Systems and methods of utilizing employee recognition programs to maximize employee return on investment. To maximize the employee return on investment effect of the available recognition products at a desired cost to the employer, systems and methods rank recognition categories and/or products, prescribing the top category and/or product or the top categories and/or products that will be beneficial in optimizing employee return on investment of an organization. The systems and methods for prescribing the category and/or product or categories and/or products can provide an estimate of how employee return on investment will be impacted by the prescribed recognition.