Ang bawat tao ay may iba’t-ibang personalidad, pangarap at mga pangangailangan sa buhay kaya ang kanilang mga hangarin at motibasyon upang bumangon tuwing umaga at mag trabaho ay magkakaiba din. May mga taong gusto ng malaking bahay, marangyang buhay at malaking pamilya dahil para sa kanila, ito ang patunay na sila ay successful. Meron namang mga tao na naghahangad lamang ng payak na pamumuhay dahil nakakakuha sila ng ligaya, panatag na kalooban at kapayapaan sa mga simpleng bagay at hindi sa materyal na karangyaan. 

Ito ang dahilan kung bakit mas magiging epektibo ang Rewards and Recognition program ng UPLB kung ang mga gantimpala at pagpugay sa mga karapat-dapat na empleyado ay personalized at naaayon sa kanilang mga iba’t-ibang hilig, personalidad, pangangailangan at hangarin sa buhay. Sa ganitong paraan, mararamdaman nila na sila ay tunay na pinapahalagaan ng Unibersidad at ang kanilang dedikasyon sa kanilang trabaho ay napapansin kaya sila ay mas lalo pang magiging pursigido at masigasig sa pagtrabaho ng may dangal at husay.

Negosyo sa Pagasenso

Dahil sa hirap ng buhay dulot ng maliit na sweldo, patong-patong na bayarin at mataas na bilihin, ang ating mga kapwa Pilipino ay kailangan maghanap ng mga karagdagan at alternatibong pagkakakitaan upang hindi malugmok sa kahirapan. Bukod sa monetary rewards, isang maganda paraan upang matugunan ang krisis na ito ay ang pagbigay sa mga natatanging empleyado ng mga Kabuhayan Showcase at panimulang pondo upang makapagsimula ng sarili nilang maliit na negosyo na pwede nilang palaguin upang madagdagan ang kanilang pang gastos araw-araw.

Yaman Mula sa Halaman

Simula nung pagputok ng pandemya, umusbong at lumaganap sa buong bansa ang pagkolekta at pag-alaga ng mga halaman dahil sa dami ng benepisyo ng guerilla/urban gardening at backyard farming. Bukod sa isa itong epektibong paraan upang maibsan ang kakulangan ng pagkain, ito rin ay nakakatulong sa mga tao para magpahinga, kalimutan ang mga problema sandali at tanggalin ang stress na bumabagabag at nagpapabigat sa kanilang kalooban. Ang pagbigay ng mga buto ng iba’t-ibang halaman, gardening tools at iba pang mga supplies sa pagtatanim ay magandang gantimpala sa mga empleyado dahil bukod sa nakakatulong ito sa kanilang mental health at nagbibigay sa kanila ng karagdagang suplay ng pagkain, malaking tulong din ito sa kalikasan dahil sa sariwang hangin nabibigay ng mga halaman.

Tatak UPLB

Hindi lang ang mga game show hosts sa telebisyon ang kayang magbigay ng jacket upang mapasaya ang kanilang mga masugid na manonood dahil ang Unibersidad ay pwede ding magbigay ng mga ganitong gantimpala sa mga natatanging empleyado. Ang mga university merchandise tulad ng UP shirts, jackets, planners, coffee mugs, ID lace at iba pang mga local na produkto ay siguradong ikatutuwa ng mga kawani ng unibersidad dahil ang mga ito ay magagamit nila sa pagpasok sa trabaho at nagpapakita din ng kanilang dedikasyon, katapatan, suporta at taos-pusong pagmamahal para sa UPLB.

Lahat ay Panalo sa Salu-Salo

Ang mga Pilipino ay natural na mahilig kumain sa mga handaan lalo na sa pagdiriwang ng mga espesyal na okasyon dahil ito ay isang magandang oportunidad na makasama at makahalubilo ang kanilang mga kaibigan at mahal sa buhay. Sa mga ganitong salu-salo lalong nagiging matibay ang relasyon at malakas ang samahan ng mga tao kung kaya’t ang pagbigay ng food incentives at pagpapakain sa mga empleyadong katangi-tangi ay paniguradong magpapasaya sa kanila at magpaparamdam na sila ay importante at pinapahalagaan ng tunay. 

Tailoring Rewards and Recognition: How to Personalize Incentives for Maximum Impact

Every person is unique and built different because of different factors like their upbringing, experiences, aspirations in life as well as personal goals and desires in life that propel them to move forward towards the finish line (Leithwood, Seashore Louis, Anderson, & Wahlstrom, 2004). There are those who have set their sights on lofty ambitions they can flex like their dream homes, luxury cars, expensive jewelry and designer clothes serving as status symbols that they have indeed reached the pinnacle of success. But there are also those who believe that the best things in life are free because their happiness and contentment are not pinned on material wealth and lavish lifestyles (Oishi, Diener, & Lucas, 2007). 

And that is the reason why it is a good idea to modify and tweak the rewards and recognition program of UPLB so that supervisors can tailorfit and personalize what they give to their deserving and overachieving employees to suit their differing lifestyles and personalities (Stajkovic & Luthans, 2003). These rewards, tokens of appreciation and incentives are designed to boost morale and give people the motivation that they need to push harder especially on days when they feel exhausted and on the brink of giving up (McGregor, 2017). The effectivity of these rewards will be magnified if they are tailorfitted, specific and suited to the needs and wants of awardees because they will feel valued and acknowledged (Henderlong, J., & Lepper, M. R., 2002). With that said, here are some unconventional ways to reward employees and give them the pat on the back that they rightfully deserve.

