Do you want to bring some fun to your office?
Looking for more interesting and fun ways to recognize your employees rather than handing out “Employee of the Month” certificates?
In this article, you’ll find 75 fun employee award ideas that you can simply apply to your company.
First, How to Make Employee Award Experience Meaningful
Do you want to start an employee award program?
Start with “WHY.”
Ask two questions to yourself:
- Why am I launching an employee reward program?
- And what do I really want to achieve with it?
Here are some common reasons companies start employee recognition and award programs:
1. Create a positive office culture.
2. Create a culture of recognition.
3. Motivate high performance.
4. Reinforce certain behaviors.
First, discover your own WHY and then move on.
Here are some steps to follow to build a successful award program: (Click to Tweet)
Make Sure The Program Suits Your Organization
It is important to make sure that the employee award program can be seamlessly integrated into the existing system. You might also want to look out if you can white label the program to give it a company identity. Look for a solution provider who can provide complete customization.
Resonate The Core Values
These programs can be a great way to spread and articulate your company’s core values. So before choosing an employee reward program, you must ensure that you can customize your program to tie with the company values and ideologies.
GoSkills, a Learning Management System, allows companies to customize rewards for employees who learn the most.
Build a Team of Champions
Appoint a few people who will be responsible for the implementation, managing, and establishment of a recognition program.
When building your team, look for people with the following characteristics:
- Good knowledge of the program benefits.
- Positioned as a team leader.
- Should have an interest in the program.
- Believes in company values.
Get Social
When an employee receives an award, shout out on your company page or your internal newsletter, and your employees can like or comment. You can also create a digital flipbook and share it internally on social media platforms. Give your entire workforce the opportunity to celebrate together and it encourages your employees to recognize each other.
Doubt the power of appreciation? Take a moment to view this humorous and thought-provoking talk by Mike Robbins:
Share Moments
Use Slack or a mobile event app to share special moments with everyone and then instantly send recognition to your peers. This also provides more opportunities for employees to understand what’s going on, outside their day-to-day, with the ability to comment, tag, and even react with a thumbs up!
Make It Fun
Your employee award program should be fun and meaningful. Funny employee awards are best for a casual and fun way to recognize your team for their off-kilter strengths and quirks. Fun at work makes the team immune to the negative effects of stress and anxiety, thus reducing absenteeism and improving employees’ well-being.
Patrick Lencioni put it best:
When leaders throughout an organization take an active, genuine interest in the people they manage, when they invest real time to understand employees at a fundamental level, they create a climate for greater morale, loyalty, and yes, growth.
Below is a list of ideas to get your creativity flowing, feel free to use them!
Drum roll, please…
75 Funny Employee Award Ideas
Here are some out-of-the-box and fun employee award ideas:
1. Walking Encyclopedia Award
Does your team have a member that knows everything? Or they think they do. Yeah, this is their award.
2. Duct Tape Award
This award is for a person who’s able to fix anything.
3. Office DJ Award
Give this award to the person that knows how to jam. Everyone appreciates their good tunes, even if they play it a little too loud.
4. Social Director Award
This award is for the person who takes ownership of any and all group activities for the office.
5. Always In a Meeting Award
For the person who is never available to answer a phone call or reply to an important email because they’re always in a meeting.
6. Office Parent Award
Give this award to a person who remembers and collects money for everyone’s birthday, orders cakes, and is the office pharmacist.
7. Wannabe MJ Award
This award goes to the teammate who is pretty much a smooth criminal on the dance floor.
8. The Bermuda Triangle Award
Does someone own a mysterious desk where things go in and never return? Give this award to them.
9. Thinks In emoji Award
Do any of your employees know the slack emoji dictionary? This is that person who has a perfect emoji reaction to everything.
10. Stand-up Comedian Award
This award is for that very special employee who always makes witty puns, jokes, and wordplay (you don’t have to admit if they’re good or bad).
11. The Foodie Award
This award goes to the employee who has the perfect recommendation for any cuisine and price range, and their taste is impeccable. Also, you are a restaurant owner and make a menu for your food that can everyone want to.
12. Mr. Clean or Ms. Clean Award
Is there someone on your team who keeps their workspace immaculately clean? Give this person Mr. Clean or Ms. Clean award.
13. The Picasso Award
This award is for an employee who is always doodling something.
14. Super Snacker Award
Give this award to the employee who’s snacking, snacking, snacking all the time.
