Do Gift Cards Make Good Employee Incentives?
Main image courtesy of Imperial Vending.
Your employees work hard everyday, so as a small business owner, you want to make sure they feel appreciated and that they know they’re work really contributes to the success of the organization. It’s all too easy to just assume employees “know” that they’re employer is thankful they’re a part of the company, but oftentimes this is not the case. A savvy business owner knows that employees want to be recognized for their hard work and commitment, which in turn contributes to them feeling appreciated, boosts morale, and increases their engagement with their work. After all, when your employees want to show up for work, you know you have less of a chance of disengagement and turnover—which is what no employer wants.
One of the best ways to help employees feel appreciated by their employer is with small “thank you” gifts like gift cards. Gift cards are easy to use, and there are so many options to choose from that your employees are sure to love. You don’t have to break the bank either when it comes to an amount, as even a little recognition goes a long way. So how do gift cards make good employee incentives? Glad you asked, because we’re covering:
Why gift cards are at the top of the list when it comes to employee incentives
Gift cards that are a hit with employees
Tips to keep in mind when you’re giving gift cards
Are gift cards good employee incentives?
The benefits of using gift cards as employee incentives
Looking to increase productivity and morale? Consider using gift cards for employee incentives. Image courtesy of HR Lineup.
The quick answer to this question is yes, gift cards make great employee incentives. There aren’t a lot of other options that appeal to so many people of all ages and backgrounds quite like gift cards. Not to mention it gives the recipient the chance to pick out exactly what they want to redeem it on. Most of the time gift cards do not need to be for a very large amount, you just need to make sure they are tailored to what the employee would actually want to receive.
So whether that’s a $5 gift card to Starbucks during PSL season, a Barnes & Noble gift card for the employee who always has a book, or a Visa gift card that can be used anywhere, it’s essential you ensure that the gift card is something they can genuinely use. There are lots of circumstances that could potentially call for gift cards as employee incentives including:
Work anniversaries
Individual/team achievements
Points-based systems (such as reaching health goals or milestones)
Perfect attendance
Putting in extra time
You could use gift cards to reward employees for any of these situations—leading to an increase in morale and a reduction in turnover. There are a lot of benefits to using gift cards as employee incentives but some of the major ones are:
Increase employee morale and engagement. Employers who want to hold onto top employees need to seriously consider their morale and find ways to engage with them. No one wants to work in a place where you feel like a number, and not a person. Gift cards are some of the best ways to show employees that you really appreciate all the hard work they put in day after day.
Employers don’t need to wait until there is a big project, or a long term goal was reached (although those are great times to reward employees with gift cards) but using seasonal holidays or “just because” as the reason for gift cards is something that’s even more meaningful. It shows that you do pay attention to what they’re doing daily. Using gift cards for autumn, the winter holidays, and even in the summer time shows that you appreciate their work all year long, and not just on certain days.
Reduce potential turnover. Preventing employee turnover is one of the major tasks of employers, because it can cost businesses around $700-$1,200 to train a new employee from the bottom up. You want to avoid that if you can, and hold onto the employees that are trained and can handle their tasks with minimal supervision. Showing your appreciation for jobs well done, goals reached, and recognizing work anniversaries can go a long way towards making employees feel like they’re appreciated and that they are making a difference by putting in their best work.
Cost-effective way to recognize employees. Another one of the major benefits of giving gift cards to show employee appreciation is that you don’t have to spend a large amount to really make a difference. Employees are not expecting you to give them $100 gift cards, and even $5, $10, $25 gift cards can make a world of difference. And these amounts are very affordable for employers.
Having a gift card to a local coffee shop or lunch establishment for one of these amounts gives employees a chance to treat themselves to something, and that can really mean a lot.
Receiving gift cards for reaching goals and putting in hard work is a great way to show your appreciation for your employees and boost morale. Image courtesy of Picnic.
