As a Home Depot employee, you‘ve probably heard about the famous "Homer Awards" but don‘t know all the details of how this incentive program works. Well, you‘ve come to the right place!
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll give you an in-depth look at everything you need to know about the Homer Award program as a Home Depot associate.
Here‘s what we‘ll cover:
- What are Homer Awards and why does Home Depot have this program?
- How to earn Homer Badges and reach Award milestones
- The 5 milestone levels – how many Badges you need and what prizes you get
- How Homer Awards compare to programs at Lowe‘s, Menards, etc.
- Checking your status and tracking Badge progress
- The real value of Homer Awards for employees
- Is the effort worth the rewards? An objective analysis
- Leveraging Awards to grow your career at Home Depot
- The Homer Fund: Grants for associates in need
By the end of this guide, you‘ll be a Homer Award expert ready to start racking up those badges!
What Are Homer Awards and Why Does Home Depot Have This Program?
The Homer Award is Home Depot‘s way of recognizing and rewarding employees who demonstrate the company‘s core values. Homer is the name of the helpful orange Home Depot mascot.
These awards are part of a larger incentives program called Orange Rewards aimed at engaging associates and boosting morale.
In 2018, Home Depot had over 400,000 employees. For a company this large, it can be difficult to make each individual feel valued. This is why Home Depot uses programs like Homer Awards to motivate staff.
Some key facts on why Home Depot sees value in the Homer Award program:
- Employee retention – Awards help retain top talent by making them feel appreciated
- Reinforce core values – Badges given for demonstrating company values and culture
- Increase productivity – Motivates associates to go above and beyond
- Enhance customer service – Rewards helpfulness and product knowledge critical for customers
- Low cost – Compared to raises and bonuses, awards have lower costs for the company while still engaging staff
According to Josh Bersin of Deloitte, companies with the most engaged employees have 65% lower turnover. Homer Awards help keep associates engaged.
This program allows Home Depot to positively reinforce behaviors it wants to see from employees. The badges and prizes incentivize living the Orange spirit!
Next, let‘s look at how you can start earning awards.
How To Earn Homer Badges and Reach Milestone Awards
As a Home Depot associate, you earn Homer Badges by demonstrating the company‘s core values consistently. Managers then award these badges as a form of recognition.
Here are the main ways you can earn Homer Badges:
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Excellent customer service – Badges awarded for product expertise, availability, and helpfulness
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Supporting your team – Recognizing cooperation, training others, stepping up when needed
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Following company values – Awarding badges for integrity, entrepreneurship, giving back
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Participating in events – Earning badges for volunteering or involvement in store functions
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Spot bonuses – Surprise badges given for exceeding expectations
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Bravo nominations – Getting nominated for a badge by a coworker through Bravo cards
How often badges are awarded comes down to management discretion. But Home Depot does enforce limits on how many Homer Badges stores can give per month.
As a general guideline, aim to earn 1-2 badges per month through consistently delivering excellent work. This will keep you on track for reaching Award milestones.
Speaking of milestones, let’s look at how many Home Depot Homer Badges you need to earn for each level:
Award Level – Badges Required
- Bronze – 3, 15, 27, 39, 51
- Silver – 6, 18, 30, 42, 54
- Gold – 9, 21, 33, 45, 57
- Platinum – 12, 24, 36, 48
- Diamond – 60
Once you reach the max Diamond level after earning 60 total badges, the cycle resets. This allows you to continually earn awards through your career at Home Depot.
Pretty straightforward right? Now let‘s see what kind of rewards and prizes you can look forward to!
Homer Award Milestones – Prizes, Incentives, and Benefits
Reaching each Homer Award milestone level brings you some lucrative prizes. Here‘s an overview of the incentives you can earn at each level:
Bronze Award (3, 15, 27, 39, 51 Badges)
Prize:
- $50 cash bonus
- Bronze badge
- Bronze certificate
The Bronze Award provides a cash boost to get you started. With the badge and certificate, you have proof of achievement to put on your resume.
Silver Award (6, 18, 30, 42, 54 Badges)
Prize:
- $60 cash bonus
- Silver badge
- Silver certificate
More cold hard cash plus a silver badge to display your accomplishment.
Gold Award (9, 21, 33, 45, 57 Badges)
Prize:
- $75 cash bonus
- Gold badge
- Gold certificate
The bonuses keep getting bigger! The gold badge has an impressive shine.
Platinum Award (12, 24, 36, 48 Badges)
Prize:
- $100 cash bonus
- Platinum badge
- Choice of gift (watch catalog for 1st award, multi-platinum catalog for subsequent awards)
A $100 bonus is nothing to scoff at. The first platinum award lets you get a fancy new watch. After that, you can choose from the gift catalog.
Diamond Award (60 Badges)
Prize:
- $200 cash bonus
- Diamond badge
- Diamond lapel pin
- Choice of gift from diamond catalog
The prestigious diamond award nets you $200 extra cash! The sparkly diamond badge, lapel pin, and gift catalog make it the peak Homer Award achievement.
The badge icons make great profile pictures and can be added to your resume or LinkedIn. The cash bonuses are deposited right into your paycheck.
But how do these prizes stack up against employee programs at other big retailers?
Homer Awards vs. Programs at Lowe‘s, Menards, and Other Retailers
Home Depot‘s biggest competitors like Lowe‘s and Menards also have recognition programs. Here‘s how the Homer Awards compare:
Lowe‘s – Lowe‘s has the Three Diamond Service Award with levels bronze, silver, gold, and diamond. The awards focus more on service vs. values. Prizes are lower with $20, $40, $60, and $80 for each level.
Menards – Menards Built for Me recognition includes awards like gift cards and branded apparel. No structured levels or badges. Rewards not as lucrative as Homer Awards.
Target – Target Awards and Recognition gives e-gift cards for nominations and mentions. Spot Bonuses also provided. No badges or milestone levels.
Walmart – Walmart has Associate Appreciation Days with prizes, plus Walmart Proud badge for good customer service. No structured program or bonuses.
Costco – Costco Gives Assistant Manager Appreciation Certificates but no formal rewards program. Relies on company culture for engagement.
Analysis: Home Depot‘s Homer Award program stands out as the most robust recognition initiative. The gamified structure with milestones and badges keeps employees engaged. Bonuses given at each level are more lucrative than other retailers. No other company ties awards directly to reinforcing core values.
Overall, the Homer Award program is a key strategic advantage for Home Depot in motivating and rewarding associates!
Next let‘s look at how you can check up on your Home Depot awards status.
Checking Your Homer Award Status and Tracking Badge Progress
It‘s important to regularly monitor your progress within the Homer Award program. Here are some tips:
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Login to MyApron – On your homepage, find the Orange Rewards widget showing lifetime badges.
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Visit Orange Awards site – See badges required for your next milestone, achievement status, and eligible gifts.
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Ask your manager – Connect with your manager 1-on-1 to get updates on your standing.
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Record your badges – Keep a notebook tracking badges earned to compare with MyApron.
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Set reminders – Create calendar reminders to check your status monthly or quarterly.
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Get motivated – Use your progress to motivate earning 1-2 badges per month.
Checking status lets you know if you‘re on pace for the next payout and allows you to identify areas for improvement. You can even turn it into a friendly competition with coworkers!
Now let‘s get into the meaty question – how valuable are these awards really for employees?
How Valuable Are Homer Awards for Employees? An Objective Analysis.
Homer Awards provide both monetary and non-monetary value to Home Depot associates. Let‘s break it down:
Monetary Value
The cash value of Homer Award bonuses ranges from $50 for Bronze to $200 for Diamond. Assuming you achieve two cycles of awards per year, that‘s up to $700 in extra annual income.
For comparison, if you got a 5% raise on a $15/hour wage, that would be only $390 more per year. The bonuses easily beat that!
Non-Monetary Value
- Recognition from management
- Proof of achievement for resumes
- Peer recognition from badges
- Morale and engagement boost
- Provides goals to work towards
- Reinforces company loyalty and values
According to an SHRM study, 69% of employees say being recognized motivates them in their job. Homer Awards provide this validation.
Gallup found that employees who feel their accomplishments are noticed have 1.5-3x better productivity. Homer Badges incentivize peak performance.
Is the Effort Worth the Reward?
Earning Homer Awards requires sustained effort in living Home Depot‘s values and providing excellent customer service.
For newer employees, the badges come faster by learning store systems. After being there a while, it takes more work to "go the extra mile".
My opinion is that the rewards are worth it due to the cash bonuses and sense of achievement. However, it does require consistently being a top performer. You get back proportional to the discretionary effort you put in.
The badges you earn send a strong signal to management about your performance. Ultimately, they recognize and reward Home Depot‘s ideal employees.
How to Strategically Leverage Homer Awards to Grow Your Career
Beyond the direct rewards, Homer Awards can also be leveraged for career growth:
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Achievements for your resume – Quantify your customer service skills with award milestones.
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Showcase during reviews – Use awards to demonstrate going above-and-beyond when discussing promotions.
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Prove yourself for leadership roles – Getting consistent awards shows you‘re ready for more responsibility.
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Gain management attention – Rare awards like Platinum/Diamond get noticed by senior leadership.
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Build your brand – Being known as an expert winner establishes your reputation.
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Enhanced training opportunities – High performers get rewarded with more training to advance further.
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Unlock mentorship – Leaders may provide extra mentoring to accelerate your development.
While awards don‘t guarantee advancement, they certainly boost your visibility and perceived potential. Leverage Homer Awards as tangible proof points when advocating for your own career growth.
The Homer Fund – Grants for Associates in Need
I also want to mention the Homer Fund – Home Depot‘s charitable program providing financial assistance to employees in times of hardship.
Funded by associate donations and Home Depot matching, it offers two types of grants:
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Direct grants – Up to $10,000 for critical needs like medical bills, housing, funeral costs, etc.
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Matching grants – Matches donations made by associates to support a coworker in need.
Over 95% of Home Depot employees contribute to the Homer Fund through payroll deductions or one-time gifts. Definitely consider participating to support colleagues who may be struggling.
Let‘s Get You Homer Award Ready!
We‘ve covered a ton of ground on how the Homer Award program works. Here are some key tips to get award-ready:
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Strive for 1-2 badges per month – Make this a regular goal by exceeding expectations.
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Track your progress – Monitor your status monthly and identify gaps.
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Focus on customer service – Be extremely helpful and knowledgeable to earn badges.
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Support your team – Mentor new hires and step up when needed.
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Live the Orange spirit – Demonstrate Home Depot‘s values in all you do.
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Participate in events – Volunteer for community service projects or company initiatives.
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Go above-and-beyond – Bring energy and positivity that rubs off on customers and coworkers.
Bring your best self every day, provide WOW customer experiences, and demonstrate the core values. Do that consistently, and Homer Badges and Awards will come your way in no time!
I hope this guide gave you an in-depth understanding of how the Home Depot Homer Award program works and how to maximize its value. The recognition, monetary bonuses, and sense of accomplishment make it well worth the effort. Get out there, be helpful, work hard, and start earning those badges!
