, to honour these employees.
Personal Message from the Leader of the Council
Personalised recognition from the Council Leader is the highest form of corporate recognition and thanks, and can be very gratifying for employees. The note could offer personalised congratulations for a particular success, along with encouragement to keep up the good work.
Branded Merchandise
Whilst unlikely to be seen to have any intrinsic worth in themselves, tokens such as travel mugs, sports bottles, etc with the local authority logo could be used in the same way as merit certificates, to recognise individual employees who merit thanks at any particular time, again for presentation at team meetings etc. Full list of possible items attached as appendix 1.
Gym Membership
With growing numbers of employees interested in exercise for health, this type of reward tells employees that the council sees their health and the council’s health as being inextricably intertwined, with a view to raising organisation health. A 6 or 12 month membership of a local authority leisure centre gym could be selected. This would be a taxable award.
Adopt a Tree (under consideration, not yet available)
An environment-friendly award, a new way to move beyond traditional recognition awards is to plant a tree in your employee’s name in one of the local authority parks or leisure spaces, so their achievement is recognised in perpetuity.
Tea with the Lord Mayor
An opportunity to award employees by marking them out for key figures in the organisation - an invitation to a very special afternoon tea - with the Lord Mayor in the Mayor’s parlour.
Coffee with the Leader
Opportunities for staff to be nominated for the bi-monthly Leader’s Coffee mornings organised by Communications & Strategy, to showcase the great work they do directly to the Leader
Motivational Events
Opportunities for staff to be nominated to attend external conferences or seminars
Line Manager’s ResponsibilitiesLine Managers must ensure that:
All recognition awards are awarded fairly and transparently, and for reasons which most other employees will recognise.
Costs arising from recognition awards are funded within their existing budget.
So how do I decide who gets a pen and who gets a paperweight ?
