Which taco tastes better–the one your friend surprised you with, or the one you’ve been dreaming about all day?
Both are tasty. But you were really ready for the tacos you were craving. You made sure not to eat a big lunch, saving room for them. You took an alternate route to the taco shop to avoid traffic. You called ahead to make sure they had your favorite salsa (the extra spicy kind they hide behind the counter).
You did absolutely everything and anything required to obtain those tacos. And all of your careful planning paid off. That taco was the motivation for a bunch of small decisions, and that is what we call an incentive.
Today, we’re talking about employee incentive programs. We’ll share ideas to make them fun, cost-effective, meaningful, or all three. But first, an important question:
What’s the difference between employee incentive programs and rewards?
Employee incentive programs are meant to inspire and motivate employees to hit a goal or milestone. Rewards are what they get for meeting the milestone.
They often go hand-in-hand, with companies using the end reward as the incentive. However, some employee incentive program ideas, like wellness initiatives, give employees beneficial tools and other perks on their journey to meeting the goal.
Incentives drive behavior. Rewards reinforce it.
Why consider an employee incentive program?
We implement systems such as recognition programs to strengthen engagement and show appreciation. Incentive programs aren’t just a good companion to recognition programs; they can be integrated into them.
Incentives can turbo-charge your efforts by supplying motivation. Employee motivation has a whole host of benefits, including but not limited to:
- Higher job satisfaction
- Better quality work
- Lower absenteeism
- Higher retention rates
- Greater efficiency and creativity
Plus, a lot of incentive programs are great for team bonding, whether it involves collaborating or a little friendly competition.
Fun work incentive ideas for a culture of recognition
Let’s dive right into bundling recognition and incentives. Here are some ideas everyone can feel good about.
Peer recognition with HeyTaco 🌮
Incentivize recognition with gamified elements, including leaderboards and special avatars. Create custom rewards for givers and receivers while boosting intrinsic motivation and positivity.
Exclusive experiences
Whether offering concert tickets or all-expense-paid weekends away, special event and travel incentives can feel like once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Double the impact by tailoring it to the employee’s interests or lifestyle.
Paper plate awards ceremonies
Host an unserious awards ceremony where employees get recognized for their best qualities, work habits, and more. Peer-nominated paper plate awards are a fun team-building activity that employees can plan for an afternoon of laughs.
Team celebrations or outings
Catered lunches or an evening at a local brewery are great group incentives for a job well done. They can even be announced on a whim during an exceptionally tough week, when you need all hands on deck for the company.
Social media spotlight
Companies with a social media following can reserve special posts for employee recognition. Public praise is much like giving someone a great review–employees can feel immense pride in having their wins shouted from the rooftops.
Value-packed incentives to motivate employees
Whether the goal is loyalty or higher performance, the following incentives have irresistible benefits. They can help support work-life balance, professional development, financial standing, wellness, and more.
Job flexibility
Compressed work weeks and hybrid or remote schedules are two highly incentivizing perks employees are after. Flexibility can enhance performance and productivity, as well as job satisfaction.
Cash bonuses and gift cards
Cold, hard cash is still a draw for many, particularly in sales and commission-based professions. Those who want to personalize cash incentives may opt for gift cards relevant to the employee’s interests.
Profit-sharing
While no longer as common an offering, profit sharing has the unique benefit of securing company loyalty and personal investment in its success. It may still be part of a practical employee incentive program for a small business.
Tuition reimbursement
Companies can incentivize employees to improve their skills and remain in their position by paying part or all of their continuing education. Tuition reimbursement is an attractive choice for businesses who want to increase retention rates and in-house promotions.
Professional development opportunities
Mentorships, training courses, certifications, and other chances to succeed in their industry are part of many employee incentive programs. A key attraction to this perk is the ability to grow an employee’s professional network as they move up.
Wellness programs
Wellness programs are more flexible in structure. Employees can be incentivized with free healthy food, gym membership reimbursements, and other perks along the wellness journey. The rewards can be anything from gift cards to job role flexibility.
BONUS: FREE rewards and incentives for employees
If you want to tease a little extra motivation out of the team, but accounting says 🙅🏻♀️, run these ideas past them instead:
- Half a day off!
- Live or virtual game night
- Chance to lead a team meeting
- Pick your project–employee gets a chance to customize their workload
- Team spends one day volunteering for an important cause
- A 30-minute meeting with leadership, employee’s choice of topic
Check out more of HeyTaco’s meaningful, custom incentives at all price points.
Tips for creating a successful employee incentive program
Ready to not just hire, but inspire teams to do great? To cap things off, here are a few tips for using employee incentives.
Identify company objectives
What metrics are you hoping to improve–employee wellbeing and satisfaction? Retention and productivity? Or do you just need a big performance push this quarter? Set a clear, measurable goal for the incentive program.
Follow through on promises
Once an incentive and any related rewards have been offered, see the program through to completion. It’s nearly impossible to change the terms or withhold rewards mid-program without taking a pretty substantial engagement hit.
Communicate program requirements clearly and thoroughly
Every eligible employee should be aware of the program and how to participate. Provide updates, if necessary. Ensure the criteria for participation are clearly stated and that participation is fair and equitable.
Ensure incentives are relevant and meaningful
The number one mistake companies make with employee incentive programs is assuming what would incentivize them instead of asking. Incentives and rewards should have instant appeal. For more help and ideas, check out HeyTaco’s customizable rewards for individuals and teams.
