My Kindgdom for Definitions

What a way to start a Monday.  I could feel it coming on.  I knew it was going to happen and I couldn’t help myself.  The bile was rising in my throat and I had to take a step away.

I composed myself and came back.  I came back to post a comment on an entry at Human Markets called "Before the Tee Shirts" (hat tip to Frank Roche at knowHR blogging fame for the link.) 

What got me going is this opening line…

"Recently I made the point that I am not a big fan of ‘non-cash
rewards’ – tee shirts, mugs, parking spots, bagels, and stuff."

In this post the author – Bill Strahan
- lists out 10 things companies should do before using non-cash rewards
- and for the record – I agree with everything on his list.  What I don’t agree with is the use of "non-cash rewards."

I started to post a comment – but my mind kept going – and the comment kept getting longer.  I figured it would make a better post than a comment so I "tracked back" – this way I get the best of both worlds.  My post is my comment.  Two dead birds, one stone.

As you know I make my living helping companies design the best "non-cash" rewards programs – as well as leverage other influence techniques – in order to help align the behaviors of the audience with the goals and objectives of the organization.  I don’t help companies "dupe" their audience – it has to be ethical and transparent.  So anytime I see the use of "non-cash" rewards my radar goes on high alert and I jump in to see what the conversation is about.

Gifts vs Rewards

What got me going where the examples used for "non-cash rewards"  – they are not REWARDS – they’re shallow attempts to brand the company.

T-shirts, mugs, bagels, etc. – are not rewards – they are gifts.  Gifts disguised as rewards, hidden in benefits, wrapped in duplicity.  When employed as the author says, without the benefit of a quality organization behind them, they are at best  management’s feeble attempt to polish a…  You get the idea. 

First of all, non-cash rewards are (in my mind) a foundational element of the total relationship between employee and employer, between company and consumer, between business partners.  The use of non-cash rewards and recognition help establish the norms of behavior between the two.  But because there is such a lack of definition within the industry and with those that use the tools,  we end up painting the entirety of non-cash awards with the brush of tsotschkes and devalue the entire application.

Later in the post Bill says…

"If you do not have a decent employment environment your gifts will ring hollow
and in the market for employee attention and affection, you will be a loser."

Here the application is right – gifts – not rewards. 

I know it’s a bit of a nit – but I know if you told Steve Jobs that an iPod is just an "mp3 player" he’s have a conniption fit.

Definitions Matter 

Rewards are earned.  Gifts are given.  To denounce the application of "non-cash" awards because some folks employ them incorrectly is akin to saying you’re against the use of computers because some people use them for spam. 

Let’s be clear – when used correctly, non-cash rewards are very effective and important.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled bagel and t-shirt break.