Hierarchy of rewards and recognition

Today the hierarchy system in rewards and recognition of the organization is gaining concern. For top employees in today’s corporate world salary is not the only motivator whereas it is the total employee rewards that matter. Herzberg’s two factor theory is evidence to this fact. Herzberg differentiated all the factors associated with employee motivation into two:

1.      Hygiene factors

2.      True motivators

Hygiene factors are those factors at a workplace, when absent creates employee dissatisfaction but at the same time do not effectuate employee motivation when they are present. These are those elements that merely restrict dissatisfaction from creeping into the organization. Thus, the hygiene factors only affect job dissatisfaction and will not have any influence on the job satisfaction. These factors will not create positive motivation or pave way for positive job engagement or retention. The hygiene elements include pay, security, status, peer relationships, subordinate and supervisor relationships, company policy and administration, work conditions, and supervision. 

Rewards and recognition given to the employees also have a great impact on the satisfaction of each and every employee be it at any level of hierarchy. While designing rewards and recognition an HR manager should keep in mind the concept of “equality” also. If employees feel that they are being treated unfairly, it will affect the second factor of the Herzberg theory i.e. Motivation factors.

While this is so, there are other elements as well that directly result in actively motivating the employees. These factors when absent may or may not result in job dissatisfaction but when present they will greatly motivate the employees and facilitate employee engagement and retention. True motivating factors that result in extreme job satisfaction are achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility, advancement, and opportunities for growth.Organizations that focus on giving fair treatment to employee in case of designing rewards have a more people oriented approach.

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Athira unni