Contribute to a positive work environment. When employees work in an environment where they regularly are recognized and rewarded for their performance creates a fun, positive work environment. No one wants to work in a toxic workplace, and positive, welcoming workplaces are much more likely to hold onto good employees because they feel like they belong to a community that supports them and recognizes their efforts.
But why gift cards?
There are a lot of gifts businesses can give to employees to show their appreciation, but none of them seem to be as universally accepted quite like gift cards. Everyone can use a gift card at some point, but it’s still important that you don’t just hand out random gift cards to people for places they may never frequent. There are a few reasons why gift cards will always make your employees smile.
Gift cards are incredibly flexible, and they allow the recipient to redeem them when they’re ready. Most gift cards do not expire, which means they don’t have to rush to use them, and instead can choose to use it when the time is right for them.
When you put your business logo or name on the gift card, it’s a memorable way for employees to associate it with their employer. Whenever they go to redeem it, they’ll be reminded how their employer values their contributions and wants them to get themselves a little something.
When you go with bulk ordering with PerfectGift, it turns out to be one of the easiest ways to show your appreciation to all of your employees. Gift cards are also a budget-friendly way to incentivize employees to keep showing up and giving their best for the company.
Gift card options that are always popular with employees
Consider these gift card options for your next employee incentive!
Don’t just hand out any old gift card, make sure you customize it with your company’s logo and a message! Image courtesy of PerfectGift.
On the top of our list of gift cards employees really appreciate is a Visa gift card. When you get them from PerfectGift, you get to include your business logo or create a customized design that’s all yours. It’s incredibly easy to go from idea, to having the gift cards in your hand to disperse to your hard working employees.
Choose the dollar amount you want for your cards
Then upload your logo or design to our system. You’ll have a chance to see exactly what it looks like before it’s sent to production.
Add a personalized message for your employees. Some popular options include:
Thanks for your hard work
You’re the best
Appreciate all that you do
Congrats!
With PerfectGift, your design is then sent to our in-house production facility so that it can ship out the same day! (When orders are placed Mon-Sat before 4pm)
You can choose to send it in one box or have them wrapped individually
For the ultimate convenience, you can also send digital Visa gift cards in addition to physical ones!
The funds on the gift card will never expire
Dunkin’
Another top-notch gift card to give to employees is a Dunkin’ card. Even a $5 gift card to this popular breakfast chain can go a long way. Employees will love stopping to get an early morning coffee or latte on the way to work, and think about how much their employer appreciates them when they pull out their gift card to make a purchase. In addition to all their favorite coffee drinks, Dunkin’ offers customers some of the best breakfast sandwiches and wraps, not to mention their world famous doughnuts and doughnut holes. Increase the gift card amount by just a few bucks, and they may even get two uses out of it! This kind of experience is memorable and greatly appreciated by employees who may just need a little pick me up in the morning or afternoon.
Chipotle
One of the best lunch spots around is Chipotle, and you’ll find locations all over the place. People love that they can customize their orders exactly to their liking, and when you’re using all the freshest ingredients, it’s hard to find someone who wouldn’t love to receive this gift card. If your employees don’t have time to sit and eat in the store, they can always order ahead on the Chipotle app and have it ready and waiting for them to pick it up in store. A Chipotle gift card is another great option to show employee appreciation.
Considerations for giving gift cards as employee incentives
Keep these tips in mind when you’re using gift cards as employee incentives
When you’re using gift cards as employee incentives, it doesn’t hurt to keep a few things in mind so everyone is on the same page.
Clearly define to all the staff why employees are receiving gift cards, if it’s not for all employees, that they are for goals reached or work anniversaries
Make sure you have a budget and stick to it
All employee gift card incentives should be transparent so there is no confusion or hurt feelings
Choose to have a special time dedicated to handing out gift cards, so the whole team knows who is getting recognized and why
Boost employee morale and engagement with gift cards!
Gift cards are one of the most sought-after gifts out there, because they allow the recipient to get exactly what they want, and they can choose when they redeem it. Using them for employee incentives makes sense for any small business owner, especially when there are personalized bulk options when you order through PerfectGift!
