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April 25, 2018

5 Unique Ways to Recognize Your Employee of the Month

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — Megan Duffy @ 2:39 pm

employee of the month recognition

Naming an employee of the month is a great way to recognizing your top performers’ hard work and dedication to the company. With all the effort they put into their job, they deserve more of a thank you than their picture on the wall. Why not give your employees of the month a unique treat instead? Transform your employee of the month recognition from a rather ho-hum honor to an enticing goal with these five spectacular ideas.

Free Lunch

Employee of the month recognition can be delicious when it means a free lunch. Pick a trendy restaurant near the office, or let the honored employee choose one from a pre-approved list. Then tell your employee to order in or head out on their lunch hour, with you picking up the tab for their meal.

Goodie Basket

Get a basket and fill it with items you know your employees would like. Choose a collection of munchies that fits the particular employee, with options that include fruit, granola bars, gourmet cheese, or candy. Non-food items can also work – think sketch pads, gift certificates, scented candles, or coffee mugs.

Supply Box

Keep your employee of the month recognition work-related by gifting a supply box filled with items they can use on the job. Ideas here run the gamut from colored sticky notes to pen sets to personalized memo pads to planners.

Certificate or Trophy

Certificates and trophies are superb for letting your employees of the month display their honor on their desk or wall as long as they wish. Get a batch of high-quality certificate paper and print up your own awards every month, or choose to have them custom printed and framed.

Choose from trophies shaped like stars, circles, or half-moons, all of which can be engraved. If springing for a trophy every month may be a bit much, invest in a single trophy that gets passed around month-to-month to the person who nabs the honor.

Paid Time Off

While you may want to reserve a paid week of vacation for your employees of the year, add an extra day to your employees of the month’s allotted PTO. Review the employee’s schedule, and then have them pick a day that works for you both. Even your best employees would love an extra day to relax!

With so many enticing options for employee of the month recognition, it may be tough to pick just one. Feel free to rotate the recognition ideas every year, or even on a quarterly basis. And yes, if you’re a big fan of the photo in the hallway, you can still keep that tradition, too. Just strengthen the honor with an additional perk that makes sure employees know you truly value their work. Check out PaperDirect for more ways to recognize your hardworking employee of the month.

April 23, 2018

4 Employee Reward and Recognition Programs That Work

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — Megan Duffy @ 9:38 am

employee reward and recognition programs

The primary goals of employee reward and recognition programs are simple: attract and retain amazing talent. So, we shower them with awards, praise, and tokens of appreciation to express our gratitude for their service and dedication. But, are we doing it right? And well enough?

The research pros at Gallup, Inc. found, “only one in three workers in the U.S. strongly agree that they received recognition or praise for doing good work in the past seven days” and that many workers feel their best efforts are ignored. These folks are twice as likely to quit their jobs in the coming year.

In short: We need to do better. Here are a few ways for leaders and managers in your organization to recognize accomplishments, boost employee motivation, increase company loyalty, and meet employee retention rate goals.

Individual Personalized Outreach

The gold standard for employee recognition relies on one-on-one communication from a top-level colleague. We want to hear positive words from our supervisor or the head of the company. Gallup, Inc. found the most memorable and meaningful recognition came from the employee’s manager (28 percent), the company’s leader or CEO (24 percent), or the supervisor over the individual’s boss (12 percent).

The outreach should be genuine and personal. Taking a few minutes to chat about accomplishments and share a handshake speaks volumes to an employee. Writing a note on quality stationery or in a thank you card also makes a big impact.

Employee of the Month/Year

The next most effective form of recognition is based on individual outreach in a public forum. When a supervisor presents a certificate, award, or verbal praise for an individual employee in front of his or her peers, the impact is two-fold. The employee feels appreciated, and the staff learns more about the company culture, possibly feeling inspired to aspire to a similar experience.

Explore this option by creating your own employee of the week, month, or year depending on what feels appropriate for your industry. Make the announcement public and available for the entire staff to enjoy, whether it’s in the form of a meeting or morning announcement.

Individual Evaluations and Reviews

Although it’s not glamorous or public, employees feel valued when you take the time to sit with them and review their goals and performance within the company structure. These evaluations give both the supervisor and employee a chance to discuss improvement, promotions, and future opportunities. Again, personalization and direct communication with a superior at the company is key.

