Description:

Employees are motivated by both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. To be effective, the reward system must recognize both sources of motivation. All reward systems are based on the assumptions of attracting, retaining and motivating people. Financial rewards are an important component of the reward system, but there are other factors that motivate employees and influence the level of performance. In fact, several studies have found that among employees surveyed, money was not the most important motivator, and in some instances managers have found money to have a demotivating or negative effect on employees.

Today's emphasis on quality-improvement teams and commitment-building programs is creating a renaissance for financial incentive of pay-for-performance plans. Today financial incentives constitute less than 5% of the U.S. worker's compensation. Organizations adopt alternative reward systems to increase domestic and international competition. The competitive reasons for the growing emphasis on performance-based compensation are companies cutting costs, restructuring, and boosting performance.

To ensure the reward system is effective and motivates the desired behaviors, it is essential to consider carefully the rewards and strategies utilized and ensure the rewards are linked to or based on performance. To be effective, any performance measurement system must be tied to compensation or some sort of reward. Rewarding performance should be an ongoing managerial activity, not just an annual pay-linked ritual.