Why Gamification of Rewards and Recognition is Outdated

Gamification in the workplace, the concept of applying a game-design mindset to non-game related activities, was initially popular, with some organizations reporting increased productivity and engagement amongst employees. However, in recent years, it seems that gamified methods such as points, badges and emoji celebrations may not be hitting the mark when it comes to achieving true employee engagement and satisfaction. This concept of gamification has been predominantly used when it comes to reward and recognition in the workplace, but it seems that employees want to be recognized in less superficial ways.

In this blog we explore why the concept of gamification of rewards and recognition has become outdated as well as discuss alternative approaches to recognizing employees that deliver results to power a winning team!

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Why Gamification Falls Short in Employee Recognition

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When it comes to recognizing employees for their efforts, it is crucial for organizations to be sincere in their communication. Employees feel validated when their contributions and efforts are taken seriously, making them feel that they are a valued member of the team. However, when gamification methods are used to recognize and reward employees, it often has the opposite effect, leaving them feeling unappreciated.

There are a few limitations when it comes to using gamification as a form of recognition, such as:

Employees perceive it as superficial acknowledgement
Rewarding or recognizing employees with gamified rewards may come across as insincere or impersonal, not truly acknowledging the value that they add to the organization, leaving them feeling disconnected from the organization and under appreciated.

There is little lasting impact on satisfaction and engagement
Whilst gamified rewards may briefly peak engagement and motivation levels amongst employees, there is very little long-term effect on engagement and satisfaction, resulting in a disconnect between the employee and the organization.

Personal milestones and achievements are often overlooked
When it comes to acknowledging employees using gamified rewards, it is usually a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn’t take into account individual achievements, which can enhance the feeling of being undervalued, making employees feel as though they are just a number, rather than an integral member of the organization.

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What Employees Really Want from Recognition

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According to a systematic literature review on gamification and well-being, it was found that although gamified rewards may have a short term impact on employee engagement, the efficacy of gamified rewards is context dependent and may not always result in genuine employee satisfaction and engagement. Rather, employees value meaningful recognition methods, where their efforts and contributions are authentically acknowledged by their leaders and colleagues.

In addition to this, gamified rewards are not the solution for long-term employee engagement, due to them typically being uniform and not specific to each individual. Rather, employees value recognition more when it is aligned to their individual goals, career development aspirations and contributions to their direct team or the organization as a whole.

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How Qualee Offers a Modern Approach to Recognition

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Instead of gamified reward and recognition models, there are alternative solutions, like Qualee, that are aimed to achieve lasting employee engagement and satisfaction. There are a variety of ways that Qualee can help organizations successfully reward and recognize their employees, that will leave them feeling valued and appreciated.

Here are a few ways organizations can use Qualee to successfully roll out a rewards and recognition program:

Track employee progress in real-time

With Qualee’s real-time analytics, organizations can track progress of their employees' individual achievements or team milestones as and when they happen, ensuring not a single accomplishment goes unnoticed.

Highlight achievements in an authentic manner
With Qualee’s carousel feature, organizations can showcase top achievers on the Qualee app, visible to other colleagues and leaders, ensuring that their contributions are acknowledged and genuinely appreciated.

Engage with employees meaningfully
With Qualee’s messaging feature, organizations can privately commend employees on their achievements, whether it be anonymously or not. This ultimately builds trust between the employer and employee.

These methods of reward and recognition resonate on a deeper level with employees, developing a culture of trust and appreciation, enabling them to feel a greater sense of connection to the organization than that of gamified rewards would.

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Recognizing the Rewards and Recognition are Only Part of Engagement

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One of the other reasons why organizations may be falling short when it comes to achieving true employee engagement is because they are only focusing their attention on reward and recognition, which makes up only 2 out of the 14 drivers of engagement.

The 14 drivers of engagement are an all-encompassing approach to achieving employee engagement in the workplace. This ranges from providing employees with the tools necessary to complete their job to feeling that they are a valued member of the organization and feel heard by their leaders.

The 14 drivers of engagement are:

1. Accomplishment
2. Autonomy
3. Environment
4. Freedom of Opinions
5. Goal Setting
6. Growth
7. Management Support
8. Meaningful Work
9. Organizational Fit
10. Peer Relationships
11. Recognition
12. Reward
13. Strategy
14. Workload

Qualee’s platform was specifically designed to address each of the 14 drivers of engagement, ensuring that organizations can power their people and achieve business success. In addition to the 14 drivers, Qualee goes the extra mile by also taking into account additional sub-drivers, ensuring no element of the workplace is forgotten.

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The Future of Recognition - Moving Beyond Gamification

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The times of gamified rewards and recognition are increasingly becoming a thing of the past, with the focus now turned towards more meaningful and personalized approaches. Due to the fact that employees now value purpose-driven work more than ever, organizations need to adapt their approach to recognition to one of genuine acknowledgement and appreciation, that aligns with the individual career goals of employees. By using a holistic engagement approach, like Qualee, organizations can drive long-term employee engagement, satisfaction and retention.

Conclusion

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In conclusion, the concept of gamification in the workplace is now outdated. Rather, employees seek genuine forms of recognition and reward to feel engaged and satisfied in their work. If leaders want to create a highly engaged and satisfied workforce, they should shift their attention to providing recognition and reward models that truly emphasize and acknowledge the value and importance of their employees. With solutions like Qualee, organizations can deliver a comprehensive engagement solution to their employees, beyond only reward and recognition, ensuring a winning team all round!

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