Who Needs Personalized Name Tags?

[Mickey Arledge]

Personalized name tags are a given in many job capacities. Everyone takes them for granted: you go to work, puch the clock, and slap on a name tag. Most are boring, some are cute (like the molar-shaped name tags they wear at my dentist's office), and some are meant to make employees look important (you know, those flashy gold name tags that scream "I Know What I Am Doing!"). In any case, even if you hate having to wear one, somewhere in your career history you are going to have to make personalized name tags a part of your accessories.

Why do employers insist on making their employees wear a name tag? The most basic use is for identification purposes. Personalized name tags show customers that you actually work for the business. Have you ever wandered up and down the aisles of a grocery store trying to find a certain product, only to ask for help from someone who is stocking shelves and then you find out they are an outside vendor who has no more idea of where to find the item than you do? That can be an uncomfortable experience and some customers will leave your store for a competitor's if they can't find an employee easily.

Another reason employers insist on the employee's use of personalized name tags is for employee recognition. Not necessarily the good kind of recognition - more to create a sense of duty or obligation of courtesy on the part of the employee. If the staff is wearing a badge that proclaims their name for all to see, they are more likely to be accountable for their jobs and to identify with the company they work for. Plus, especially in the currently dragging economy, every time a customer spots a name on a badge, if the company logo is also on the name tag, that logo will be rebranded in their minds, which could help boost flagging sales figures.

What about using personalized name tags to reward employees? People like to be patted on the back and recognized for the efforts they make on the job. Mickey Arledge, owner of Name-tags.net says "name tags are a cheap effective way to recognize your staff members and their achievements". This is a win/win for the company - a name tag that proclaims Amy as the Queen of Customer Service gives Amy encouragement and becomes a subtle reminder to other employees to do their best so they will also receive recognition.

Many large corporations insist on name tags even if customers will never see them. These name tags are for the employees so they can identify one another. It can be embarassing to work with someone on the first day and forget their name the second day on the job, but this happens to many of us, particularly in large companies. But, it can be difficult for a new employee to learn the names of their coworkers even in small companies so if everyone wears a name badge, the newbie can associate a name with a face without the fear of looking bad.

So even though many of us groan when the boss asks us to wear one, keep in mind that personalized name tags are the best way for coworkers to learn each others names, for recognition of a job well done, for staff accountability, and for customer comfort and company branding.

For more information about personalized name tags or to check out name tags and other identification products, please visit www.name-tags.net or contact us today.