How to Build a Recognition Program That Truly Reaches the Deskless Worker

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Welcome to the HR Leaders Series newsletter!

We bring together HR Executives from the world's leading brands who are reimagining the future of work, discussing Generative AI in HR, Employee Experience, Leadership Effectiveness, People Analytics, Career Management and Mobility, DEI and Wellbeing - and much more!

In our latest live panel, top HR Leaders tackled a challenge facing every organization today: "How to Build a Recognition Program That Truly Reaches the Deskless Worker"

While 80% of the global workforce is deskless, most recognition strategies are still built for office environments.

That needs to change.

Our panelists shared powerful insights on how to make recognition more equitable, more personal, and more impactful, especially for those often overlooked.

With insights from top executives:

• ARTURO ARTEAGA, VP of Total Rewards Experience, VCA Animal Hospitals

• Véronique Sauvé, Senior Manager, Employee Travel & Recognition, Air Canada

• Kent Frederiksen, VP of Rewards, LEGO Group

• Krystal Hindle, Head of Customer Success, Achievers

• Jonathon Frampton, SVP of Total Rewards & HR Business Services, Baylor Scott & White Health

The conversation unpacked the challenges of recognizing a diverse, deskless workforce—without relying on generic, one-size-fits-all programs. It explored how organizations can scale recognition while keeping it personal, meaningful, and human.

Key themes included: how to tailor recognition for different roles, locations, and cultures, why involving employees in co-creating programs leads to higher engagement, how to balance social and monetary rewards effectively, the importance of measuring impact and tracking what truly moves the needle, and how leadership plays a critical role in building and sustaining a culture of recognition.

Want to learn how to build a recognition strategy that truly reaches your frontline? Watch the full panel discussion below ⬇️

What you will learn:

💡 How to design for equity

→ Customize recognition for different roles, locations & cultures

🧩 The power of co-creation

→ Involve employees in designing recognition experiences

🕒 Make it personal, specific & timely

→ Recognition hits hardest when it's genuine and fast

💬 Social vs monetary recognition

→ Know when a heartfelt ‘thank you’ matters more than points

🧠 The leader’s role in role modeling

→ Recognition must start at the top, and reach the frontline

📲 Tech matters, but trust matters more

→ Use tools to support recognition, not replace relationships

📈 Prove ROI through data

→ Frequent recognition = lower turnover, better performance

🔮Advice for future HR leaders:

Make recognition personal, specific, and timely. It’s not just about saying “thank you”. It’s about making people feel seen. That emotional moment? It matters more than money.

Understand your people. Understand your business. Recognition starts with empathy. You can’t design a program that works if you don’t know the daily reality of your workforce. Especially when they’re standing all day, in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.

Ask employees what matters to them. Recognition needs to be meaningful to the individual. And don’t forget the delivery, use the right channel, at the right time, in the right tone. One size does not fit all.

Get the foundation right. If your core pay and benefits don’t support your people, recognition programs won’t stick. Know what truly adds value, especially in lower-income markets, where cash may mean more than “fancy gizmos.”

Go and see. Talk to people. Listen. If you’re not spending time on the frontline, you’re missing the truth. The most meaningful programs are co-created with the people they’re meant to serve.

📚You might be interested in:

This panel covered so many important topics, here's additional resources for you to dive a bit deeper:

• How to recognize and engage your deskless workforce in 4 steps

• (Start for FREE) Get instant answers to any HR questions with the world's AI copilot for HR

• 🚨 Limited spaces available for our next free event on 24th April! "How to Elevate Skills within HR to Drive Business Agility"

🙏We couldn't do it without you!

Thank you to our panelists ARTURO ARTEAGA, Véronique Sauvé, Kent Frederiksen, Krystal Hindle and Jonathon Frampton for sharing your time, experience, and insights.

🙏 Thank you to this event's partner Achievers and their brilliant team Olivia Sammut, Nick Tutssel, Laura Butler, Timothy Calder, Brie Schraeder-Harvey (She/Her), David Bator, Scott Landers, Chris Fudge (he/him), Anu Subramanian, Bob Memmer, Kristian Gaetano, Larry Vertin and Hannah Yardley.

⏭️ Join us at our next event:

1. How to Elevate Skills within HR to Drive Business Agility - 24 April

2. How to Supercharge your HR Strategy by Harnessing AI - 8 May

3. How to Improve Employee Wellbeing Through Whole-Person Care - 22 May

Stay up to date on the latest HR Leaders events: https://www.crowdcast.io/@hrleaders

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