Annual Review Process: Non-Monetary Rewards

Managers/supervisors should not underestimate the power of timely and specific recognition and of non-monetary rewards. While not a substitute for an appropriate, market competitive salary, non-monetary rewards and strong communications can help build morale and maintain high performance.

There are many no- or low-cost ways to recognize employees, but managers/supervisors should consider the employee’s interests and the department's needs when using non-monetary rewards.

Feedback and Recognition

• Public recognition/positive attention (e.g., public praise in a meeting or other forum; asking the employee to attend a meeting or give a presentation to senior management; or, in research areas, to coauthor a publication)
• Positive feedback (e.g., a thank you note for a job well done, with a cc: to the employee's manager/supervisor, or a personal handwritten thank you note)
• Opportunities for the employee to interact with senior management
• The opportunity to be part of a project team and to be involved in key decisions

Changes to Work Environment and Schedule

• Offering increased flexibility in work hours or time away from the office, if the department's work allows for this
• Allowing the employee to work more independently (e.g., giving them an assignment and the independence to complete the work within set guidelines and timeframe)

Training and Professional Development

• Provide opportunities for training or professional development, which may include training offered through Tufts Learning Center, external workshops or conferences, or "stretch" job assignments
• Taking advantage of professional development programs available through Udemy, external webinars, or professional networking organizations
• Giving employees the opportunity to choose some assignments and rise to the challenges presented by new responsibilities
• Allowing the employee to attend an external conference or seminar

For More Information

For questions about the Annual Review process or non-monetary rewards, please reach out to your Human Resources Business Partner.