Burger King: 27 Years of Loyal Service Deserves a Special Reward
A Burger King employee, Kevin Ford, went viral after making a video in which he is showing off the "goodie bag" he received after 27 years of working for the company. In the video, Kevin was very thankful and grateful for the gifts he received.
The employee is seen happily naming the various items in the bag, including a bag of Reeses chocolate, a Starbucks mug, some mints and one movie ticket.
It is great that the employee is very appreciative, however, the gift left many commenters questioning if Burger King could have done more to show their appreciation to the loyal employee who hasn't missed a day of work in 27 years.
“Did they really only give him ONE movie ticket tho??” one commenter wrote on the TikTok version of the video.
“And he’s so humble and kind about it. This pisses me off so much. He deserves so much more,” another person commented on Reddit.
It's not often that you hear about someone staying with the same company for 27 years. In today's job market, people are constantly looking for new opportunities and moving around to different companies. So when an employee has been with the same company for nearly three decades, it's definitely worth celebrating.
In this blog post, we will discuss what long-service rewards are and how they can be used to show appreciation to employees.
Related: The Best Company Benefits to Consider When Accepting a Job Offer
What is a long-service reward?
A long-service reward is given to an employee in recognition of their length of service with a company. It is a way for the employer to show their appreciation for the employee's loyalty and dedication. Long-service awards can be granted after 5 years of service, 10 years, 20 years or even more. The time frame will depend on the company's policies and the type of reward given.
The most common type of service reward is a cash bonus, but other rewards can include paid time off, gift cards, or even an extra day of vacation. It is important to note that not all companies give service rewards, and there is no legal requirement to do so.
Choosing which long-term service benefits to offer is a decision that won’t pay off for a while, but as part of a long-term strategy, it’s an important part of staff satisfaction and retention.
Related: Go for the Compensation You Are Worth
What do companies usually offer as a long-service reward?
Cash
As indicated, the most common type of service reward is a cash bonus. This is because it is an easy and straightforward way for the employer to show their appreciation. The cash amount can vary depending on the company's budget and policies.
Extra Time-Off
Companies will often offer extra time-off to show appreciation for an employee's long service. This could be in the form of an additional day of annual leave added to their entitlement or an extra paid day off to be taken within the year. Time off will be greatly appreciated by employees as this will allow them more time to spend with friends and family or to just relax.
Gift Vouchers
Another common long-service reward is a gift card. This can be used as a way to show appreciation without the need to spend a lot of money. Gift cards can be used at a variety of stores, which gives employees the freedom to choose what they would like to spend their money on. Digital Amazon gift cards are now extremely popular and will be greatly appreciated by employees.
Company Merch
Some companies will also offer company merchandise as a long-service reward. This could be in the form of a branded mug, a backpack or even a company jacket. Company merchandise is a great way to show appreciation and also acts as a walking advertisement for the company.
Other Gifts
Some companies also offer more unique rewards, such as tickets to a concert or a game, a team dinner, champagne, a spa day, or perhaps a gift basket. Other gift ideas can be a memorable experience of the employee's choosing. These types of rewards are usually given to employees who have been with the company for a long time and are seen as more of a luxury.
What are some of the benefits of giving service rewards?
There are several benefits for companies to offer service rewards to loyal employees. In general, it is great to see companies showing appreciation for their employees, especially those who have been with the company for a long time. It is an excellent way to show gratitude for their loyalty and dedication. This can help to improve morale, and employee satisfaction, and make employees feel valued. Giving a gift to show appreciation for employee loyalty can also help to improve retention rates, as employees are less likely to leave a company that values them. If an employee feels appreciated and rewarded for their years of service, they are more likely to stick around.
Deciding the right rewards for the company's service recognition policy is probably one of the hardest elements to get right. The longer years of service should obviously be higher in value, however it’s important not to displease shorter serving employees with non-meaningful gifts. The most crucial element is to ensure whatever rewards the company offers to make sure employees feel valued.
What do you think is the best way for a company to show appreciation for its employees? Do you think service rewards are a good way to show appreciation? Let us know in the comments below.
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