This form of recognition is usually part of an annual employee performance review. In a smaller office setting, this sort of check-in would be valuable after completing large company projects every few months or even on a monthly basis. Consider pairing the reviews with an employee appreciation day to enliven the workday.

Peer-to-Peer Recognition

Gallup, Inc. finds that you really can’t give too much feedback or recognition. They feel it should be all-encompassing and come from supervisors, peers, clients, and customers to really make an impact.

Share shout-outs for individual employees on customer surveys. Allow peers to nominate their co-workers for company awards. Encourage immediate supervisors to recognize when an employee excels in accordance with the company culture, purpose, or brand.

Are you ready to overhaul your company’s employee reward and recognition programs? Find everything you need to acknowledge your amazing employees at PaperDirect today!

April 18, 2018

6 Awesome Volunteer Recognition Award Ideas

Filed under: Recognition & Motivation Ideas — Megan Duffy @ 2:07 pm
volunteer recognition award ideas

Volunteers are the backbone of your organization. In fact, you might have a hard time running your organization without them. With Volunteer Recognition Day celebrated every April 20, you can show your appreciation with a lineup of volunteer recognition awards.

certificate award papers for volunteers

Make your volunteer recognition awards extra special by choosing unique award titles that creatively highlight different claims to fame. Here are some ideas for awesome awards to bestow on your hardworking volunteers:

Biggest Heart Award

Whether it’s to lend an ear, show up for an extra shift, or dedicate an entire weekend to service, the Biggest Heart volunteer is always there to help. This volunteer is kind, compassionate, gracious, and always giving to others.

heart pin award for volunteers

Early Bird Award

You know that volunteer that’s always standing outside the door when you open, eagerly waiting to start working? It doesn’t matter if it’s raining, snowing, hailing, or even Daylight Savings Time. This guy or gal is first in line, waiting to help out your organization.

Perpetual Smile Award

You’re not sure if you’ve seen this person frown, ever. When things are tough, they’re smiling. When things are great, they’re grinning even bigger. This volunteer brings a smile to your doorstep every time he or she arrives, sharing it freely with everyone inside.

Band-Aid Award

Things go wrong from time to time in every organization, and the luckiest organizations have a volunteer who can always fix what’s gone wrong. Creative solutions, rapid action, and remedying any situation are the claims to fame of the recipient worthy of the Band-Aid Award.

On-the-Spot Award

Maybe three volunteers didn’t show up, or you need extra help to quash a crisis. The person who always comes through in a pinch deserves the On-the-Spot Award. They are, after all, always on the spot whenever you call and need them most.

Eternal Service Award

You may be lucky to have a volunteer that has been with the organization since the beginning, continues to show up and suit up every week, and is likely to stick with you far into the future. The Eternal Service Award honors the volunteer for ongoing service – a kind of lifetime achievement award in the world of volunteers.

cherry wood plaque recognition award

Now that you have a solid idea of the types of volunteer recognition awards you want to dole out, all you need to do is get some quality certificate paper and lapel pins and make the awards happen. PaperDirect has an array of options you can have customized or print up on your office printer –  stock up today!

April 16, 2018

11+ Tips for Designing a Graduation Program

Filed under: Designing Your Invitation — Megan Duffy @ 4:07 pm
graduation program design

Everyone at your university is ready for some pomp and circumstance. To make graduation day even more memorable, prepare a detailed program that all guests will enjoy perusing and tucking inside a graduation keepsake frame or memento box.

Not sure what to include beyond the event date and speaker schedule? We’ve got you covered when it comes to selecting the paper to the words your should include. Let’s get this program designing started!

Choosing Graduation Program Paper

As you browse paper choices, you’ll be making decisions about color, folding pattern, and weight. You have two choices when it comes to choosing the color of the paper you’ll use: school colors or classic neutrals such as cream, grey, or white. Both options can be expressed with solid-colored, bordered, or patterned paper. We love the elegance and colorful variety of the Pristine Specialty Foil Programs and the whimsical pattern of the beautiful gold Brighton Specialty Programs.

When choosing the fold of the paper, single or tri-fold are the most popular. For small schools or mid-year graduation ceremonies, a single sheet of decorative paper printed on the front and back might do the trick.

Since the graduation program will likely be saved, choose a heavyweight paper. As you browse the selection of specialty program paper options, you’ll notice each one has a rating, such as “65 lb stock”. The higher the number, the heavier and more durable the paper.

