Remote workers are every bit as valuable as those in the office—sometimes even more so, especially for online businesses or brands with global retail footprints. Since COVID-19, many companies have embraced flexible schedules or built fully remote teams to keep things running smoothly, no matter where their people are based.

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Managing remote workers

Just like in-office staff, remote workers thrive when they feel seen, supported, and appreciated. Whether they’re working from home, a café, or halfway across the globe, recognition still matters—and can go a long way in boosting morale and engagement.

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Occasions like EOFY are a great opportunity to show your appreciation in fun and meaningful ways. Not sure where to start? We’ve pulled together 18 creative ideas to help you reward your remote workers and keep them feeling connected, motivated, and valued—no matter where they are.

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Gift ideas for remote workers​

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1. Double down on flexibility for your remote team

If you want to reward your remote workers, why not double down on one of the perks of their unique positions: schedule flexibility?In short, you can offer remote workers working hours flexibility and reward them for their time and attention. Many remote employees opt into these positions specifically so they can parent their kids, work a second job, or work for their favourite company despite being in a different time zone.

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Scheduled flexibility is certainly something you can provide as a business owner or scheduling manager. For example, limit the restrictions on how many hours a worker has to be "in-office" each week or allow remote workers the option to hop on when it works for their time zone (that can be especially helpful if the time zone differences are significant).

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You can also implement a “work from anywhere” policy (like we have at Prezzee). For example, if an employee wants to travel to another country, encourage them to do so! Team members can work for a certain amount of time from different time zones and really enjoy the possibilities of remote work. Doubling down on flexibility is one of the best gifts for remote workers as it allows them to plan their work to fit their family and lifestyle.  

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2. Try remote team building activities

But you can also reward remote workers by holding team-building games and events. Here are just a few ideas:

• Hold a weekly game night over Zoom. That’ll bring everyone together and could help your remote employees feel more connected to the other office workers, especially if they don’t see them all that often. Games like Pictionary or a Trivia Night work remotely, but you can also send out a gaming-focused digital gift card and meet up with your virtual team and conquer your favourite games together.
• Schedule a monthly get-together. This idea only works if your remote workers are still relatively close to your other employees, but it still brings the team together. For remote teams, send out a food delivery eGift card and then dine together over a video call. This gives your coworkers a chance to connect and socialise.

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These remote team building activities are a way to strengthen the bond between remote workers and office workers . A focus on employee morale lets everyone know the leadership team cares about their well-being as individuals, not employees.  

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3. Send gift cards to remote workers

Gift cards are popular corporate gifts for remote workers for several reasons. They’re easy to buy, easy to send, and fairly surefire gifts that won’t be rejected. After all, who can say no to a gift card for one of their favourite brands?

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But plastic gift cards have a few problems, too. For one, they contribute to environmental pollution. Even 50 gift cards can make a major impact in terms of whether your business is really eco-friendly (a key concern if your enterprise wants to minimise its carbon footprint). For another, physical gift cards need to be carefully sent to each recipient, which can be tricky if you have remote workers scattered around the country or the globe.

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eGift cards are much easier and more convenient, and they don’t come with the same environmental impact downside. With gift cards from Prezzee business you can:

• Send a digital gift to remote workers, anytime, and any place in a matter of minutes.
• Send gifts to your remote employees without contributing to environmental pollution.
• Customise the gift cards with branded imagery, like your logo, to help complete the corporate gift.
• Personalise each gift card with a prerecorded video or text message. That way, each employee feels like you sent them a specific, personalised gift, not just the same gift everyone else received.

Even better, Prezzee’s Smart eGift cards can easily be swapped for the remote worker’s favourite brand or brands, so they can go shopping to their heart’s content.eGift cards are a phenomenal way to show your workers that you care no matter where they happen to get the job done.  

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4. Send remote workers company swag as an initiation gift

Remote workers should feel excited to join your company when they're first starting out. Unfortunately, much of the first-day energy can be lost in translation if they clock in from a remote desk and don't get to meet everyone in the office or take an official tour of the corporate building.

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But you can reward those remote workers directly by sending them some company swag as an onboarding gift. Truly, they already deserve a reward for making it through the interview and hiring process! Successful onboardings result in successful employees; a solid onboarding program lays the groundwork for employee retention.

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Company swag works as an initiation gift because it brings your remote workers into the fold and may help make them feel like they're part of the team "for real." Company t-shirts will make them feel like part of the team, especially if everyone on group calls is matching! Other much-loved items that are evergreen trendy include branded dad hats, sweatshirts, sweatpants, or the classic insulated drink tumbler.  

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5. Write endorsements or recommendations

Lastly, you can and should reward remote employees who are planning to leave your company for one reason or another. If they’ve done a fantastic job at your brand for months or years, there’s no reason not to help them get their foot in the door at the next job.

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To that end, consider rewarding those employees with endorsements or recommendations. Write a recommendation letter for young remote employees who are looking to get into graduate school. Or write a job recommendation letter or LinkedIn recommendation for any other remote worker looking to break into a competitive industry or work for a company known to have a very competitive hiring process

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6. Shout out remote workers on social media and video conferences

Productive remote workers deserve to be rewarded for their extra efforts. That’s why you should shout out those employees on social media and any collaborative video conferences.In-office employees get tons of attention and recognition every day. Your remote employees can fly under the radar. Make sure this doesn’t happen by specifically shouting them out on your Facebook business page or LinkedIn. Ask before doing this — some employees adore public recognition, while others might shy away from it, preferring to fly under the radar.  

