¶ … Employee: How Companies Profit by Giving
Response
I think the confusion might arise from the fact that the way in which the author is using the terms 'motivation' and 'recognition' are very specific to the workplace. While it is true that children may 'act out' to get negative recognition, this is much rarer for employees, or at least not to the same degree because workers have the pressures of obtaining a paycheck. However, sometimes workplaces can unintentionally reward asocial employee behavior, thus motivating employees to continue to undermine overall productivity. A very competitive workplace may have a policy of praising employees who are extremely cutthroat and give these workers bonuses. But ultimately, this undermines a cohesive sense of organizational mission and creates a group of employees who pursue their own interests, not...
I have known many people who receive adequate salaries but are very unhappy with their current positions because they are poorly treated by their bosses, are personally demeaned, and are given few responsibilities that make positive use of their creative intelligence. Quite simply, good employees will not want to stay in an environment in which they are not valued. Recognition does not have to be bestowed in a formal manner, as through tangible awards. However, it can come through praise, respectful consideration of employee suggestions, and treating all members of the hierarchy as valued commodities. Additionally, few companies can afford to solely rely upon extrinsic…