Then, embellish the program! Embossed seals featuring the school emblem or colorful ribbon bookmarks inside multi-page, single-fold programs add a luxe style to the program.

What to Include in the Program

Once you’ve decided on the perfect paper, start crafting your words. On the front of the program, use the formal name of the university followed by the date, location of the event and, if relevant, the specific group of students who are graduating. If the ceremony is just for those who are receiving their doctorates, indicate that it’s a specialized ceremony.

Inside the program make a sequential list of the commencement activities. Here are a few suggested headings:

  • Processional: List the order of the people entering, such as faculty, graduates, board of trustee members, and special guests. You can also make a note of the musical selection being played. If it’s being performed by a live band, name them.
  • Welcome: This section will briefly list speakers and what they are contributing to the day. Are you starting with a few words from the university president? Do you have a special guest welcoming everyone?
  • Commencement Address: Name the person giving this speech and their title or affiliation with the school. They may be a student, guest speaker, or faculty member.
  • Conferring of Degrees: Name the people and their titles who will be presenting the graduates with their diplomas.
  • Closing: Will there be a final speech from a class valedictorian or faculty member? List their name and title.
  • Recessional: Name the people who will lead the graduates out of the room and the song being played during this part of the ceremony.

Finish the program with a short invitation for guests to attend a social hour in an adjoining facility, a few words of wisdom for the future of the graduating class, or the class motto. Create the program to fit your institution’s unique event, which may include singing, prayer, or viewing a photo slideshow. This is your event – customize it!

Most universities will also include a list of graduates as part of the program or as an added insert, depending on the number of names. Consider placing special symbols next to each name indicating special honors, designations, or type of degree obtained.

Skip These Non-Essentials

As you gain momentum on this project, it’s enticing to start including more and more information. Remember this document will become a keepsake for the students and their families, but it does not need to tell the entire history of the school or become an entertainment piece for guests.

Avoid lengthy school histories, listings of faculty members, yearbook-style photographs, school trivia, artwork, or descriptions of degree requirements.

Are you ready to pick out the perfect paper for your program? Browse the Specialty Programs collection at PaperDirect today to get ideas for your project!

April 13, 2018

Happy Stress Awareness Day! Here’s How to Reduce Stress at Work

Filed under: Recognition & Motivation Ideas — Megan Duffy @ 11:37 am

how to reduce stress at work

April 15th is Stress Awareness Day, and aren’t we all aware of it! While it can be tempting to overlook holidays that seem minor, this one can be a big deal for employees. After all, who doesn’t want a less stressful workplace? Here are seven tips on how to reduce stress at work on Stress Awareness Day and throughout the year to create a happy, healthy working environment.

1. Host a yoga class

Even the biggest skeptic will find themselves relaxed after a good yoga session. Whether or not your employees all buy into the spiritual aspects of the practice, everybody will benefit from a set time to relax, stretch, and focus on feeling grounded in their bodies.

2. Hire a masseuse for the day

While bringing in a masseuse may seem like an obvious way to reduce stress at work, it’s still a good one! Hire a masseuse (or several, if you work at a large company) to offer employees chair massages throughout the day. Your employees will find their stress melting away after a few blissful minutes in the chair.

3. Bring in a mindfulness speaker

Your company might have a long list of speakers and conferences planned, but these tend to be targeted toward new business or productivity. If you can tell your employees would benefit from a bit of a breather, find a speaker who can talk about mindfulness or stress management, and give your employees better ways to manage their stress even after Stress Awareness Day.

4. Make sure your employees get their lunch breaks 

Workday breaks are important year round! It’s so easy to get into the habit of eating at your desk, even if you don’t have work piling up. However, one of the quickest ways to reduce stress is to make sure all of your employees have their lunch break to move around, leave the office, and give their brain a break.

5. Finish work early

If you’re wondering how to reduce stress at work in a major way, even for the day, try cutting down work hours! Surprise your employees by closing down after lunch on a Friday (or, if you have a more meticulous bunch, give them warning at the beginning of the week). Either way, a half day won’t cost you much in productivity, but it’ll go a long way to knock down stress levels a couple of notches.

