A STUDY ON REWARDS AND

RECOGNITION SYSTEMS AMONG

LEADING INDIAN ORGANIZATION

Overview of Rewards and Recognitions

The organizations in todays world are constantly striving
to become dynamic to stay ahead of competition,
Earn maximum profits,
Grow faster than competition & rivals,
Establish domination in the market.
Drive to achieve excellent standards
They are very keen to have a dedicated and well-trained skilled workforce.
Rewards and recognitions is one such practice to motivate the workforce in

good and difficult times.

Organizations can tap their individual intrinsic potential and unleash it
achievements to new heights and standards.
The rigor by the employers is to set a state of art practices to innovate
products and process.

Overview of Rewards and Recognitions

Employees perspective
They also expect good salary compensation,
Advance prospects
Earn respectable status in the society
Achieve a sense of satisfaction.
The objective of the practice of Reward and recognition is to foster a spirit of

healthy competitive spirit within individuals, groups and organization as a

whole.
Apart from that, it is used by the organizations to attract talent from the
industry and retain the existing skilled workforce.

Literature Survey
Brun and Dugas (2008) define

Recognition is first and foremost a constructive response;

It is also a judgment made about a persons contribution,
Reflecting not just work performance
Personal dedication and engagement.
Lastly, recognition is engaged in on
Regular or ad hoc basis
Expressed formally or informally
Individually or collectively
Privately or publicly
Monetarily or non-monetarily

Literature Survey
Similarly, rewards are an important part of an organization's system
The right kind of rewards system contributing to
Employees feeling motivated
Committed to their job (Bonsdorff 2011)

Moreover, it promotes on-the-job learning (Lippit 1997)

It is a building block of learning organizations (Griego, 2000).

The Research Problem:

Whether employees have ample comprehension of their rewards and recognitions, whether

they consider it to be fair and a genuine effort by the management to reward and recognize
outstanding efforts and results.
We will also meticulously try to discover whether the reward systems enhances the value of an
employee, as morale booster and to reaffirm how important is for an employee a reward and
recognitions.
The organizations whether they take part in explaining the awareness of the existing rewards
and recognition and how effectively the senior management is involved in this practice.
It is trying to convey that whether rewards and recognition practices takes in the suggestions
of employees and how it is a continuous evaluation.
We will also explore a new dimension that how important in Indian context is family important
in celebrating success and designing of these practices considering an individuals family
needs.

The Research Problem:

The Economic times (PTI Jul 9, 2014) quoted that Economic Survey 2014: Working age of

India's population is set to increase to 64% by 2021.The percentage of working-age

population is expected to surge from around 58 per cent in 2001 to more than 64 per cent by
2021, with a big number of Generation-Young aspirants in the age group of 20-35, referring to
the pre-Budget Economic Survey 2013-14.
So our special focus would to understand the aspirations of 22-35 age group (Gen-y group) on
a broader perspective.
After going through detailed analysis of each question present in the questionnaire, we would
like to draw some conclusions, inferences and make suitable recommendations (if any) for
overall advances to make this practice of rewards and recognitions as an enhancement of
value significantly for both employees and employers.

The Research Design

The analysis planned is a descriptive inquiry to accumulate ample data on theory and research

literature study.
Here the data amassed to realize the general perspectives on Rewards and Recognitions
which includes collection of feedbacks straight from staffs of different organizations.
This will also help in understanding if there are any behavior patterns observed. A wideranging study of existing research materials will also be involved.
The primary source of data will be from various forms of answers from employees through
questionnaire.
Each query from the questionnaire will be studied in detail and some analysis and inferences
will be drawn as per the responses.
The questionnaire will be mailed across to all volunteering employees various organizations
will be undertaken to comprehend in detail about the various internal and external factors
important for the success of Rewards and Recognitions systems
The observations will be tabulated along with details including gender diversity and age. The
composed figures will be estimated in Microsoft Excel.

Analysis of Survey Sample

Sample Distribution

Share of various Age-groups

45
40

Total No.

35

10%

30

10%

25

22-34

20

35-46

15

47-60

10

80%

5
0
22-34

35-46

47-60

Age Group

Gender Distribution

Gender Share

40
35

Total No.

