Here's an interesting perk -- Forbes magazine (5/28/2001) is reporting that Cognex Corp. of Natick, Mass. provides awards to the top 10% of its 800-employee workforce but also has its chief executive officer send a letter to each of the winners' parents describing their awards!

Sure sounds to me like a cost-effective way to make employees proud and happy. (Though the top-10% process at Cognex sounds like it involves employee ranking, which is controversial, I understand.)

Yeah, and that $10,000 bonus is not too shabby.

http://www.cognex.com/hr/recognition_rewards.asp

I'll bet that Cognex NEEDS ME!!!!

I know a life insurance company that got sued and lost because they told the agents wife that he had met a sales target and was receiving a bonus. If your company is ever going to do this get the employee's written permission and competent legal advice.

Wow! What was the "cause of action," do you know? Some sort of privacy law?

It was all privacy and cofidentiality issues.

Here's an article about employee ranking, from today's USA Today:

More firms cut workers ranked at bottom