Kick Things Up with a Kickstarter

Due to the high cost of living brought about the absurd prices of essentials goods and services, a lot of households are struggling to keep their heads above water and that is why monetary rewards for a job well-done is most welcome and appreciated (Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S., 2006). But another way of giving employees who are struggling financially a better fighting chance to survive is to provide resources and additional funds so that they can start a small business of their own (Acs, Z. J., & Audretsch, D. B., 1990). As the old saying goes, give a man a fish and you feed him for a day but if you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. And with a small business that they can grow from the ground up, they can finally work their way to financial comfort and security with hard work and perseverance (Brush, C. G., 2008).

Go Green with Gardening

Due to the long lockdowns at the onset the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, countless people kept themselves preoccupied as they started guerrilla gardening and backyard farming to grow their own food and relieve some of the pent-up stress brought about by cabin fever and anxiety from being cooped up inside their homes (Van Den Berg, A. E., & Custers, M. H., 2011). Since UPLB is home to a wide variety of stunning, endemic flora both for food production and aesthetic value, top-performing employees can be rewarded by their supervisors with seeds, plants, gardening tools and other supplies so that they can start expanding their lovely gardens and small farms. Not only will this give them a steady supply of homegrown food like fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices but it will also be greatly beneficial for the environment because of all the fresh air that these plants produce (Pretty, J., 2002). 

Local, Vocal, Loud and Proud

Some generous private companies have expendable budget and therefore they have the means to provide their employees clothing allowance aside from other benefits like health and dental care, housing opportunities and even transportation options (Perkins, K., & White, G., 2008). The University can take a page from their books and follow suit by rewarding exemplary employees with UPLB merchandise and loot bags with UP shirts, jackets, ID lace, planners, coffee mugs, tumblers and what not. Aside from drumming up income for small merchants and local businesses by supporting them and buying their wares, this will also give employees a sense of pride, boost their affinity and loyalty to the University as well as make them feel validated as they rep the hottest drip for UPLB (Stone, D. L., & Stone, E. F., 1983).

Break Bread or Fake Dead 

Finally, as ingrained in our DNA through the years, Filipinos love to eat and it is an integral part of our culture to celebrate momentous occasions and milestones by feasting with friends and family because great food bring good people together as they create precious memories over the dining table (Rozin, P., 2005). Therefore, it may seem like something mundane and ordinary at first glance but supervisors and higher-ups breaking bread with their constituents to show their appreciation have a lasting impact that will go a long way for sure (Flynn, F. J., 2005). Aside from touching base, unwinding without the pressure of responsibilities and connecting with one another on a more personal level outside work, this small but powerful gesture and act of kindness can make employees feel that they are indeed part of the team because their contributions are valued and all of their efforts are recognized and acknowledged by their bosses and supervisors (Pfeffer, J., & Sutton, R. I., 2006).

Christian Jonah P. Mizal

References: 

Acs, Z. J., & Audretsch, D. B. (1990). Innovation and small firms. MIT press.

Brush, C. G. (2008). Women entrepreneurs: a research overview. The Oxford handbook of entrepreneurship, 611-628.

Flynn, F. J. (2005). Having an open mind: The impact of openness to experience on interracial attitudes and impression formation. Journal of personality and social psychology, 88(5), 816.

Henderlong, J., & Lepper, M. R. (2002). The effects of praise on children’s intrinsic motivation: A review and synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 128(5), 774-795.

Leithwood, K., Seashore Louis, K., Anderson, S., & Wahlstrom, K. (2004). Review of research: How leadership influences student learning. University of Minnesota.

McGregor, D. (2017). The human side of enterprise, annotated edition (Vol. 58). McGraw-Hill.

Oishi, S., Diener, E., & Lucas, R. E. (2007). The optimal level of well-being: Can people be too happy?. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2(4), 346-360.

Perkins, K., & White, G. (2008). Employee reward: Alternatives, consequences and contexts. Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Pfeffer, J., & Sutton, R. I. (2006). Evidence-based management. Harvard business review, 84(1), 62.

Pretty, J. (2002). Agri-Culture: Reconnecting People, Land and Nature. Earthscan.

Rozin, P. (2005). The meaning of food in our lives: A cross-cultural perspective on eating and well-being. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 37, S107-S112.

Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2006). Achieving sustainable gains in happiness: Change your actions, not your circumstances. Journal of happiness studies, 7(1), 55-86.

Stajkovic, A. D., & Luthans, F. (2003). Behavioral management and task performance in organizations: Conceptual background, meta-analysis, and test of alternative models. Personnel psychology, 56(1), 155-194.

Stone, D. L., & Stone, E. F. (1983). The effects of feedback intervention on performance: A historical review, a meta-analysis, and a preliminary feedback intervention theory. Psychological bulletin, 114(2), 285.

Van Den Berg, A. E., & Custers, M. H. (2011). Gardening promotes neuroendocrine and affective restoration from stress. Journal of health psychology, 16(1), 3-11.