Recognizing your employees (when done properly) is an incredible element of your culture. It can be a driving force which leads to the most amazing results. Your employees end up feeling like what they do matters. Happy employees lead to happier customers and better results for your company, it’s a Win-Win-Win situation.

Every company takes a different approach to how they recognize their employees. I want to know what is the most innovative or unique employee reward you have given, received or heard about? Here are some examples to get you started (these are actual awards used at YUM!):

• "Show Me the Money" Award: A CFO handed out a piggy bank full of money and a copy of the movie Jerry Maguire to the people in his department who added value to the company's culture
• The Magic 8 Ball Award: A Magic 8 ball is handed out to employees who do not take no for an answer and who go above and beyond to make the ‘magic’ happen.
• The Footprint Award: A plaster footprint was given to people who left a positive impression.