Getting to the Heart of Peer-to-peer Recognition

Find out how Barts Health NHS Trust implemented its Barts Hearts initiative to enhance peer-to-peer recognition

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on NHS Employers

Barts Health NHS Trust (BHT) has recently introduced a new employee recognition program based on valuable feedback from its workforce. This initiative includes the implementation of a recognition platform, which enables staff to benefit from meaningful recognition from their peers.

The new initiative has yielded significant advantages for Barts Health NHS Trust (BHT), such as positively influencing its long-term recruitment and retention objectives while nurturing a culture of gratitude. The trust’s strategy incorporates flexibility and adaptability to ensure the recognition scheme remains resilient for the future. Moreover, it promotes active staff participation through enhanced engagement on the trust’s intranet site, evidenced by an increase in daily hits from 12,640 to 13,350 following its launch.

In the initial month after its launch, the program saw remarkable engagement with 21,333 messages and hearts exchanged, along with 1,264 rewards claimed, exceeding the trust’s projections. This initiative has facilitated broad participation, enabling staff across various schedules and workdays to acknowledge one another and spotlight their contributions effectively.

The lessons learnt

The trust discovered the significance of branding, emphasising the creation of a unique name that resonates with the organisation and encourages engagement. Creative promotion has played a crucial role in the platform’s success, with the ‘Bart’s Hearts’ scheme now widely acknowledged and embraced by employees.

Organisations should commit to sustaining initiatives beyond their initial launch phase. While initial engagement and reward activities may peak initially, it’s common for momentum to plateau within the first six months. Therefore, maintaining consistent engagement is crucial for sustained participation and effectiveness over time. Anticipating the initial weeks to will require more intensive effort and preparing for potential teething issues present opportunities to gather insights and compile lessons learned, which can inform and enhance future recognition initiatives.

By fostering a culture of appreciation through a robust recognition platform, the trust has not only boosted staff morale and engagement but also strengthened its recruitment and retention efforts. The lessons learned, from branding and promotion to ongoing engagement and adaptation, underscore the importance of sustained commitment to recognition initiatives.