Yammer Unveils Praise to Publicly Recognize Strong Performers

Enterprise social network Yammer has announced the availability of Praise, a new application that allows users to recognize colleagues for a job well done with a colorful badge.

Recognition is often the simple way to publicly recognize strong performers, which boosts the morale of employee and can lead to increased employee engagement. The employee can be recognized for closing a sales deal, providing great service to a customer or lending a hand when needed, and more.

“When employees are publicly recognized for doing a good job or thanked for their efforts, they feel good about themselves and the company,” said David Sacks, CEO at Yammer (News - Alert).

There are many employees who do not feel valued by their employers, according to the finding of the first annual Workplace Communications Impact Survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive (News - Alert) and sponsored by Yammer. This survey states that 19 percent of the respondents said their company was not at all effective at recognizing and rewarding employees who contribute and come up with ideas around how to improve their company or organization, and only 8 percent said that their company is effective at recognizing and rewarding employees who contribute.

Sacks said that with the launch of Praise, “we are making it easy for users to shine the spotlight on colleagues who have done well, which in turn has the potential to increase employee morale, retention and engagement.”

Yammer Praise badges can be given out as congratulations -- gift, superstar, trophy -- for a specific achievement -- graduate cap, moneybag, thumbs up; or simply for being awesome -- double rainbow, ninja.

Company officials said that the images are lighthearted and users can assign whatever meaning fits their culture and purpose. The badges earned over time by users and other co-workers can be seen through a recognition tab on profile pages.

Moreover, Praise also has the flexibility to be incorporated into formal rewards and recognition programs at companies, said company officials.

Earlier in May, NetSuite announced collaboration with Yammer to Offer ‘New Enterprise Systems of Engagement’.