01 March 2022
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Story Lunga Luthuli
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Photo Charl Devenish
All smiles – pictured are inspired University of the Free State staff ready to live, serve with excellence, and care for the growth of the institution.
Through the peer-to-peer iRecognise platform, UFS staff members have the opportunity to recognise colleagues from different units, divisions, faculties, and campuses.
Natasha Nel, UFS Organisational Development specialist, said: “iRecognize is an open acknowledgment and expressed appreciation for employees’ contributions. A strong recognition culture can help individuals and organisations perform better. Employees, teams, and the university all benefit from frequent and meaningful feedback and appreciation.”
“It is a promotion of positive behaviour that supports individuals, teams, divisions, and departments in achieving the university’s vision and goals. The UFS wants to create a culture of mutual respect, reward, and recognition for employees at all levels in a non-monetary award based on significance,” she said.
The criteria for staff to recognise colleagues include timeliness, authenticity, and specificity, and the badges that staff members can use is also aligned with the university’s competency framework. The platform also includes an option to send recognition privately.
“Employees who feel recognised and appreciated are more engaged, productive, and innovative, despite what may appear to be common sense. Employee appreciation is a potent motivator and reinforcer of positive behaviour,” Nel said.
Nel said: “Recognition reinforces acts and behaviour that improve everyone's working environment. Although recognition is free, it improves employee productivity, engagement, and quality of work.”
The recognition platform has other capabilities that the Division of Organisational Development and Employee Well-being would like to incorporate in the future, and staff can continue to nominate their colleagues for their excellence.