A total rewards leader explains how a simple thank-you became part of how her organization cares for its employees
I still remember coming off our launch call the morning BRAVO, our new recognition platform, went live, and doing a double take at the numbers. In just a few hours, more than a quarter of our employees had already signed up. We had given ourselves six months to reach 70 per cent registration. Our employees got there in about two weeks.
BRAVO didn't start with technology. It started with our employees telling us something simple: great work happens here every day, and they wanted more of it to be seen. At the same time, we were bringing our values to life: Go Beyond, Own It, Do Right, Drive Results and Think Forward. Recognition was the natural bridge between the two. Even the name came from our people, who voted for BRAVO.
A launch with heart
We knew this launch had to feel human. Our executives went first and sent some of the very first recognitions. Site leaders became local champions, and our roadshow brought BRAVO to people at their desks and on the production floor. Launch-week gift boxes, a few with hidden Golden Tickets, added some fun.
Then something even better happened. As the recognitions rolled in, the values our employees celebrated most were Own It, Go Beyond and Do Right. Without being asked, they were showing us what our culture looks like at its best. Within five months, more than nine in ten employees had activated their accounts.
Why a thank-you is a wellbeing tool
Think about the last time someone told you your work made a difference. Chances are you still remember how it felt. That's why recognition sits within our Total Wellbeing strategy at Symcor, alongside benefits and mental health supports. A genuine thank-you builds belonging, makes it easier to speak up, eases stress on hard days, and reminds employees that their work is part of something bigger.
But good intentions fade when recognition is hard to give or easy to miss. That's why the right tool matters. It turns intention into habit by being effortless, open to everyone, and anchored in our values, and it gives every employee the power to make someone's day. To everyone at Symcor who has done exactly that: BRAVO.
Recognition costs very little, but it can mean everything. When employees feel seen, they feel well, and when they feel well, they do their best work.
Rachel Wong is the Vice-President, Total Rewards & HR Technology at Symcor.
