GiftCard Partners Blog

Since it's halloween let's talk about motivating employees with a chainsaw. Sounds terrifying and unprofessional. Sounds like it might be the plot of a horror movie, or that we are playing tricks on our readers. It's actually neither. At digital marketing agency Sq1 the Red Chainsaw Award is given to the employee who not only goes "above and beyond" but who does it by cutting through the BS to do it. So there you have it: employee motivation with a chainsaw. Blood and guts free. So here's why you should think about coming up with your own version of a chainsaw award.
Recognition Is Important: Everyone wants it, and employees do weird things to get attention when they don't get it. Actively giving recognition drives everyone to strive for it and motivates the people who get it to keep working harder to be recognized further.
Recognizing the Individual Members of the Team: Everyone at any company is working toward organization goals. However, it's important to recognize the individuals who make the team whole. Sometimes teams achieve things, but don't be afraid to recognize individual rock stars who deserve it.
Rewards are important too: Recognition is great. Whether public or private being told you're doing a good job is great. But don't forget to provide some kind of material reward, which gives a tangible component to positive reinforcement. Whether is a gift card to a popular retailer like
Boston Market,
The Limited or
Crutchfield, or an afternoon off to start a weekend early, make sure you show your employees tangible appreciation.
For more information about employee motivation, with or without a chainsaw check out this article from The Next Web.  

Beacon technology has the potential to change the way we all shop. However, there is a "creepy" factor to knowing that stores are tracking your movements around their retail locations. So, some retailers are mixing a human element into beacon technology, and the results are surprisingly pleasant. Some retailers testing out beacons with messaging in either a native app or push messaging are using their employees as part of the beacon experience. Training employees on the beacon messaging and positioning employees in critical areas of the store allows employees to gain extra responsibility while improving the customer experience and removing the intrusive factor that beacons can present. Employee training on cutting edge technology provides professional development opportunities for your workforce and a unique chance for growth in the critical customer service area of your business. Offering small incentives like gift cards to employees who volunteer to step up and receive the training and take on extra responsibility is a great way to reinforce innovation at your organization. Think of beaconing as an opportunity to advance your workforce as well as advancing the technology in your stores. Head over to
MediaPost for more information.

In hoping to prove the value of whole grocery, Whole Foods Market is launching its first ad campaign this week. Crazy, right?

Carrots and sticks are a relatively old tactic in employee health and wellness programs. They are tried and true because they work. Carrots tend to prove to work better than sticks, but whether you choose to reward improved behavior and program engagement or provide (usually financial) disincentives for a lack of participation, these detractors and rewards work well to boost participation and results from employee healthy and wellness programs.
However, in analyzing effective tactics for employee health and wellness programs, we often overlook the most basic component of an employee health and wellness program. To be frank, it can feel intrusive for employees to have employers involved in their healthcare. Especially when dealing with sensitive topics like high cholesterol and weight loss, it can be intrusive for some employees to have employers involved, even if they are providing health care and insurance. In a recent study from the
Kaiser Family Foundation survey, 62% of employees felt it was inappropriate for employers to require workers to pay more for their health insurance premiums if they don’t participate in wellness programs. Additionally 74% said companies shouldn’t charge higher premiums if employees don’t achieve predetermined health goals. These two statistics bring employers back to basics and really require organizations to evaluate how they approach employee health and wellness programs. Will carrots or sticks work best for your company? Should employee health and wellness be a (strong) suggestion or a requirement for affordable coverage?
Read more from the Wall Street Journal.

Encouraging creativity among employees is vital for fostering innovation and driving organizational growth. When employees have the opportunity to express their creativity, it not only enhances individual development but also contributes to a dynamic and vibrant company culture. In this article, we'll explore the importance of employee creativity and provide practical strategies for promoting and harnessing creative potential in the workplace.