You Can Certainly Do Better in Employee Recognition than ‘Employee of the Month’. Take a Look at These 5 Approaches

“Employee of the Month” has been the default recognition system for decades. A photo on a wall, a generic certificate, maybe a free lunch—and then what? For most companies, this approach feels more like a checkbox than a meaningful gesture. Employees want to feel valued regularly, not just once a month, and certainly not based on vague criteria that often lead to favoritism or frustration.

Companies aiming for real connection and long-term loyalty must rethink how they recognize and motivate their teams. A single title once a month simply doesn’t cut it anymore. Today, Employee Recognition Programs have to be timely, inclusive, personal, and impactful. Let’s look at five refreshing approaches that do a much better job.

1. Recognize Contributions in Real Time

One of the biggest problems with the “Employee of the Month” concept is timing. Recognition delayed is often denied. Waiting until the end of the month to spotlight someone means that smaller, day-to-day wins go unnoticed.

A Better Approach:

• Use instant recognition tools or apps.
• Train managers to highlight good work during team meetings.
• Encourage public “thank you” messages on Slack or internal platforms.

These practices increase employee motivation, show consistent appreciation, and promote ongoing engagement—not just a one-time moment in the spotlight.

2. Make Recognition Inclusive, Not Exclusive

Only one person wins “Employee of the Month.” That means many others—who may have worked just as hard—get overlooked. This kind of system can be discouraging and reduce morale instead of boosting it.

Try This Instead:

• Use peer-to-peer recognition so everyone can give and receive praise.
• Highlight a variety of achievements—teamwork, innovation, helpfulness—not just top sales or output.
• Create weekly or bi-weekly appreciation shoutouts that include more team members.

Employee engagement programs that focus on inclusion rather than competition tend to be far more successful at building trust and loyalty across your workforce.

3. Reward Actions That Match Your Company Values

“Employee of the Month” often rewards performance alone. But recognition should also reinforce your workplace culture and values. Are you rewarding what truly matters to your organization?

What You Can Do:

• Build your recognition system around company values.
• Highlight employees who demonstrate collaboration, problem-solving, or going the extra mile to help others.
• Include feedback from coworkers and team leads to get a full picture.

This strategy helps align recognition with purpose, turning it into a meaningful motivator for long-term behavior—not just short-term productivity.

4. Give Employees a Say in How They’re Rewarded

Most Employee of the Month awards look the same: a certificate, maybe a bonus, maybe nothing at all. The lack of personalization makes the gesture feel hollow.

A Smarter Solution:

• Let employees choose their own rewards—gift cards, a day off, a donation to charity, etc.
• Use a points-based system where staff can redeem rewards that actually excite them.
• Offer custom rewards based on personality—like a favorite lunch or book.

Creative employee rewards make appreciation feel more thoughtful and genuine, increasing its impact.

Learn how this approach pays off in our article on the Hidden ROI of Employee Recognition Programs.

5. Celebrate Teams, Not Just Individuals

“Employee of the Month” focuses on one person. But most projects and business wins come from collaboration. Ignoring group effort sends the wrong message and can breed resentment.

Here’s a Better Way:

• Recognize entire teams for hitting goals or completing challenging projects.
• Organize monthly “team wins” celebrations with input from department heads.
• Post team spotlights on your company intranet or social media.

Celebrating group success improves overall morale and encourages a healthier, more supportive work environment.

Need help rethinking your strategy? Our breakdown of innovative employee recognition ideas offers inspiration for programs that truly motivate.

Final Thoughts

“Employee of the Month” is outdated—not because the idea of recognition is bad, but because the method is too narrow and too infrequent. Employees deserve more than a framed photo or a once-a-month compliment.

With the right Employee Recognition Programs, appreciation becomes an ongoing part of your culture. The alternatives we’ve discussed—real-time praise, inclusive systems, personalized rewards, and value-based recognition—are more effective, fairer, and better at building a motivated team.