16 Paper Plate Awards for Employee Recognition

What is a paper plate award?

A paper plate award is informal recognition written on a paper plate, personalized with an award title, a recipient’s name and a contribution worth celebrating. It’s one playful way to recognize employees, like a workplace high-five.

Choose an award for a contribution you’ve noticed, then make it personal. Here’s where to start:

16 award ideas · Prepare a plate · Presentation options · Funny examples

Choosing Paper Plate Awards for Your Team

Paper plate awards are one informal way to recognize employee achievements. Their suitability depends on the team and the recipient; low material cost does not guarantee a comfortable experience. Ask whether the person welcomes public recognition, keep the message specific and respectful, and choose private thanks when preferred.

Paper plate awards can be customized for different departments. For an in-office team, present the plate in person; for remote colleagues, mail it with a personal note or arrange a video presentation if they prefer.

What Makes Paper Plate Awards Meaningful?

It's important to take into consideration several different variables when giving paper plate awards. Awards should feel meaningful but personal.

Lack of clarity in award criteria can lead to confusion and frustration among winners and those who don't receive recognition. Defining the specific reasons for earning an award is crucial for its meaningfulness. Whether it's excelling at daily tasks or demonstrating outstanding teamwork, clearly identifying the behaviors deserving recognition is a good place to start. Here are some broad categories to consider:

Team Players 🤝
Innovation Champions 🚀
Leadership Excellence 🏆
Problem Solvers 🔍
Mentorship 🌱
Positive Attitudes 😊
Wellness Advocates 🍏
Rookie(s) of the Year 🌟

As evident in the examples above, a fun factor should be sprinkled into awards! Balancing fun and meaning in employee awards creates a positive and enjoyable work environment. This can also be done through inside jokes or funny puns.

‍Prioritizing Inclusivity and Respect in Employee Awards

It’s important to keep inclusivity and sensitivity in mind. Be sure to steer clear of topics that may be offensive or inappropriate. Jokes or awards related to personal appearance, cultural background, or any sensitive personal information should be strictly avoided. By keeping inclusivity in mind, a workplace where employees feel valued can be fostered. Ask whether the recipient prefers public or private recognition and welcomes surprises; a private note is an alternative.

16 Paper Plate Awards to Get Started

Employee of the Month 🏆 — For meeting deadlines and helping teammates throughout the month.
Idea Wizard 🚀 — For proposing a fresh approach to a team challenge.
Best Leader 🏆 — For setting clear priorities and guiding the team through a project.
Always on Time ⏰ — For meeting an agreed deadline and keeping teammates informed.
Problem Solver 🕵️♂️ — For tracing a recurring problem to its cause and recommending a solution.
Helpful Mentor 🌱 — For walking a colleague through a task and answering their questions.
Wellness Warrior 💪🍏 — For organizing an optional workplace wellbeing activity.
New Star 🌟🚀 — For completing a first assignment with care and asking useful questions.
Inspiration Friend 💡🌟 — For sharing a useful lesson that helped teammates approach a challenge.
Creative Star 🎨💡 — For turning an idea into a useful design, presentation or other finished work.
Details Master 🔍✨ — For catching an error or missing detail before a handoff.
Top Performer ⛰️🚀 — For exceeding an agreed performance goal on a specific project.
Problem Fixer 🛠️ — For implementing a repair and checking that it resolves the issue.
Friendly Face 😊👋 — For welcoming a new colleague and helping them find their way around.
Learn-it-All 📘🌟 — For learning a new skill and applying it to a work task.
Amazing Organizer 📆✨ — For coordinating an event’s schedule, invitations and follow-up.

As workplaces implement these awards, remember that fostering a positive work environment is an ongoing journey. Adding a touch of creativity into recognition practices can contribute to a workplace culture that values every individual's unique qualities.

Prepare Your Paper Plate Award

Write the recipient’s name and chosen award title on a paper plate.
Add a short message naming one specific contribution.
If you like, decorate simply with a border or a small drawing.