30
25

17, 33%

20

Female

15

Male

10

34, 67%

5
0
Female

Male

Gender

Q1. Do you feel that the awareness generated by your organization concerning recognition and reward programs is
adequate?

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree
10%

AGE GROUP 35-46

Neutral

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

2% 12%

Neutral

Overall

0%

17%

10%
40%

2%
17%

14%

60%
59%

AGE GROUP 47-60

0%
20%
0%

57%

40%
Strongly agree
40%

Strongly agree

Agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Q2. Do you feel that you have the essential comprehension of the criteria for an employee to receive recognition and
reward?

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

7%

Neutral

Disagree

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Overall

0%

5% 8%

6%

4%

8%

12%
12%

68%
100%

AGE GROUP 35-46

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

70%

0%
20%

20%
Strongly agree

60%

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Q3. Do you believe that the current employee recognition and reward program utilized by your company is
effective in providing you with the recognition for your actions?

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

AGE GROUP 35-46

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

0%5%

Disagree

Strongly disagree

0%

OVERALL
29%
40%
Strongly agree
49%

Agree

Neutral

60%
12%

17%

25%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

16%

0%
20%
40%
20%

20%

Strongly disagree

47%

Disagree

Q4. Do you believe that the current employee recognition and reward program used by your company enhances
your value as an employee?
AGE GROUP 22-34
Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

5%

Disagree

AGE GROUP 35-46

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

0%

12%

OVERALL

20%

15%

40%

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

19%

Neutral

4%
49%

14%

40%

19%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

18%

0%
20%

45%

0%

20%

60%

Q5. Do you believe that the employee recognition and reward program utilized in your company is comparable to
other companies programs?
AGE GROUP 35-46

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

15%

Disagree

Strongly agree

Strongly disagree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

0%

0%7%

OVERALL
40%

40%

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

41%
37%
18%

10%

20%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

0%

31%

20%
0%

40%

40%

Strongly disagree

41%

Disagree

Q6. Do you feel Employee recognition and reward is important for your morale?
AGE GROUP 35-46

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

0%
10%

Disagree

Strongly agree

Strongly disagree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

0%

2%

OVERALL

40%

27%

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Strongly Disagree

60%

61%

8% 2%
AGE GROUP 47-60
Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

0%
20%

80%

Strongly disagree

35%

55%

Q7. Would you like to see both formal and informal employee recognition programs at your company?

AGE GROUP 35-46

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

7%

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly agree

Strongly disagree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

0%

3%2%

20%

OVERALL
Strongly agree

29%

Agree

59%

6%

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

2%2%

80%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

0%
20%

80%

Strongly disagree

33%

57%

Q8. Do you think that your company does an adequate job recognizing and rewarding employees for their
performance?
AGE GROUP 35-46

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

0%

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

0%

17%

20%

27%

40%

OVERALL
Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

32%
24%

2%

40%
23%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

22%

Strongly disagree

20%
22%
40%
20%
0%
20%

31%

Strongly Disagree

Q9. Do you feel that personal recognition is important to you after successful completion of a difficult task?

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

AGE GROUP 35-46

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

Agree

7%0%

Neutral

Disagree

0%
20%

RESPONSE DISTRIBUTION
Strongly agree

40%
42%

Strongly disagree

51%

Agree

Neutral

10%
40%
47%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

0%

40%
60%

Strongly disagree

43%

Q10. Do you feel that personal recognition is more important than a monetary reward?
AGE GROUP 35-46

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree
5%

Neutral

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree
0%

5%

20%

27%

OVERALL
0%

19%

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

4% 4%
80%
44%

33%

22%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

0%
37%
40%

40%

20%

Strongly disagree

Q11. Do you feel your department has a standard mechanism in place for a supervisor to give spot
awards?
AGE GROUP 35-46

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

8%

Neutral

OVERALL

0%

20%

30%

43%

20%

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree
8%

60%

Neutral

6%

19%
25%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

20%

45%
Neutral

0%

0%

80%

16%

Q12. Do you enjoy celebrating professional achievement with your team and family?

