Short answer: the employee of the month programs that last combine a fair, transparent nomination process with an award people actually want to display, not just a certificate. Pair a small physical keepsake, like an engraved tumbler, with a visible wall presence, like a rotating name plate on a shared plaque, and keep the whole cycle under 15 minutes of admin work per month so it does not quietly die after the third quarter.
Most employee of the month programs do not fail because the idea is bad. They fail because the process gets tedious, the award feels like an afterthought, or nobody remembers to run it in month four. This guide covers how to design a program that survives past the initial enthusiasm, what to actually give people, and how to handle the monthly logistics without it becoming someone's least favorite recurring task.
Step 1: design a nomination process people trust
The single biggest reason employee of the month programs lose credibility is a nomination process that feels arbitrary, either always going to the same few people or clearly decided by one manager's opinion. Fix this before you buy a single award.
- Open nominations to everyone, not just managers. A peer nomination carries more weight than a top-down pick and surfaces people managers do not always see, like someone who consistently helps other departments.
- Ask for a specific reason, not a vote. "Nominate someone and explain what they did" produces better decisions than a popularity poll, and it gives you the actual text to use on the award.
- Rotate who decides. A small committee that changes membership every quarter keeps any one person's bias from shaping the program long term.
- Publish the criteria. Even three or four short bullet points, like reliability, teamwork, and going beyond the job description, give nominators a shared standard instead of guessing what counts.
Step 2: pick an award that people want to keep
A certificate goes in a drawer. A physical, personalized award goes on a desk. The difference in how much the recognition actually lands is bigger than most programs account for.
| Award | Why it works | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Employee of the Month Tumbler | Practical, used daily, a visible reminder every time it is picked up | $29.99 |
| Acrylic Recognition Plaque | Sits on a desk, engraved with the name and the reason, more formal than a tumbler | from $49.99 |
| Crystal Recognition Award | Reserved-feeling upgrade for a standout month or an annual capstone winner | from $79.99 |
The tumbler works well as the default monthly award because it is something the winner uses every day rather than displays once and forgets. For programs that want a more formal moment, an engraved acrylic plaque reads as a bigger deal without a bigger budget, and a crystal award works well reserved for a year-end "Employee of the Year" pulled from the twelve monthly winners, which gives the smaller monthly award a reason to matter: it is also an entry into the annual pick.
The perpetual plaque approach
A popular format for a visible, ongoing program is a perpetual plaque: one large plaque mounted somewhere everyone passes, like a breakroom or a lobby, with a small engraved nameplate added for each new winner. The plaque stays in place and grows over time, so the wall itself becomes a running record of the program instead of resetting every month.
Because a perpetual plaque needs to be sized for a specific wall and a known number of nameplates over time, it is a custom build rather than an off-the-shelf item. Email deals@woodunlimited.org with the wall space you have and how many years you want it to hold, and we will quote a base plaque plus a per-nameplate price for the ongoing additions. Most programs order the base plaque once and then a small batch of nameplates once or twice a year rather than reordering monthly.
Monthly logistics that keep the program running
- Set a fixed date. The first Monday of the month, or the last day of the pay period, works better than "sometime this month," which is how programs quietly stop happening.
- Collect nominations for one week, then decide. A short, fixed window keeps the process from dragging into the following month.
- Order or update the award ahead of the reveal. Engraving takes 1 to 3 business days, so submit the winner's name and the reason at least a week before the announcement to leave margin for shipping or proof approval.
- Announce it somewhere visible. A team meeting, an email to the whole company, or a note on the perpetual plaque itself. The recognition matters more when other people see it happen.
- Keep a simple log. A shared spreadsheet with the winner, the month, and the reason takes two minutes to update and becomes the reference for who has already won when you are considering an annual pick.
Common mistakes that quietly kill the program
- The same department wins every time. If nominations skew toward one visible team, adjust the criteria or the nomination pool rather than letting it become a running joke.
- The award never changes. Giving the exact same item every month for years reads as an afterthought. Rotating between a couple of award types, or upgrading the material for a milestone like "third win," keeps it feeling considered.
- No one remembers why last month's winner won. The reason is the whole point. Put it on the award, the announcement, or both, not just the person's name.
- The process depends on one person. If the program only runs because one HR coordinator remembers to do it, it will lapse the month that person is out. Put the fixed date and process in a shared document.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should an employee of the month award cost?
Most programs land between $25 and $65 per monthly award, with a nicer piece, like a crystal award, reserved for an annual pick. Keeping the monthly cost modest and consistent matters more than any single award being expensive.
Can we engrave a different name each month on the same design?
Yes. Order the same product design each time and send the new name and month, or set up a perpetual plaque with individual nameplates added over time. Either way we engrave from scratch each order, so there is no reused or generic piece.
Do you offer volume pricing if we order a year of awards at once?
Yes. Volume pricing is quoted starting at 10 pieces, so ordering a year of the same award design at once, with blank name fields to fill in later, usually qualifies. Email deals@woodunlimited.org with the quantity and item.
How far ahead should we order for a monthly reveal?
At least a week before the announcement. We engrave in 1 to 3 business days and email a digital proof for approval first, so building in a few extra days keeps a busy month from becoming a rushed one.
What if we want to build a perpetual plaque later, after starting with individual awards?
That is common. Many programs start with individual monthly awards and add a perpetual plaque once the program has proven it will stick around. Email us the winners you already have on record and we will quote a base plaque sized to catch up.
About Wood Unlimited
We are a veteran-owned family workshop in Prattville, Alabama. Every plaque, trophy, and award is laser engraved in house, so the wording is cut or etched into the surface rather than printed on top. Engraved in 1 to 3 business days, with free U.S. shipping on orders over $99 and a 90-day return policy. Over 14,000 verified customer reviews.