Employers should think twice before implementing peer recognition programs

Thursday, June 8, 2023
Image of Pei Wang

In fast-paced and often rapidly changing work environments, employers continue to seek new and improved ways to recognize employees in the workplace. However, new research from the University of Waterloo suggests that public peer recognition may backfire by enabling comparisons among employees, and these comparisons may make some employees feel unfairly treated.

“Employers have sought out various peer recognition systems in an effort to promote employee helping behaviour,” said Pei Wang, PhD candidate in accounting at Waterloo. “When employees feel that they deserve recognition from their peers but do not receive it, employees can conclude that they are unfairly treated, and this makes employees less willing to help other co-workers, not only the co-worker they feel treated them unfairly.” 

Learn more about why: Employers should think twice before implementing peer recognition programs.