Different Types of Recognition Awards

If you are in the market for recognition awards, you will face many different choices. Choosing the right type of award for the situation is important if the award is going to make a lasting impact. Here are some pros and cons of the different types of recognition awards you could choose.

The first type of award that likely comes to your mind is a certificate. In many situations, schools or businesses that have recognition programs will use certificates as the main rewards. Sometimes a gift or other trinket accompanies the certificates.

When considering certificates, consider the pros and cons. Of course, certificates are fairly affordable. You can often print them yourself in your office. The only expense would be the cost of the paper.

However, there are some downsides to using certificates instead of plaques or glass awards. First, certificates are more difficult to display. The only way to display a certificate well is on the wall in a frame. Many of your employees may have limited wall space.

Secondly, certificates are not valuable in and of themselves. The only value a certificate holds is the value that the individual receiving it places on it, because it obviously did not cost you much. Of course, certificates are better than no recognition at all. With that being said, some situations lend themselves to more valuable rewards.

One of the more valuable rewards you might be considering is a trophy. Trophies are great recognition awards for a variety of situations. They are easy to display, because the only thing you need to display a trophy is a desk, shelf, or ledge.

Another benefit of using a trophy is that it seems more valuable than a certificate. Even if you buy an affordable trophy, the recipient will feel as though you put in a little more effort for his reward. This makes trophies a great option for special student or business awards for those who go above and beyond what is expected.

Of course, trophies do tend to gather dust after a while. Also, if you are giving out many rewards as part of your recognition program, some people will end up receiving more trophies than they can realistically display.

One way to effectively use trophies is to use them sparingly. Consider combining certificates and trophies in your rewards program. Trophies could be used for certain achievements, while certificates are used for others. This way the recipients will truly value the trophies they are given.

Yet another option that you have for recognition awards are plaques. Like certificates, they usually have to be displayed on a wall. However, plaques can also be displayed nicely on a desk or shelf with a special stand. Those looking for unique recognition award ideas may want to consider adding plaques to their list of award options.

One benefit of using plaques is the fact that they tend to look classy. Employees in particular like to display recognition plaques. They dress up an office space and lend a sense of achievement and credibility to the worker.

Another benefit of plaques is that they can be easily displayed as a collection. In many offices, employees pride themselves in the number of rewards they have earned and have on display. This can be said for schools as well. Students are usually proud to display their awards in their homes.

On the other hand, a plaque is not the perfect staff recognition award. They definitely cost more than certificates, and often cost more than trophies. Also, employees who do not have an office in which to display the awards may feel that they have little value for them.

The bottom line is that all of the recognition awards that you can find have both benefits and drawbacks. The best way to choose the ones for your program is to weigh the pros and cons against your unique situation. Most of the time, a combination of achievement awards works the best to keep workers happy and motivated, while helping you stay within your budget.