Fictional example: A colleague nominates Maya for finding a missing step that caused repeated reporting errors. Choose Problem Solver and write: “Maya — Problem Solver: Thank you for finding the missing reporting step and recommending a solution.”

Present Paper Plate Awards Creatively

The presentation of the awards is as important as the awards themselves. Here are a few ways you can make the experience even more memorable: Before a ceremony, desk drop or shared display, check the recipient’s preferences. Offer a private delivery or note, and agree on any surprise celebration beforehand.

Host a Virtual or In-Person Ceremony: Create a fun, award-show-style event where you present each paper plate award. For remote teams, use video conferencing to celebrate with everyone.
Surprise Desk Drops: Leave the award at the employee's desk or send it in the mail for remote workers with a personalized note of appreciation.
Create a “Wall of Fame”: Dedicate a section of your office or a shared online board where you can post the paper plate awards. This serves as a continuous reminder of the recognition and fun within the team.
Make It Interactive: Let employees vote on fun categories like “Best Desk Setup” or “Top Coffee Brewer” to involve everyone in the recognition process.

Adding Humor to Your Awards

If your workplace enjoys humor, you can get even more creative with your award titles. Here are a few funny examples to add to the list: Choose a joke the recipient is comfortable with, and use a straightforward title if they prefer.

“Zoom Superstar”: For the person who nails every Zoom meeting with flawless tech and enthusiasm.
“The Silent Ninja”: Awarded to someone who quietly gets everything done, without making a fuss.
“Snack Master”: For the colleague who always has the best snacks at their desk.
“The Energizer”: Recognizing the person who brings positive energy, even during those 3 PM slumps.
“Sassiest Slack”: Given to the employee with the wittiest comebacks or most clever responses in Slack or Teams chats.

Making Paper Plate Awards a Regular Tradition

If your team enjoys paper plate awards, consider monthly or quarterly recognition events hosted by different departments. Ask for feedback on the format and frequency, and keep participation optional.

Encouraging Peer Recognition

Alongside management-led recognition, you can invite peer nominations. Ask each nominator to describe one specific contribution they noticed in daily work, then match it to an award criterion rather than choosing by popularity. Keep participation optional.

Going Beyond the Paper Plate

If you want to take it a step further, consider pairing the paper plate award with small tokens of appreciation like:

Customized notebooks or mugs
A “Lunch on Us” voucher
Gift cards for coffee or local shops
A fun company-branded item like T-shirts or caps

These don’t have to break the bank, but they show that recognition goes beyond words.

Optional Birthday and Event Celebration Extras

These six ideas are optional extras for a birthday or team event, alongside paper plate recognition:

1) Handwritten Cards:

A simple, heartfelt handwritten note can be more meaningful than you think. Personalize each message to acknowledge their hard work or specific contributions.

2) Video Wishes from Colleagues:

Collect video messages from team members to compile into a fun birthday or work anniversary tribute.

3) Surprise Zoom Greetings:

For a remote team, start a Zoom meeting with a birthday or award greeting if the recipient welcomes it. If they prefer private recognition, send a personal message instead.

4) Customized Gifts:

Personalize one of the optional tokens above with the recipient’s name or a joke they enjoy.

5) Birthday Lunch or Treats:

If they welcome a surprise, organize a lunch or send them cupcakes to brighten their special day, even if you’re remote.

6) Workplace Shoutouts:

Consider dedicating a wall in the office or a digital space where employees can give each other shoutouts and appreciation messages.

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Key Takeaways

Employee recognition includes many formats. Paper plate awards are one informal, creative way to acknowledge a specific contribution when the recipient welcomes the format.
Clearly define award criteria, such as excelling in daily tasks or demonstrating exceptional teamwork.
Avoid topics that may be offensive or inappropriate, such as personal appearance or cultural background
Examples like "Employee of the Month," "Idea Wizard," and "Best Leader" showcase a variety of awards that can be tailored to specific achievements.

Try implementing paper plate awards in your workplace today!