One of the best ways to improve company culture involves recognizing the successes of people who dedicate a significant amount of their lives to furthering a business’ cause. That, in essence, is what an employee of the month program is all about. You can use an employee of the month nomination form to put forward your chosen candidate for a chance to be your company’s employee of the month.
What Is an Employee of the Month?
An employee of the month program highlights an individual’s essential contributions to a company over the last 30 days. It could be because of a single major “win,” such as a positive interaction with a client, or a series of smaller ones, like a person continuing to show that they’re willing to go above and beyond to get their work done. Either way, it’s a great motivator to help people give their all regularly.
The primary benefit of an employee of the month program is its positive effect on company culture:
- Recognizing someone’s contributions and hard work
- Allowing their peers to do the same
- Making people feel appreciated helps them stay more connected to their work
- Allowing employees to come together as a more effective team and collective if you let people vote
How to Choose Employee of the Month
When choosing an employee of the month, there are always several essential things you’ll want to keep in mind.
Determine Who Qualifies
The first thing you need to do when putting together an employee of the month program involves deciding who qualifies for recognition in the first place. Is it open to anyone, or just people who have been with the company for a certain period of time? These are essential questions to answer. You’ll also want to ensure that you’re spreading the recognition around and that the same few people aren’t winning every month, regardless of how well they perform.
Grade Their Performance
Next, you’ll need to grade the overall performance of the people who have been nominated. Are there primary standout reasons to select one person over another? Not only do you have to be objective about selection, but you also need to handle the process consistently and transparently so that everyone feels like the proceedings are fair.
Compile Your List of Reasons for the Nomination
Once a nominee has been selected, make a list of reasons why they were able to rise above the rest. Cite examples of their dedication, performance metrics, and other factors that matter.
Celebrate, Celebrate, Celebrate
Finally, you can hold an award meeting to maximize the impact of an employee of the month program. Celebrate in public—ensure all employees know who was selected and, most importantly, why. It allows everyone to say something nice to someone working very hard. You could also consider setting up an “employee of the month” section on your website for greater recognition.
How to Write an Employee of the Month Nomination Form
Include the following sections when writing an employee of the month nomination form.
The Nominee
First, give people an opportunity to select whomever they want—you don’t necessarily need to provide them with a list of candidates. Include spaces for the nominee’s name, title, and department.
Reasons for Selection
Next, include a section where the person making the nomination can answer straightforward questions about why an employee deserves special recognition. They include questions like:
- What are the nominee’s specific achievements or accomplishments?
- How has the nominee gone above and beyond their regular duties?
- How has the nominee contributed to the success of the team or company?
After completing this section, an employee can submit the form. The nomination may be evaluated by company management or a special committee of people (likely selected by the Human Resources department).
Sample Employee of the Month Nomination Form
To make the process easier, you can download an employee of the month nomination form below in PDF or Word format:
