8 Incentive ideas for call centre staff to help boost morale

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Call centre agents are a special breed of human. These saints operate in an industry where up to 76% of contact centres report a lack of budget, they are expected to adapt to new IT and CRM systems at the drop of a hat, and progression opportunities are few and far between due to flat structures.  As such, it only makes sense that incentive ideas for call centre staff should be tailor-made for the environment in which they work.

Plying your trade in a call centre can be a tough gig; having a job that hinges on this type of people-centric work has been proven to require very focussed emotional management, and can often lead to stress and burnout if conditions aren’t ideal.

READ MORE: Incentives affect employee performance. Here’s what you need to know.

Fortunately, there are simple ways to boost morale among the folks that serve as the voice of your company on a daily basis.

Here are ten innovative incentive ideas for call centre staff that will serve to supercharge employee engagement from the inside out in 2020:

1. Dibs on the best time slots

Since many call centres operate 24/7, employees will always be vying for preferential work shifts. This may also differ from one person to the next. Our circadian rhythms aren’t all tuned to the same metronome – some people are night owls while others are larks.

This is why you may very well find that there are certain members of your workforce who will actually prefer to work at night, while others will give their eye teeth to have the conventional 9-5 time slot so they can take care of familial responsibilities, etc. As such, offering high performers the option to choose their time slots first can be a great performance incentive in a call centre environment.

2. Gamified tools and tactics

Agent attrition can be a big issue in call centres when there is little room for growth and nothing is done to relieve the somewhat monotonous nature of the job at regular intervals. In fact, inbound call centre agents rank as one of the highest turnover jobs in the world, with a turnover rate of up to 45% in certain cases.

One way to reduce turnover and poor performance is to invest in gamification to motivate employees to engage and achieve. With the right SaaS-based platform, you can use the latest technology to make day-to-day tasks far more exciting.

READ MORE: 8 Companies that have great employee appreciation initiatives

3. Ongoing training options

Incentivise performance by offering top-performing agents the option to go for additional training that could make them eligible for future promotions, etc. However, not everything has to be about work. You could also offer personal development opportunities that don’t have anything to do with call centre work, e.g., cooking classes, yoga sessions, etc.

4. Spot prizes for exceptional performance

Call centre agents have to deal with tough calls on a daily basis. Make a point of rewarding exceptional handling of a difficult client with on-the-spot giveaways and a little impromptu celebration. This type of public recognition is a great driver of psychological safety and invaluable in stressful work environments.

5. Options on preferred seating locations

Working in a call centre means spending long hours seated in front of a computer. Allowing top performers to move to preferred seating areas (e.g., near a window, or in a more private location) can serve as an excellent incentive.

6. Cubicle comforts

Offering your agents to upgrade their seating situation is another way to dial up the drive to perform. Most call centres already have ergonomic chairs, but the option of trading up for an even sleeker model is a good way to get your team motivated. Alternatively, if some of your agents are into it, you could even put a health-boosting standing desk set-up on the table as a possible reward for top performance. 

7. One-on-one sessions with lifestyle management professionals 

Have you ever considered giving your call centre agents access to lifestyle management professionals like personal trainers, dieticians, home organisers or even estate planners? Many employees may be in need of guidance in these aspects of their lives, and would jump at the chance of getting some one-on-one time with a professional of their choice. Best of all, many of these consultations can take place online, thus minimising the need for close-up interaction in a time of global pandemic.

8. Impromptu time away from the office 

Sometimes the best reward can be some time to yourself. Consider making impromptu time away from the office a spot prize optional for on-the-fly recognition. Instant recognition has been linked to increased productivity, greater employee satisfaction in the workplace, enhanced teamwork, and more.

Lastly, make sure your call centre agents feel safe and secure by having the very latest anti-COVID measures in place. That means, access to sanitisers, safe social distancing between seats, and designated COVID-19 ‘officers’ that they can approach in confidence, should they have any questions or concerns about the pandemic.