What are all the instances when an employee may require 'positive reinforcement' from the employer?

employers WHO GIVE RECOGNITION & RESPECT TO THEIR EMPLOYEES MAKE A FAMILY SORT OF SITUATION IN THE WORK PLACE ................ JAPAN IS THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THIS SORT OF MANAGEMENT IN THE WORLD.............. GOOD DAY KRISHNA

Positive reinforcement is the practice of rewarding desirable employee behaviour in order to strengthen that behaviour. For example, when you praise an employee for doing a good job, you increase the likelihood of him/her doing that job very well again. Positive reinforcement both shapes behaviour and enhances an employee’s self-image.

agree with Zafar abbas minhas 

Providing Sense of Worth

Encouraging Good Behavior

Improving Workplace Morale

Thank you for the question, I must agree with colleagues

Employee require +ve reinforcement from the employer during:-

1. Morale his low

2. Productivity is low

3. Sense of belonging is less. 

As nicely explained by all experts, it is part of motivational plan and recognition. Recently read an article it says almost70-80-% of the employees did not receive even' Thank you or well done' from their bosses for the last six months. 

When there is a failure not because of the employee and he has done hard work. 

I fully agree with all answers . Thanks

Positive reinforcement is needed and should be provided all the time.  This is part of a motivational plan that should be done by every organization.  Employees who are doing well should be encourage to be better and better, they should feel appreciated and be rewarded.  Employees who are not doing well should be trained, coached and encouraged to improve.  Employees who have personal and social issues affecting their work life should be supported to be able to come out of their troubles and become better at work.

In short it is required at all times

Positive reinforcement is the method by which we reward or recognize expected behaviours. For example, when a sales person exceeds his targets, his manager gives him a bonus. When a child behaves well, his parents appreciate him saying "Very good boy". When an employee does a good job, his supervisor calls him in the presence of the entire team and appreciates him in public.

The objective of all this is that the positive behaviour gets reinforced, and becomes regular. I think an employer / manager / supervisor must do this at all times. Whenever someone does well, it is a positive step to recognize it. All good managers do this, and poor managers just point out at the mistakes, whenever they can. People who provide positive reinforcement are popular leaders and managers.

1) Growth or increase in Demand of product or service.

2) Stiff targets or milestones.

3) Intense competition.

4) To meet project schedules or deadlines.

5) Retention of skill / talent in times of shortage of quality manpower leading to poaching by competitors.