GiftCard Partners Blog

For many organizations employee recognition and financial rewards are tied at the hip. It makes sense- rewards promote the desired behavior and only incur a fixed predictable cost to the employer. Rewards are proven effective and continue to be so, but the lasting value of that reward goes a lot farther with an employee if it is paired with true recognition of the accomplishment that earned them the reward. The compliment from their manager means as much or more than the reward it is paired with, and the recognition can often get lost in the day-to-day craziness of the workplace. Here are 3 quick and easy ways to ensure that you pair the proper employee recognition with your rewards to make them happier and more satisfied with their position and their organization. 1) 
Be timely: If you notice an employee making an exceptional effort or going beyond their job responsibilities- act immediately. A simple compliment, or a quick email in the moment shows the employee that their organization is always taking notice of their efforts. This makes them feel good whole also promoting positive behavior for the future. 2) 
Be authentic: When recognizing an employee’s good work or extra effort, mean what you say and back up what you do. If you recognize them publicly in front of their peers make sure you recognize their individual accomplishment. Don't give a generic motivational speech, instead speak specifically to what 
they did. Giving formulaic recognition will have an adverse effect where employees race to certain benchmarks because they know a reward is waiting for them, which is much less effective long term. 3) 
Add employee based value: Recognize employees by adding value measured in their terms. When providing rewards, gift cards are a great way to add individual value by presenting employees with a choice of how they want to receive and use their reward, without adding organizational cost. Being able to help a working mom out with dinner by providing a 
Boston Market gift card, and helping that junior associate right out of college buy his first apartment enhancement with a 
Crutchfield gift card, or helping that employee who you know has a long commute every day with a 
Speedway gas gift certificate, adds a personal touch that will be memorable and more valuable to employees. Employee rewards work- but they must be paired with proper employee recognition, otherwise the meaning is lost. Adding value and meaning to employee recognition will have a long lasting effect on their loyalty, productivity, and happiness. 
For more information on how to recognize your employees check out this article from Forbes.

GiftCard Partners and CVS/pharmacy recently co-sponsored a webinar called Healthcare Reform’s Impact on Wellness - How to Incentivize Employees to Engage in Healthy Behavior. Speakers included Jonathan Edelheit, Editor in Chief of Benefits Live Magazine, Vanessa Cullerton, Senior Manager of Employee Wellness for the Hillshire Brands Company, Stacey Nelson, Manager of Health and Welfare for Sprint; and our own Edward Shulkin, President of GiftCard Partners.

According to a new study from the Midwest Business Group, more than 80% of the nation's largest employers use a carrot and stick approach when it comes to their corporate wellness program. Using this approach allows employers to reward for desired behavior, while creating penalties for employees who participate in unhealthy behavior, such as smoking. As the full implications of the Affordable Care Act take effect and employee benefits costs continue to rise, employers place more value on employee healthcare benefits savings, by both maximizing the health of employees and lowering the cost of their healthcare benefits. Here are some quick facts about employers who use a carrot and stick incentive strategy to manage employee wellness.

Employee satisfaction, engagement and overall happiness has proven time and time again to be a surefire way to foster employees to do more for their organizations. They are more productive, try harder, and are more loyal to their organizations. Ensuring long-term employee satisfaction is key to an organization’s success and reducing disruptive tendencies like frequent turnover. Here are 3 ways to ensure your employee’s satisfaction in their current position.

In order to build the type of employee culture that gets employees excited to come to work each day and have fun with their colleagues, employees have to be motivated in their positions. There are many approaches management can take to employees motivation, and making sure you use a successful strategy can be the difference between an unmotivated staff and a vibrant environment where employees are motivated to grow and learn in their positions. Here are 3 easy tips to successful employee motivation.