Exclaimer's Journey with HeyTaco for Enhanced Employee Engagement and Recognition

Exclaimer is a dynamic, globally-present company with over 275 employees who know how to have fun while getting things done. When the pandemic hit, like many businesses, they faced the challenge of keeping their team spirit alive while working remotely. They needed a way to keep everyone connected, engaged, and appreciated—no matter where they were. That’s when they turned to HeyTaco, a peer-to-peer recognition platform that has since become a cornerstone of their company culture.

The Challenge

When everyone moved to remote work, Exclaimer wanted to keep that personal touch of appreciation alive. They were looking for a way to encourage employees to recognize and celebrate each other’s contributions, big or small, in a way that felt genuine and fun.

The Solution

They found their answer in HeyTaco, a platform where employees can give virtual tacos to colleagues as tokens of appreciation. What started as a small initiative in the engineering team quickly exploded into a company-wide phenomenon!

How They Did It

• Getting Started with HeyTaco: The journey began when Exclaimer’s engineering team, who were used to giving out kudos cards in the office, needed a new way to show appreciation while working remotely. They started using HeyTaco, and before long, everyone else caught on. Soon, tacos were flying around the digital office, and people loved it!
• Creating a Celebrations Hub: To manage the growing wave of appreciation, Exclaimer set up a dedicated "Celebrations" channel on Slack. This became the go-to spot for sharing and celebrating all the great things happening across the company. The channel became so popular that new hires were often amazed by the sheer amount of gratitude flowing through it.
• Adding Some Fun with Themed Challenges and Prizes: Exclaimer didn’t stop there. They introduced monthly challenges where employees could give tacos that align with the company’s core values, like teamwork or continuous learning. To keep it fun, they brought in quirky taco-themed prizes—think taco hats, mini taco vans, and even custom-made keyrings. These little rewards created a buzz, making everyone eager to participate.
• Keeping It Real with Intrinsic Rewards: Instead of tying tacos to cash or other big rewards, Exclaimer chose to keep things simple and meaningful. The recognition is about heartfelt appreciation, not just winning prizes. Occasionally, they’ll throw in a surprise gift or a fun challenge, but the main focus remains on genuine acknowledgment of colleagues' efforts.
  
  

The Results

• High Engagement and Enthusiasm: The impact has been phenomenal. The Celebrations channel is always buzzing with messages of thanks and recognition. Employees feel seen and appreciated, and new hires quickly get into the spirit of things, adding to the culture of gratitude.
• Stronger Cross-Department Collaboration: With so much appreciation flowing, people across different departments began to interact more, breaking down silos and fostering a real sense of unity. It’s not just about doing the job—it’s about being part of a supportive, collaborative team.
• A Culture of Gratitude and Joy: Exclaimer has built a culture where saying "thank you" is second nature. The regular use of HeyTaco has injected fun into daily operations. Employees look forward to surprise taco-themed giveaways, spontaneous recognition in meetings, and all the other creative ways their contributions are celebrated.
• Positive Employee Feedback: Employees love it! Many have commented on how the regular recognition makes them feel valued. The best part? It’s become an organic part of the workplace culture, with everyone feeling empowered to celebrate each other’s wins, big or small.

What’s Next?

Exclaimer isn't done yet. They’re planning to take things up a notch by using HeyTaco for their end-of-year awards, where employees will nominate their peers for recognition. And there’s talk of even more creative ideas, like giant taco trophies and maybe even a taco mascot for company events!

Final Thoughts

Exclaimer’s approach to employee recognition shows how a little creativity and a lot of heart can transform a workplace. By making gratitude fun and accessible, they’ve built a culture where everyone feels appreciated and excited to contribute. It’s proof that work can be both productive and fun!

About Exclaimer: 

Exclaimer, headquartered in Farnborough, UK, is a global leader in email signature management solutions. With a team distributed across multiple countries, Exclaimer helps organizations standardize their email signatures to ensure consistent branding, legal compliance, and effective communication. Their innovative tools enable businesses to create professional email signatures while promoting company messages and enhancing overall communication efficiency.