In HR, events do more than just fill up the calendar. They’re chances to shape your company’s culture, build a sense of community, and show what your organization values. Everything from new employee training to awards ceremonies and wellness programs sends a message about your company.
One thing that’s easy to miss, but also very noticeable, is the lanyard. It might seem like just a way to hold an ID badge, but HR can use lanyards to help people connect with each other, get involved, and build culture.
Why Lanyards Are Important at HR Events
Studies show that feeling like you belong is a big part of whether employees are happy and stay with a company. Something as simple as wearing the same lanyard can help people feel like they’re part of a group. It sends a message: You’re at this event, and you belong here.
The New York Times says that at any big conference, people will wear lanyards. So, you know everyone will have one on, and everyone else will see it. That makes lanyards a good way to get attention and help people connect.
Lanyards also make sense for HR event planners in terms of logistics and cost:
- Easy to spot: Helps employees, managers, and guests recognize each other.
- Same look for everyone: Makes everyone feel equal by giving them the same symbol of being part of the event.
- Lasting reminders: Many employees keep lanyards to remember the event, which helps reinforce the company culture.
- Good price: Buying bulk custom lanyards with logos costs money, but it can fit into the event budget without costing too much.
Lanyards as a Way to Show Style, Identity, and Brand
Lanyards do more than just hold names and IDs. They can also show the personality of an event, the company’s culture, or even a sense of fashion. The Washington Post wrote that even Chanel has lanyards that are fancy and combine style with usefulness.
For HR, this means lanyards aren’t just tools. They’re a way to show identity, pride, and that people belong. A well-designed lanyard sends a message just like a branded T-shirt or a company backdrop.
Designing Lanyards Carefully
If HR wants lanyards to do more than just hold a badge, the design is important. Think about:
- Meaningful colors: Use company colors or colors that go with the event’s theme.
- Inspiring messages: Put company values, leadership sayings, or event slogans on them.
- Easy-to-read text: Use fonts that look good and are easy to read so employees are proud to wear them.
- Stylish touch: Small design choices, like good materials or patterns, can make employees want to keep and reuse the lanyards after the event.
Ways to Use Lanyards to Get People Involved
There are different ways lanyards can have meaning and build culture:
- Front of the badge: Names, job titles, or team names can help people talk to each other.
- Back of the badge: A good place for event schedules, company values, or reminders about health that employees can look at.
- Ribbon/strap: The most visible part, which can show the event’s theme, year, or a cultural statement.
Making Lanyards Useful After the Event
HR can make lanyards useful for longer by thinking past the event:
- Ways to get feedback: Add QR codes that link to event surveys or health check-ins.
- Including remote workers: For online events, send lanyards to people working remotely so they feel connected too.
- Keepsakes: Encourage employees to keep lanyards as part of awards or celebrations.
Measuring Involvement
Lanyards aren’t usually thought of as data, but HR can use them to measure things:
- Add a QR code for event surveys to see how many people fill them out.
- Ask in event feedback how the lanyard helped people feel like they belonged.
- Track social media posts where lanyards appear in photos.
This helps HR show that even small things can help people get involved.
Tips for HR Leaders
- Add to new employee kits: Give new employees lanyards with the company logo.
- Show company values: Use lanyards at events to show company values.
- Different lanyards for different people: Use different colors to show teams or locations at big events to help people network.
- Make it look good: People will want to keep and reuse things that look good. A stylish lanyard can make a big impact.
In Conclusion
Lanyards might seem small, but they represent important things: connection, identity, and culture. As The Washington Post and The New York Times have said, lanyards are more than just accessories. They’re stylish, visible, and useful.
For HR leaders trying to build a connected workforce, even the smallest things matter. With a good design, a simple lanyard can become a symbol of belonging that employees carry with them.
Guest writer
