Receiving a formal award for excellent service is all well and good, but nothing beats the spontaneous, heartfelt appreciation of a co-worker for a job well done.

That's the philosophy behind TransCanada's newest employee recognition program.

Called Spotlight, it focuses attention on the small things that make a big difference: a colleague who volunteers to stand in for you when you have a family crisis to deal with, goes out of his or her way to mentor you in a new role without being asked, or whose superb organizational skills make every meeting run like clockwork. The positive attitude behind such everyday exceptionalism fosters a working environment that everyone enjoys and benefits from.

By introducing the online Spotlight program, TransCanada has made it easy for anyone in the company to send a note or a gift of appreciation to a deserving colleague.

"We enjoy competitive compensation, interesting career challenges and ongoing development opportunities at TransCanada," says Wendy Hanrahan, Vice President, Human Resources. "Being recognized for our efforts and appreciated by our colleagues is equally important in creating a rewarding work experience."