AGE GROUP 22-34

AGE GROUP 35-46

Strongly agree

Agree

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Neutral

Strongly disagree
0%
20%
%
3%

OVERALL
20%

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

40%
44%

8%

0%
2%

51%
40%
43%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

0%
20%

20%

60%

Strongly disagree

47%

Strongly disagree

Q13. Do you feel your organization takes your family needs into consideration while designing the Reward
and recognition systems?

AGE GROUP 35-46

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree
0%

10% 5%

OVERALL
Neutral

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree
8%

20%

Neutral

6%

29%
37%

60%

0%

19%

27%

20%
39%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral
0%

Disagree

20%

40%

40%

Strongly disagree

20%

Q14. Does your senior encourages you to praise your subordinates?

AGE GROUP 35-46

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

OVERALL

0%

7% 10%
12%
40%
25%

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

60%

46%
0%

6%

Neutral

8%

14%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

20%

Neutral

0%

80%

21%

51%

Q15. Does the top management praises its people (Verbal or Written) for their efforts or achievement
on a regular basis?
AGE GROUP 35-46

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly disagree
10%

Neutral

0%

OVERALL
Strongly agree

14%

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

40%

15%

8%
60%

7%
54%

11%

12%
10%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

0%

100%

Disagree

Strongly disagree

59%

Strongly disagree

Q16. Do you think that Employee recognitions and rewards in your organization is given on the basis of continuous
evaluation throughout the year?
AGE GROUP 35-46

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

OVERALL

0%

5% 10%

20%

19%

40%

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree
4%

17%

49%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

0%

40%

20%

0%

16%

21%

18%

0%
40%

40%

Neutral

41%

Q17. Does your organization considers employee's suggestions while giving out reward and recognitions?
AGE GROUP 35-46

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree
7%

Neutral

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree
0%

10%

20%

20%

OVERALL
Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

22%

6%

Neutral

10%

34%
20%
27%

22%
40%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

39%
Strongly disagree
23%

0%
20%
0%

80%

Q18. Does Representatives from top management in your company actively participate (in person) in the
different reward & recognition programs?

AGE GROUP 35-46

AGE GROUP 22-34

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

7%3% 12%

20%

OVERALL

Neutral
Strongly agree

Agree

0%

Neutral

4%
10%

Disagree
12%

24%
20%
54%

60%
25%

AGE GROUP 47-60

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

0%
20%

20%

0%

60%

Strongly disagree

49%

Strongly disagree

Conclusions:
Overall the Indian organizations have fared reasonably well.
Yet there still exists some scope of improvements in the rewards and recognitions practices in
order to withstand the domestic and international competition.
However there are still some hesitations and fixed mindsets in the present Indian organizations
scenario. There needs to be greater flexibility and openness in the present conditions. But
gradually with meticulousness and perseverance, the organizations can retain their talented
workforce and attract new ones.
In this journey, Rewards and recognitions systems will play a crucial role in determining the
future course of the organizations and employees.

Recommendations

There needs to be greater push to create awareness about the rewards and recognition practices and their criteria
among the employees.
The suggestions of employees needs to be considered with vigor and enthusiasm
Some amount of due consideration should be given to family needs in context of Indias cultural heritage for
designing the practices.
Continuous evaluations of rewards and recognitions practices should be done instead of the usual yearly and
half yearly practices.
An on-spot rewards and recognition practices needs to be fostered by Indian organizations with greater zeal and
rigor.

Recommendations

In workplace practices, informal recognition and praising of employees and subordinates seeds to be fostered in
order to have a healthy work environment.
Robust systems needs to be in place so that the organizations is effective in recognizing Individuals efforts.
Special Attentions to be given in designing recognitions (both formal and informal) as compared to monetary
rewards which is very much evident from the response distribution.
Awareness about industry rewards and recognition practices and it should be showcased how the organizations
existing practice is better than the competition. Also it reassures an employee that he is valued and he receives
personal recognition.
Rewards and recognition practices needs to be more oriented towards encouraging employees to learn help
them upgrade their skillset and innovate processes and products.
It also should motivate him to take risks, be a team player and develop a sense of professionalism
Rewards and recognitions should also be designed that it challenges the mindset of the employees and help
them broaden their perspectives.

Thank You