Baseball cards have long been collected by fans and seen as a fun part of baseball culture. Did you know baseball cards can also be used in the workplace as a fun and creative way to recognize employees? More and more companies are turning to baseball-style employee recognition cards to boost morale and engagement.
Just like baseball players have stats on the back of their cards, employee baseball cards feature key information and accomplishments of individual team members. Cards are given out to honor achievements like hitting project deadlines, exceeding sales goals, demonstrating leadership, perfect attendance, or going above and beyond to help customers or colleagues.
Instead of just a generic thank you email, handing someone a customized baseball card lets them feel like they are truly being celebrated for their contributions. Employees often collect and display their cards with pride. It’s a unique way to spotlight success that employees seem to genuinely appreciate.
How to start an employee baseball card program:
Decide which types of accomplishments or behaviors you want to recognize. Focus on goals that align with your company’s core values.
Design a template for the front and back of the cards. The front usually features a photo of the employee and their name. The back lists stats like their job title, length of service, brief description of their achievement, and any other relevant details.
Print blank cards on cardstock. Store extras so you’re ready whenever the need for recognition arises.
When an employee deserves recognition, fill out their card with the details of why they are being honored. Have a manager or coworker sign the back as well.
Present the card to the employee personally if possible. If not, leave it in their inbox or workspace as a surprise. Consider displaying cards in a central area for all to see too.
Encourage employees to collect and display their cards as a sign of pride in their accomplishments. Some even start their own baseball card albums!
To keep the program fresh, vary the types of achievements highlighted over time. Consider seasonal or holiday-themed cards too.
Survey employees periodically to gauge how much they enjoy receiving the cards and if the program is motivating them. Make adjustments as needed.
As your employees’ careers progress, you can even update older cards by adding more recent achievements listed on the back. This shows career growth over time.
For really exceptional contributions, consider framing a card or creating a “Hall of Fame” display case where top performers’ cards are permanently shown.
Employee baseball cards offer many benefits compared to more generic rewards. They provide a fun, lighthearted way to spotlight successes while fostering healthy competition among coworkers. Collecting and comparing cards also builds camaraderie and a sense of community. Seeing their name and photo on a card makes an achievement more personal and memorable for the employee being recognized. It’s a unique token they are proud to show family and friends too.
Baseball card-style recognition humanizes the workplace. They remind employees that their individual contributions are valued beyond just numbers on a balance sheet. Publicly displaying cards throughout the office also reinforces and celebrates your company’s core values on a regular basis. Morale and engagement are sure to get a boost from this creative and low-cost employee recognition program.
