Delta Air Lines: Inside Delta’s Employee Motivation Program
Stephanie Merchiore (photo above), Human Resources executive for Delta Air Lines, spoke exclusively with Taraci.com about the organization’s employee motivation program.
Delta has over 50K employees worldwide (primarily in the US, Canada and Europe, but also in Asia, Latin America and Africa).
What types of motivation programs work best for Delta?
We have two peer-to-peer nomination programs with different criteria and purpose. A daily program to recognize daily activities and a “pinnacle” program to recognize career accomplishments. Both work well in motivating the workforce. Employees who receive recognition report that it motivates them to continue improving their performance.
How do you select rewards for your programs?
We have a website (www.mydeltarewards.com) which supports a variety of programs, including the nomination programs mentioned above.
Homepage
Recognition Center
Employees can earn points in all programs they are eligible for and then redeem points via the online catalog – close to five million items.
What are the key steps for you in organizing a program?
Understanding desired outcomes, ways to change or improve behaviors and processes we need to put in place for successful results.
What’s the most popular reward or reward category in your program?
American Express $50 travelers cheque
Do you believe rewards are better than cash?
Theoretically, yes. However, we added a cash option (mentioned above) back in 2005. Since that time, our employees have taken several pay cuts. Therefore, I understand why this option is the most popular. However, employees who are receiving points for recognition of significant contributions should be “free” to choose items which are most meaningful to them – the “trophy value” associated with recognition. “Delta recognized my efforts and I was able to redeem my points for…” not cash, which isn’t tied as strongly to the recognition moment.
Is your program both online and off?
Our recognition platform is a totally online experience. Employees do not have to be on Delta equipment or logged into Delta’s network to access it however.
What’s the best advice you can give to other HR executives about motivation/recognition programs?
Keep it fresh and meaningful. Survey employees regularly to determine where you can make changes or improvements.
