How to Give Awards and Appreciations in CrmLeaf
All editions. Core feature - no add-on required.
Availability: All editions. Core feature - no add-on required.
Overview
Appreciations and awards record public recognition of an employee inside CrmLeaf. You define the award types your organisation gives, then give an award to an employee so the recognition is visible rather than private.
Because the record sits with the employee, recognition history is available later for reviews and for HR reporting.
How It Works
Award types are configured once. Individual awards are then given to employees against those types.
Define award types → Choose the employee → Give the award → Recognition recorded → Review history
- Award types are the reusable categories of recognition your organisation gives.
- Giving an award links a type to an employee, creating the recognition record.
- The award is public recognition rather than a private note.
- The record stays with the employee, so it can be referenced in performance conversations.
Who Can Use This Feature?
This functionality is available only to Administrators.
Administrator
- Create and maintain the award types the organisation uses.
- Give an award to an employee.
- Review the recognition already recorded before giving another award.
Prerequisites
- An Administrator account with access to the Appreciation sub-module.
- The person being recognised must exist as an employee record in the account.
- At least one award type must exist before an award can be given.
For Administrators
Step 1: Open Appreciation
What to do: Open the Appreciation sub-module and review the award types and the recognition already recorded.
What to verify: Confirm which award types exist before creating a new one.
Step 2: Create the award types
What to do: Select Add and create each award type your organisation gives. Keep the list short and the names meaningful, because a long list of similar awards devalues each of them.
What to verify: Confirm each award type appears in the list and can be selected when giving an award.
Step 3: Give an award to an employee
What to do: Select Add, choose the award type and the employee being recognised, and complete the record. Complete every mandatory field before saving.
What to verify: Confirm the award appears against the correct employee.
Step 4: Announce the recognition
What to do: Where you want the wider team to know, publish a notice targeted at the relevant department or at employees. Recognition works better when people hear about it.
What to verify: Confirm the notice is published to the intended audience.
Field and Option Reference
| Field / Option | Description | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Award type | The reusable category of recognition, defined once and used for every award of that kind. | Yes |
| Employee | The employee receiving the award. | Yes |
Expected Result
The award type is saved and available for reuse, and the award given is recorded against the chosen employee as public recognition.
Service Organisation Context
Long engagements are where consultants lose visibility: the work is good, the client is satisfied, and nothing about it is recorded inside the organisation. An award records that recognition against the employee, so it is available later in a performance conversation rather than remembered by one manager who may have moved on. Publishing a notice alongside it is what makes the recognition reach the wider team. Any organisation can use the same records for operational or safety recognition, and objectives and check-ins remain the Performance module's job rather than this one's.
Important Notes
- Menu names and their position can differ between product editions and can be customised for your account, so your sidebar may not match these paths exactly. Use Search or your Quick Access items if you cannot find a screen.
- An award is public recognition. Do not record anything in it that should stay private between a manager and an employee.
- Create award types before you need them. An award cannot be given without a type.
- Recognition and performance management are separate. Use the Performance add-on module for objectives, check-ins and 1:1 meetings.
- Keep the criteria for each award type written down outside CrmLeaf, so recognition is applied consistently.
Common Scenarios
Example: a monthly recognition routine. An organisation defines a small set of award types, gives one award each month, and publishes a notice so the whole team sees who was recognised.
Example: recognition in a review. Before an annual review, a manager checks the awards recorded against the employee and refers to them in the conversation.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Possible Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| An award cannot be given | No award type exists yet. | Create the award type first, then give the award. |
| The employee cannot be selected | The person does not have an employee record in the account. | Add the employee, then give the award. |
| The Appreciation screen cannot be opened | The signed-in user is not an Administrator or lacks access to the module. | Sign in with an Administrator account. |
| Nobody knows an award was given | The award was recorded but not announced. | Publish a notice to the department or to employees. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a User give an award to a colleague?
Giving an award is documented as an Administrator action. Confirm with your Administrator what your role allows.
Do I need an award type before giving an award?
Yes. Awards are given against an award type.
Is an award visible to other employees?
An award is recorded as public recognition. Publish a notice if you want to announce it more widely.
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