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In today’s economy, having to make every dollar in each department’s budget stretch as far as possible is more important than ever. But cutting programs could actually cost more in collateral damage than it would to even increase the amount being spent. For instance, employee recognition programs are vitally important to the health of the company. An employee that feels appreciated is one that will work harder and will be more loyal, even during times of financial struggles. So having to find ways to make your HR budget go farther can sometimes mean bringing things in-house to lower the expense. This is especially true when you make your own award certificates.

Many times, an award or certificate is all the encouragement an employee needs to feel their efforts are being noticed. Even though it may be a blank certificate purchased and then filled out at the job, the point of recognizing the employee is still uppermost. And the process to get the certificates, fill them out and give them to the employee is little different than if you were to have a third party do it. It merely takes a little longer.

First, choose a great blank certificate. Next, download a template for the certificate to be used in your favorite word processor. After that, all you have to do is put in the employee’s name, the reason for the award and hit “Print”. You’ve created the certificate in a matter of minutes. You can even have the company logo, motto, and other graphics on it with just a few clicks of a mouse.

After having the CEO or President of the company sign the certificate, you have something that is suitable for framing. Whether you frame it, or you let the employee frame it is up to you. The point is, the certificate is done, it cost a fraction of what it would if you had an outside company make it, and the employee gets that appreciation and validation they deserve. And you look like a hero, because you’re doing things that will help keep the budget under control when you make your own award certificates for your employees.

When it comes to a quick and easy way to boost morale around the office, nothing helps like recognition. Knowing your superiors are paying attention to your efforts is definitely appreciated and having that recognition validated by even something as inexpensive as a certificate is appreciated as well. There are even things that can be done with the certificates beyond saving them as recognition validation as well, and your certificate layout designs can reflect what it’s being used for.

Most certificates are simply used for recognition purposes, and the layout is generally the same. Having the company logo up top, the award heading under that, then the person’s name who won the award and a description is usually under that. Other things that can appear on the award are signatures of corporate officers, the company slogan or even the mission statement can be on it. Of course, having everything laid out in a nice script font and that has a scalloped edge or at least some kind of laced border lends an air of sophistication to it as well.

However, other layouts are perfectly acceptable as well. Logo left or right, text opposing is acceptable, and even doing a reverse order for everything, as long as it makes logical sense will work. Certificates are meant to be an expression of the company’s appreciation of an employee, not a straight jacket. Especially when the company is using the certificate as incentive as well as recognition.

When companies do that, not only is there the appreciation for the award, but by setting them up as “cashable” incentives, encouraging an employee to earn multiple awards and exchange them for a bonus or prize like a vacation trip, days off, or other nice incentives, employees have added desire to try to get those certificates.

Certificates like that can have a more “open” layout since there could be areas to put incentive program stickers or add-ons, and there’s no set way that has to be done. Certificates are meant to encourage the employees to be better at their jobs, and making your own, using your own layouts and ideas, lets them know the employer is paying attention to their efforts as well.