15. The Instagrammer Award
They stop everyone and everything to take a picture for their Instagram. Click, click, and click. Inspire and motivate your team with a creative employee recognition wall pictures tiles.
16. I’m Giphy Award
Giphy is this employee’s first language. They always have the right gif on hand at any given moment.
17. The Coffeeholic Award
This award is for the employee who is inseparable from their cups of coffee (rumor has it they worked as a Starbucks barista in college).
18. The Green Thumb Award
The employee who has the most alive plants in their workspace? This person loves plants and gardening. Give them the Green Thumb Award.
19. The Chit-Chat Award
You all know a person in your team who talks more than anyone else. Give them the Chit Chat Award.
20. The Angry Bird Award
Give this award for an employee who gets easily upset and is always scowling.
21. The Beautician Award
Are you in need of new hair, skincare, and makeup recommendations? Contact the office beautician. This person has all the beauty tips, tricks, and info you need to glow up.
22. The Iron Chef Award
This award goes to the employee who always packs a delicious-looking lunch while everyone else goes to restaurants or Subway.
23. Always Late Award
This award is for the person that is always late for every meeting. They’re even late for the meetings they organize! 😀
24. Buzzword Award
This award goes out to the person who constantly uses any and every corporate acronym and buzzword.
25. Mission Impossible Award
There was that deadline that no one thought your team would be able to hit, but this person came through like a rock star and made it possible.
26. Elephant Memory Award
Forgetting things is common. But there is always that extraordinary person in the office who believes everything is unforgettable! The Elephant Memory Award is for that employee.
27. Alice In Wonderland Award
Lots of employees lose themselves in their fantasies. There will usually be a colleague who always seems lost in a fantasy of their own. The Alice in Wonderland Award is for them.
28. Astute Observer Award
It’s always nice to meet someone who notices a new haircut. Or a new dress. Or a new shirt. This award goes out to a person who is the most observant.
29. Calmer of Storms Award
The peace-makers are a very valuable resource. Every company needs them. Calmer of Storms ward is for the person who can quell any storm.
30. Dressed to Kill Award
Lots of people love to dress well to work. Some like to dress really really well(Here are the types of dresses employees wear: casual, smart casual, business casual, and formal dresses to the office). Dressed to Kill award goes out to the employee who lives to dress up.
31. The Early Bird Award
Is there someone who’s always first to the office? They should get a little appreciation. So give them some prizes that go with the early bird theme!
32. The Take the Stairs Award
You could work on the 10th floor or the 2nd. It doesn’t matter. This award goes to someone who always takes the stairs.
33. Loud Typist Award
Can you hear your coworker’s typing sound (coming from miles away)? As a funny award, get them a fun keyboard cover.
34. The Empty Fridge Award
An award for that coworker who always knows when the tastiest treats are on their way.
35. Dish Destroyer Award
Your office sink would be overflowing with dirty dishes unless you have a coworker named “The Dish Destroyer.”
36. New Hobby Award
Employee who is always trying out new interests.
37. The Informant Award
If a spectacular event is taking place in your city, you can be confident that this employee is aware of it and will attend.
38. Nameless Award
This award should be given to those who can’t remember anyone’s name.
39. The All-Rounder Award
This award is given to a coworker who possesses a diverse set of skills.
40. Gourmet King/Queen Award
This coworker comes to work every day with a different lunch recipe in mind.
41. Code Red Award
Award is given to the individual who everyone knows to go to in times of emergency.
42. One Liner Award
It makes no difference where you locate this person; they always have the perfect one-liner ready to go.
43. The Vigilant One Award
Regardless of the time of day or night, this employee always responds within 0.2 seconds.
44. The Poet Award
This person will take a long time to communicate with you.
45. Note Maker Award
If you get lost in the shuffle during a meeting, you can always rely on this coworker to take proper notes!
46. Work from Home Award
Coworkers who are frequently asked, “Can I work remotely?” are eligible for this honor.
47. Bestie Award
Regardless of how long someone has worked at the company, this person seems to know everybody.
48. The Optimist Award
This colleague is always able to have a cheerful outlook on life!
49. Budget Cruncher Award
If you have a budget cruncher on your team, give him or her this prize.
50. Full of Enthusiasm Award
Everyone else is tired by 5:00 p.m., yet this coworker is still going strong.
51. Five More Minutes
This award is for the employee who schedules meetings on the hour but always needs 5 more minutes
52. The Email Vigilante
This award goes to the employee who always responds immediately to all emails.