6. Encourage workouts

Give employees incentives to hit the gym or take a walk – offer a gym membership discount, bring in instructors for a lunchtime workout, or set up flexible hours to accommodate gym hours. Working out while you’re working hard can be challenging to balance, but we all know regular exercise is a major way to reduce stress at work.

7. Reward your employees’ hard work

Take some time to reward and celebrate your employees for their hard work. Whether it’s a lapel pin, a new tumbler for their desk, or a nice certificate, honoring their achievements at work can help reduce employee’s worries that they’re not performing well. Small rewards also serve as a good reminder to employees that even when their job stresses them out, you appreciate and value their hard work.

If you’re looking for more ways to show your employees that you appreciate them on Stress Awareness Day or any other day of the year, PaperDirect has everything you need to say thanks! Shop our range of employee recognition gifts and certificates today.

April 9, 2018

6 Ways to Frame Your College Graduation Diploma

Filed under: Student Recognition Ideas — Tags: , , , , — Megan Duffy @ 12:04 pm
college graduation diploma frames

Congrats! You’ve donned your cap and gown and been awarded your official college diploma. Now, it’s time to show it off. Whether it’s at home or the office, these college graduation diploma frames and display ideas are sure to turn a few heads.

Showcase Your Diploma in a Shadowbox

Preserve several memories of your college years in a shadowbox. The thick casing makes it possible to hang award ribbons, lapel pins, honor cords, sashes, medals, and other mementos alongside your graduation diploma. Choose a solid black felt backing or have it customized with your college colors or to match your room decor.

Decorate a Frame

Feeling crafty? Pick up a plain wooden frame and get creative. Use paint to customize the frame and glue on three-dimensional items. For example, if you went to college at a coastal university, apply seashells to the border of the frame. Were you a top athlete? Hang tournament award ribbons around the perimeter of the frame.

Leatherette cover for college diplomas

Display Diplomas with a Leatherette Award Board

For a classic look, slip your paper diploma into a leatherette frame. These can be hung or stand up on their own. We love the idea of standing the framed diploma on a bookshelf next to other items from college, including awards and framed pictures of friends and family at the graduation ceremony.

Mount It On an Engraved Plaque

Have you received more than one college diploma? If you have certificates for an associate, bachelor, masters, and/or doctorate degrees, secure each of them to a large wooden plaque so they can always be displayed together. We love the idea of placing an engraved plate with the year each was earned under each certificate.

slide-in certificate wall plaque

Mat and Frame Your Diploma

Will your college diploma be displayed in your office? Choose professional matting and framing to show off your hard work. The mat color can coordinate with your office or business colors. For timeless appeal, black or cream are popular options.

Create a Collage Frame

When selecting a wooden frame, consider one that has multiple openings cut into the matting. The diploma should be prominently displayed in the main spot, then fill the smaller openings with photographs from the graduation day, the graduation ceremony program, or your graduation party invitation.

Are you ready to make your college graduation diploma stand out? Browse the certificate frames at PaperDirect for more ways to turn your document into a true keepsake!

April 5, 2018

Designing a Dean’s List Certificate: Tips and Tricks

Filed under: Student Recognition Ideas — Megan Duffy @ 10:59 am
designing a deans list certificate

Making the Dean’s List is a big deal, and your school needs to produce a certificate worthy of the honor. While no national standard dictates what a Dean’s List certificate must look like and include, most schools follow a similar format to ensure they produce an official certificate that contains all of the essential information.

Information to Include

At the very least, your dean’s list certificate needs to include:

  • Title of the award, such as Dean’s List Award, or simply Dean’s List
  • Name of university or college
  • Name of recipient
  • Semester and year the certificate is being awarded
  • Official signature(s)

Certificates may be signed by the dean, deans from different departments, or other administrative members authorized to bestow the award.

Design Elements

For the most official, traditional look, it’s imperative to pay attention to several design elements.

School Logo or Seal

The school logo refers to an emblem that can be printed on the certificate, while the seal is created by a sticker or stamp that creates an imprint. One or the other is typically used on a dean’s honor list certificate, with the logo frequently appearing near the top center of the certificate and the seal often appearing in a bottom corner. Choose a Seal that comes with an embossed design or create your own with a blank foil seal and Custom Embosser.

Custom embosser for certificate seals

Font

The font style sets up the overall vibe of the certificate, with the most official and traditional often using an Old English type font. For a less fussy look, a straightforward font such as Bookman Old Style can work. Use no more than two different types of font on the certificate to retain a crisp and clean look.

