How to Choose Employee Award Winners

Your office party is coming up and you've settled on an Employee Awards Show theme. You've even decided to include some funny awards to make sure the presentation isn't a drag. So how do you decide who’s going to get an award?

• First, put together a selection committee of 2-3 people who know most everyone in the office. The key is not to do this alone. You need a group to suss out the recipients’ vulnerabilities and personalities. Something you might consider hilarious, they might consider offensive.
• When choosing your award recipients, make sure you have the biggest characters in the office covered. The awards ceremony will only be as good as the winners, and an event filled with boring acceptance speeches won’t be much fun for anyone.
• Only give the funny awards to those with a sense of humor who don’t have any problem poking fun at themselves. You don’t want to turn into Michael Scott from The Office.
• It works well to make of list of those you’d like to give awards to, then find one that’s suitable from the list of options.

If you’re worried at all that your award may embarrass the winner, you can always tip that person off ahead of time. It won’t ruin the presentation. Remember, the idea is to create an entertaining presentation for the entire audience – not just to surprise one person.

Telling the winner ahead of time will allow that person to voice any objections, and will give them time to prepare a funny speech if they choose to do so. Everyone else will still be surprised and entertained when the award winner is announced, and you won’t have to worry about any potential awkward moments!

When picking awards, remember that the intent here is to have fun — not to embarrass.

For more tips, download our Funny Employee Awards eBook.

Unique Employee Awards

The Employee Awards Ceremony is a classic office party theme. Here are a few tips to make sure you have an unforgettable evening.

Before the event, line up an emcee to keep the show flowing. If your budget allows, hire a professional comedian to host the awards ceremony. Have the comedian perform a short stand-up set before handing out the Awards. It will be just like having your own Oscar party!

If you don’t want to hire a professional comedian, ask someone who’s personable from the office to handle the duties. Or ask each department head to give out the awards within his or her department.

Awards Show Presentation Tips

• Keep everything, from the opening remarks to the acceptance speeches, short. The event should move along at a crisp pace.
• A customized PowerPoint presentation with the winners’ photos makes a big impact.
• Hook your laptop into the sound system and play music as people come up to accept the awards.
• Get a photographer to take pictures of all the winners as they accept their awards. Everyone loves pictures of themselves!
• Make sure your ceremony isn’t dry and boring by handing out creative and funny awards.

It's easy to make your awards ceremony as grand or as modest as you like. It doesn’t matter. It’s all about getting together and having a good time.

Certificate Jackets - Certificate Holders and Frames

Certificate jackets, also known as certificate holders, are a low-cost way to really dress up your awards presentation. They come in various colors and prices. The one pictured below is a blue certificate jacket with embossed gold trim:

The brand most widely available is Southworth, who makes both jackets and holders. The difference is the jacket has a front and back flap (like a file folder), and a holder typically only has a backing (mounted like a picture frame).

I prefer the certificate jacket, and you can purchase a cheap certificate jacket at you local office supply store or Amazon.com for close to one dollar each. They typically come in packs of either 5 or 10. Just go to Amazon.com and search for "Southworth certificate jackets".

If you're looking for something even more impressive, check out these certificate frames.

Certificate Frames - Document Holders, Awards Plaques

Certificate frames, also known as document frames, are a low-cost way to really dress up your awards presentation. They come in various materials, sizes, and prices. The one pictured below is a simple black certificate frame:

You can purchase a cheap document frame for close to $2 each on Amazon.com. You can even get an inexpensive wood frame, and simulate an awards plaque at a much lower cost. Be sure to consider these options before purchasing:

• Mount: Wall mount or desktop (easel back)
• Material: metal, plastic, Lucite, or wood (cherry, mahogany, walnut, rosewood, etc).
• Size: 8.5 x 11 works great with our funny awards certificates.
• Mat: For frames larger than 8.5 x 11, you'll want a mat with the frame.
• Orientation: For our awards, choose a landscape wall mount or desktop orientation
• Quality: cheap, value, gold-trimmed, tiered edge, glass, etc.

Take a look at these cheap certificate frames:

Use End of the Year Awards Year-Round

Most people who buy funny awards do so for end-of-the-year celebrations. But humor in the workplace should be used year-round, not just in December. Here's an excellent case study of using our funny recognition awards year-round sent in by Cindy Collver:

Having a fairly new sales department (we got rid of the old "barnacles" that were clogging us up), I needed something to use as an on-going way of keeping my reps motivated and laughing (because laughter is the best motivator and medicine).

Contrary to how probably many companies use the Funny Employee Awards (once a year…most likely around Christmas – when after a few cocktails everything’s funny anyway), I’m choosing to use these awards when the opportunity presents itself in the here and now….

• Could be in a sales meeting;
• Could be an impromptu "YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!" moment;
• Could be taped to the ceiling – just to see how long it takes them to notice;
• Could be just because it’s 4:34 p.m. on Wednesday.

And with 101 options to choose from, it’s a better deal than the House of Flavors 50 choices of ice cream.

- Cindy Collver Sales Administrator JTV, Inc.
Anytime. Anywhere. Live program streaming 24-7

Thanks Cindy! We'd like to hear how your company uses our awards. Please let us know by submitting a review or case study.

Reward Employees with the Gift of Laughter!

Have the Best Staff Party Ever! That's the headline I chose for our first direct mail postcard. You can check out a mockup of the postcard below. The back reads:

Reward with the Gift of Laughter!

Make your next staff meeting unforgettable! These funny awards are perfect for any organization.

• Low Cost way to have the best staff party yet.
• Presentation Tips will save you time and preparation.
• Over 100 Awards guarantee something for everyone.

For office parties, staff recognition, employee meetings, annual ceremonies or any occasion that needs more laughs!

Certificates, Trophies & Live Emcees Order NOW for your Year-End Party!

And of course it has all of the requisite contact info. I would normally outsource a design project like this, but I was pressed for time and ended up taking the photo and doing the layout myself. I think it turned out pretty good. What do you think?

Download Funny Awards Postcard

Cheap Plug for my Printer

By the way, I get ALL of my full color printing services done online through PrintingForLess.com. Previously, I used a local printer and it was a royal pain. Now I upload my files online, approve the proofs via PDF, and PrintingForLess ships the finished product in a few days. It's so much easier.

Tell them I sent you and get $25 off your first order. Simply input ID code RP15QYD5T in the "Promotional Code" field of the order form while completing your order and you will see the $25 discount applied in your email receipt. http://www.printingforless.com

101 Funny Employee Awards

I'm pleased to announce that the new, improved, Second Edition of Funny Employee Awards: Your Complete Guide to Organizing a Humorous, Entertaining and Rewarding Recognition Ceremony, is now on sale!

The new version is bursting at the seams with 101 funny printable certificates plus 6 awards templates for creating your own funny awards.

More Funny Than Ever.
Over 40 new funny awards. We've taken out some older awards, and added hilarious new ones.

Better Looking Design.
New certificate design looks more professional and prints better!

Written by Comedians for Non-Comedians.
Writers from Saturday Night Live, the New York Post, and top professional touring comedians bring you the funniest awards yet!

The first edition delighted readers in the United States, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Mexico, The Netherlands, and South Africa. This new edition is guaranteed to be a Worldwide phenomenon!

These awards are perfect for office parties, staff recognition, year-end celebrations, company meetings, work appreciation, and any employee or type of business.

Order your copy online today!