Enterprise-wide Recognition Program
There are dozens of unique recognition programs across Prudential’s businesses which lead to: employee feelings on inequality, inefficient processes, lack of measurements, and overall lack of strategy. There is an opportunity to create a cultural infrastructure, an opportunity that is further emphasized by the shift to a remote work environment,
As the Initiative Owner, I was responsible for presenting a business proposal to HR Leadership. I managed a cross-functional team of 8 and lead a group of 20+ program administrators.
I. Review Current State
1. Finance - learned spending was decentralized and not tracked. things such as water bottles and office supplies were files are Recognition.
2. Program Inventory - We found 20+ unique programs in the organization. Most fell into the following buckets:
informal programs - end meeting shout outs, email chains
points-based programs - employees and manages could reward points to each other. Points can later be redeemed for prizes (gift cards, branded items, catalog). These programs are supported by an external vendor
service award - recognize employees who have been with a company for a certain number of years
cross-business - The Project Management Council, Chairman’s Awards, and Cultural Groups all had programs that cut across business lines
3. Administrator Interviews -
recognition should be more inclusive
Service Awards can be scaled back
International considerations (currency, prizes, local norms)
Taxation considerations
Businesses celebrate different behaviors and values
II. User Research
We met with employees across the organization to understand their feelings of recognition and awareness of programs. We learned:
recognition is impactful to those who participate
many employees don’t know if they have a program that exists
different programs drive inequitable opportunities for exposure and appreciation
Particularly important for motivating customer-facing employees
III. Program Proposal and Outcome
We proposed an enterprise-level investment in recognition by implementing a global program and brand that will replace or subsume existing local and enterprise plans:
Create an umbrella Recognition program
Support flexible business-specific behaviors and aspirations
Centralized administration
Establish enterprise-level measures
Integration with key enterprise systems
Key measures include:
Increase scope of employees who can participate in a recognition program
Increase rate of giving recognition
Increase recognition activity between businesses
The proposal was approved and project is currently in Request for Proposal with vendors. Tentative launch 2022 Q2.