53. Vampire Award
An employee who arrives earliest and leaves latest.
54. Best Hair
An employee who has great hair even after being in the wind!
55. Office Bestie Award
The person who knows everyone, even new hires.
56. Gourmet Lunch Award
For the employee who always makes something new at lunch.
57. Drowsy Mondays Award
This award is for the employees who return from the weekend with resentment for Monday.
58. The Empty Desk Award
Whether they’re in a meeting or out to lunch, somehow, this employee never seems to be at their desk.
59. On-a-Call Award
It could be three in the morning — somehow, this person needs you to wait for just a minute because they’re on a call. 😀
60. Me, Myself and I Award
The person who just loves showcasing themselves, their life, and everything I. This award is for them.
61. The Zen Master Award
Recognizing the colleague who keeps their cool in any situation, spreading a sense of calm to the entire team.
62. The Trailblazer Award
For the employee who fearlessly explores new territories and paves the way for others.
63. The Gryffindor Award
Acknowledging bravery in the face of challenges, just like the famous Hogwarts house.
64. The Brainiac Badge
Celebrating the person with an insatiable curiosity and a mind that’s always hungry for knowledge.
65. The Positive Polly Trophy
For the eternal optimist who can find a silver lining in any situation.
66. The Multitasking Maestro
Celebrating the individual who can juggle tasks with grace and efficiency.
67. The Espresso Excellence Cup
For the colleague who keeps the team percolating with energy, just like a shot of espresso.
68. The Sherlock Holmes Sleuth
Given to the colleague with exceptional problem-solving skills, always ready to crack the case.
69. The Innovator’s Medal
Recognizing the employee who consistently brings fresh ideas and innovative solutions to the table.
70. The Marathoner’s Laurel
Celebrating the colleague with extraordinary endurance and dedication to long-term projects.
71. The Time Traveler Trophy
Acknowledging the person who always meets deadlines as if they’ve mastered the art of time travel.
72. The Office Athlete Trophy
Acknowledging the sports enthusiast who turns every team-building event into a mini-Olympics.
73. The Captain of Collaboration Cape
Awarded to the team player who excels at fostering collaboration and synergy.
74. The Daredevil Diploma
For the risk-taker who fearlessly embraces challenges and takes the team to new heights.
75. The Captain Planet Plaque
Acknowledging the eco-warrior who champions sustainability in the workplace.
Create Fun Employee Award Certificates
Want to personalize your employees’ awards with a certificate to make the experience more meaningful and intimate?
Here are a few inspirations for you:
Note: Canva offers certificate templates that you can customize in just a few clicks!
Template #1: Certificate of Awesomeness
Template #2: The Brainstorming Whiz
Template #3: The Standup Comedian Award
Template #4: The Specs-Tacular Award
Template #5: The Most Introverted Award
Template #6: Mission Impossible Award
Template #7: The Picasso Award
FAQs
Here are some employee recognition award ideas:
– The employee of the year
– Extraordinary leadership award
– Customer service award
– Team player award
– Standout performer
– Social contributor award
Here are some tips for recognizing your peers:
– Let your peers know the reason for appreciation
– Cite the positive impact that their work brought
– Take care of your message tone
– Give a personalized touch to your message
It takes a lot of planning and efforts to create an employee recognition program that people believe in and wants to use. Check out this guide to build an employee recognition program.
In this article, you’ll find some out-of-the-box employee award ideas and templates.
Diverse Categories: Create a variety of award categories that reflect different skills and contributions to ensure inclusivity.
Nomination Process: Allow team members to nominate their peers, ensuring a broader perspective on who deserves recognition.
Anonymous Nominations: Consider allowing anonymous nominations to encourage honesty and eliminate biases.
Rotate Awards: Change the categories regularly to ensure different skill sets and contributions are recognized.
Team Recognition: Implement team awards to highlight collective achievements.
Acknowledgment: Ensure that even if someone doesn’t win an award, they receive acknowledgment for their hard work and dedication.
It’s Your Turn!
Get creative with the way you celebrate your awards and apply to your company now. You can use paper plates, certificates, or even create your own trophy!
Now go on and start having fun with your employee awards. Do you have any other employee award ideas? 😁
EngageWith is an easy-to-use and effective employee recognition tool that will help you attract, engage, and motivate your employees.
Originally published May 18, 2020 3:46 PM, last updated Nov 13 2022
