GiftCard Partners Blog

Employee benefits plans are often the number one expense for a company. For an investment that large, do you know if your employee benefits plan is working for you? Is it minimizing sick days and extended absences? Is it providing coverage for specific employee populations? Is it providing coverage for often stigmatized conditions?

Employee health and wellness programs can be tough to get going and even tougher to keep employees engaged in. However, rather than delivering the program, involving employees in the execution of the program may be the key to long-term wellness program success.

Employers are looking beyond the standard holiday bonus to create meaningful, memorable appreciation moments. With engagement still lagging nationally, thoughtful non-cash recognition can make a measurable difference in morale, loyalty, and performance.

Competitive pay is fundamental; it should always be the first lever in a total rewards strategy. However, recent data shows that many organizations face budget pressures, rising turnover costs, and intensified competition for talent, making non-salary loyalty strategies necessary complements to compensation.

The race to keep employees engaged has never been tougher, and organizations that rely only on cash bonuses are leaving real value on the table. Extra pay is appreciated, but it blends quickly into bills and everyday expenses. Non-cash rewards such as gift cards, experiences, and lifestyle perks stand out because they create emotional impact and memorable recognition. In a workforce where only 32% of employees report feeling engaged (5), recognition strategies built on experiences rather than transactions are essential for driving performance and loyalty.