GiftCard Partners Blog

As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, summer presents the perfect opportunity to show appreciation to partners, program members, employees, and colleagues. Gift cards are increasingly becoming the go-to gift, offering flexibility and the ability to choose the perfect present. In 2023, the Retail Gift Card Association (RGCA) reported that 70% of shoppers planned to buy gift cards for special occasions like Father’s Day, weddings, graduations, and birthdays. If you're considering giving a gift card this summer, here are some top ideas that will make your recipients' summer even brighter.

In today's workforce, employee recognition is more than just a "nice to have"—it’s a critical driver for retention, engagement, and embodying company culture. As companies grapple with rising turnover and a more competitive talent market, recognition programs are essential in communicating core values while maintaining employee satisfaction. Modern organizations have come to realize that a well-executed recognition program goes beyond sporadic rewards and speaks directly to the heart of a company’s mission.

As HR departments struggle to figure out how to motivate employees, integrating gamification in the workplace remains a popular option. Fast Company article, What the Future of Gamification in the Workplace Looks Like, discusses the importance of realizing that simple, one-size-fits-all solutions will not work.

Employee wellness initiatives have taken many forms over the last 5-10 years. They have ranged from biometric screenings to company exercise groups to discounts on health insurance. Each company does it differently, depending on what is most effective for their specific organization. But according to this Washington Post article, employee wellness is taking a new turn and it's compelling for both employers and employees. Employee wellness is becoming part of company culture. With a growing millennial component to the American workforce, employers are focusing on enticing younger employees with perks and attractive cultural components in the work environment. Wellness programs are shifting to be a component of these types of company culture and positioning efforts. So what does it mean for employers? How can they measure ROI when they take tangible metrics and transition them into the "intangible benefits" so important to difficult-to-please millennial? Here are a few ways:

According to Incentive Magazine, the number one reason employers and managers give for not practicing employee recognition is time. They don't have time, they can't find the right time, it's not effective if you do it too much or too little. There are a million reasons. But the reality is, employee recognition shouldn't take a lot of time, and with some planning and scheduling employee recognition can extend the time employees remain loyal to their organization.
1). Timely Employee Recognition- If an employee does something worth recognizing, make sure you execute on employee recognition in a timely manner. If you wait too long the recognition becomes stale and ineffective. Ensure ROI and trophy value for rewards by recognizing employees as soon as possible.
2). Doesn't Need to Take A Lot of Time- There's a misconception in the market that employee recognition is time consuming. However, if you have a regular recognition program, and rewards on site, recognition only needs to take a few minutes. Whether it's public or private employee recognition, it doesn't need to be a time suck.
3). Deliberate Frequency- Make employee recognition programmatic. That way employee expectations around recognition and rewards are set and can be met and/or exceeded. From a time perspective, deliberate recognition builds recognition into your calendar, rather than being disruptive. Making time for employee recognition will ensure ROI into any program that is approved and endorsed by management.