Does your company currently hand out employee awards for recognition? Regardless of the time of year, right now is always the right time to plan something different for end-of-year recognition, quarterly awards, or even monthly recognition moments. Do you already do branded employee awards for leadership training, safety milestones, years of service, or end-of-year acknowledgments? If not, you’re missing an easy opportunity to increase retention and morale.

If your business isn’t doing employee awards at all, it’s time to seriously consider it. Employee recognition awards are more than just nice gestures—they can motivate employees, boost morale, and foster a more positive workplace culture. In today’s market, where retention is harder than ever and “job hopping” is the new normal, branded employee awards and recognition programs are a proven way to keep top talent. Remember: it’s far less expensive to retain employees than to constantly hire and train new ones, and something as simple as a branded award can make all the difference.

Custom Trophy Designs

Do you have someone in your company who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding achievements this year? Whether it’s an employee of the month, a top performer, or a dedicated team member who’s gone above and beyond, we’ve got the perfect branded employee awards to celebrate their success.

There are endless stock designs for trophies, plaques, and branded business awards, but we also create completely custom-shaped trophies and unique promotional business products that double as recognition pieces. You can go the classic route with engraved glass or acrylic, or break the mold with branded products that aren’t traditionally considered awards—but can still serve as branded awards your employees will proudly display. Whether you want simple text engraving or a full-color design, Be Branded can help design and deliver custom awards that reflect your brand’s personality.

Boosts Employee Motivation

Too often, companies overlook the importance of recognizing employees for their achievements. Whether someone has been with your company for one year, five years, ten years, or even 25 years, employee awards are the simplest, most effective way to acknowledge their contributions.

When done right, branded awards carry a weight that other forms of recognition simply don’t. People rarely complain on social media about receiving too much recognition—and you never see a negative post about a company that gave a thoughtful employee award. That’s because employee recognition awards feel personal, tangible, and meaningful. Employees take them home, show them to their families, and display them proudly.

In a world where many people barely want to do the bare minimum, branded employee awards can shift that mindset—turning disengaged employees into loyal, motivated ones who feel valued. Recognition breeds loyalty, and loyalty breeds effort.

Personalized Business Awards

Recognizing and appreciating employees is critical for retaining top talent and creating a healthy workplace culture. One of the best ways to show that appreciation is with custom branded awards that feel meaningful and personal.

Most custom awards have a minimum order of just one piece—making them ideal for personalized moments—and there are rarely setup fees beyond the item cost and freight. And don’t forget: branded awards aren’t just for employees. They can be created for sponsors, donors, board members, or even major event honorees.

Every major event without a personalized award is a missed opportunity. Many companies are now doing weekly branded employee awards, and the data speaks for itself: the companies that consistently recognize their teams tend to have dramatically higher retention rates than those that don’t.

Custom Engraved Designs

With so many employees switching jobs over the last few years, employee retention has never been more important—and recognition is key. Custom engraved awards come in countless materials, shapes, and sizes: from sleek crystal to rustic wood to polished metal.

Make your branded awards stand out by creating something employees want to proudly display in their homes or offices. Whether it’s a single annual award for an exceptional achievement or ongoing employee awards for monthly recognition, these promotional business products tell your team that you notice and appreciate their work.

Every branded employee award reinforces your company’s values and elevates your brand presence. Tangible recognition—something you can hold—goes further than verbal praise alone. Employees remember the moment they receive an award far longer than they remember an email “thank you.”

Strengthens Brand Identity

Employee appreciation is more important than ever, and recognizing your team’s hard work doesn’t just build loyalty—it strengthens your brand identity. Custom branded awards and plaques are perfect for year-end celebrations, annual meetings, or holiday parties.

Whether you’re looking for $500 custom trophies for an exclusive leadership award or cost-effective employee awards for safety certifications, Be Branded has options. Want to create perpetual awards—plaques or trophies you can add names to over time? We can help. Want to add a QR code to your award so recipients can scan it and watch a personalized video message from leadership? We can do that too.

If you don’t already have branded awards in your 2025 budget, it’s worth planning for 2026. The return on investment for employee awards and promotional business products that recognize your people will always outweigh the cost.