Font sizes can vary, with larger lettering for the heading and important information and a smaller font size for less crucial information.

Certificate Paper

A dean’s list certificate is not the place to skimp on paper. You will want to use high-quality paper designed specifically for awards and certificates. Attractive options for a dean’s list can include:

When finalizing your design, make sure you adjust your layout to account for any borders on your certificate paper.

70lb Gold Linen Border Certificate Paper

These tips can help ensure your dean’s list certificate makes a stunning statement, providing a tangible testament to all the hard work and dedication that went into receiving it. To start creating your Dean’s List certificate today, browse PaperDirect’s certificate and recognition options.

April 3, 2018

17 Fun and Meaningful Award Ideas for College Students

Filed under: Student Recognition Ideas — Megan Duffy @ 10:41 am
award ideas for college students

College can be an incredibly fun time for students, but it’s not without its challenges. Between juggling homework, theses, and job applications, your students are likely stressed out much of the time!

While you can’t help them manage their busy schedules, you can acknowledge their hard work and unique quirks with fun and meaningful awards. Try out some of these award ideas for college students to boost morale in your university.

1. Superlatives

Superlative awards are one of the most popular parts of high school. Almost anyone can recall at least category from when they graduated, like Best Couple, Class Sweetheart, or Most Likely to Succeed. You can easily adapt this concept for college. Try some fun ideas that poke a little fun, while still showing your students you know them as individuals. Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Most Likely to Drink 5 Cups of Coffee in One Class
  • Most Likely to Wear Pajamas in Class or Most Likely to Wear a Suit to Class
  • Most Likely to Know the Answer to Every Question
  • Most Likely to Start a Debate Over Anything
  • Most Likely to Take Impeccable Notes
Coffee-patterned stationery paper

2. Awards for High-performing Students

Giving high-performing students a small award, either in class or in privacy, for their achievements is a gesture that can go a long way. Extra validation can make a big difference, especially during high-pressure times like midterms or finals. Hand out certificates acknowledging one of the following achievements:

  • Top Math/History/Biology Student of the Year
  • Top Grade in the Course
  • Highest Test Score
Academic-themed stationery papers

3. Rewards for Students Who Study Together

Students often study together during college – there’s so much work to be done, and it always goes faster when you’re in a group! If you have a student you know shows up to help support others during test prep, reward them for their willingness and ability to cooperate with others. Some ideas to help recognize their collaboration are:

  • Most Dedicated Study Group
  • Biggest Team Player
  • Best Group Project of the Semester
  • The Test Prep Dream Team

4. Awards for Students with Perfect Attendance

If your class is at 8 AM, then this is one of those award ideas for college students that should be mandatory! College students have a lot going on, so simply making it to class all the time is an achievement that deserves acknowledgment. Whether it’s a certificate or a gift card for the local coffee shop to keep them punctual, it’s a worthwhile thing to celebrate. Awards relating to punctuality can include:

  • Most Punctual
  • Most Likely to Be the First to Class
  • Perfect Attendance
  • Most Visits to Office Hours
Perfect Attendance Award Paper

5. Certificates for Students Who Audited the Course

Students audit courses for a variety of reasons, but since they don’t receive official credit, giving students who audit a class an award is worthwhile. While all students are pursuing their educations and broadening their horizons by attending college, there’s something extra special about students taking on a course just for the sake of learning. Reward students who often go unacknowledged for going above and beyond with a certificate of completion.

No matter what awards you choose to celebrate your college students this season, PaperDirect has the certificates, trophies, and other awards you need to thank them for their hard work – or dedication to wearing PJs to class. Browse our range of recognition products today!

April 2, 2018

What Kind of Employee Are You? [Quiz]

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — Megan Duffy @ 10:17 am

what kind of employee are you

If you work in an office, you know the classic cast of characters – the office gossip, the overachiever, and the rookie seem to make an appearance in every office. While you may think that you’re above labels (except, of course, “greatest employee of all time”), it’s likely that you fall into a certain employee category just like all your coworkers. Instead of guessing what kind of employee you are, take this quiz from PaperDirect to learn whether you’re a social butterfly, disappearing act, or something in between. Click the image below to start the quiz!

what kind of employee are you

Link above didn’t work? Access the quiz here. 

 

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