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7. Acknowledge remote workers’ birthdays and anniversaries

Reward your remote workers by acknowledging their important dates, like birthdays and anniversaries. Something as simple as a personal email written from you to them and a gift card can work as a great gift for remote workers​ to celebrate their milestones. With Prezzee business you can plan your gifts in advance by scheduling them for any date, like a birthday or milestone. Sit back and relax knowing it’s all taken care of.

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Alternatively, you can announce each employee’s birthday or milestone work anniversary as it comes up on a company message board or website. Again, this could be an excellent way to shout out remote workers and ensure they feel connected.  

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8. Let remote workers take a half day (When appropriate)

Remote workers are already not beholden to some of the same limitations as in-person employees. So don’t hesitate to reward high-performing employees by letting them take a half-day here and there or when it’s appropriate.

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Say that one of your remote workers did a stellar job wrapping up a project ahead of schedule, and they don't have anything else on the docket. Reward them by letting them log off early or take a half-day (provided they don't have anything else that demands their attention).

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9. Give out some extra days off

Many employees love extra time off, as it enables them to pursue their hobbies or spend more time with friends and family members outside of work. A healthy work-life balance is vital for us all.

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If you’re looking to boost engagement and excitement, offering extra holiday days as prizes could do the trick! For example, reward the winner of the monthly Employee of the Month or a team-wide remote Kahoot quiz. A bonus day off could be just the incentive needed to get everyone involved.  

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10. Invest in professional development

Don't forget to invest in remote worker development regularly. Consider meeting up with rockstar employees who are looking for promotions. Or provide time and resources for remote workers to attend development seminars and conferences, even if they have to travel to do so.

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11. Prioritise peer-to-peer recognition

Peer-to-peer recognition essentially involves giving your workers a chance to recognise and congratulate each other while building each other up for long-term collaboration and team spirit. That's pretty easy to facilitate as a business owner or manager if you use peer-to-peer recognition software or platforms.

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Such software solutions let your employees:

• Send kudos or congratulations to each other when they do good work.
• Send each other special digital gifts.
• Recommend each other for projects, which is an especially helpful feature if you have a large organization with many different departments in many different areas.

Peer-to-peer recognition is a reward for your remote employees, make no mistake. It can make them feel like they are a part of the office like never before, plus it may help to ensure that your entire global team members feel like part of a unified team.

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12. Gift gym membership subscriptions

Gym subscriptions can be handy gifts for remote workers and in-office employees alike. When you gift gym subscriptions to remote workers, double-check that they have a gym for that brand in their local area.

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A gym subscription could be the perfect jumpstart to an office-wide wellness program or initiative. Consider pairing this with company swag like labeled towels or water bottles.

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Or, simply cross off that research from your to-do list and send a Gift card to top fitness retailers so everyone can boost their home gym or buy high-quality workout apparel.

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13. Send Thank-You Notes

Nothing says personal attention and appreciation like receiving a note from your boss. You can show appreciation by sending out a personal Slack or Teams message (or making a post in a company-wide Slack channel).

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Such a gesture could be especially impactful and important if you manage or oversee hundreds of employees. The remote worker who receives a thank you note might be seriously touched by the extra time you took to reward them for their effort. If you’re sending a digital gift card with your praise, you can even use Prezzee to include a custom note or video.  

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14. Gift work from home equipment

Remote workers can only do the great jobs they manage every day with the right equipment, ranging from webcams to keyboards to office chairs. Therefore, bosses and managers can reward remote employees with work-from-home equipment to upgrade their home offices.

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Pay attention to whether your remote workers complain about webcam quality or office chair comfort the next time you all communicate over a video conferencing call. Consider rewarding those remote workers with upgrades or funds to spend at the nearest Office Depot (or sending a digital gift card to top home goods suppliers.  

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15. Pay for software subscriptions

Similarly, remote workers often need to subscribe to software programs to get the job done, like Microsoft Office or video conferencing software. Foot the bill for these to reward your remote employees and prevent them from having to pay extra costs that your in-house employees get to avoid by default. Video conferencing helps serve all work types — remote, hybrid, and in-person.  

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16. Send balloons or surprise presents

There’s nothing wrong with the old-fashioned staple of surprise balloons or presents delivered straight to each remote worker’s door. Just be sure to send these out en masse or as a group instead of singling out any individual, lest the gift gives the wrong impression.

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17. Forward customer praise for their work

From time to time, customers might send you direct praise for a single remote worker. This could be anyone from a customer service agent who helped them with a big problem or a remote salesperson who connected them to the ideal product for their needs.

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In these cases, why not let those remote employees know about the positive impact they had on that customer interaction? Not only may this boost their morale, but it will also be a lovely way to remind them that you see them as individuals, not moneymakers.

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18.Share the company profits

Has your company done phenomenally well over the last business quarter or year? Then it’s only fair you share that prosperity with the people who made it happen: your workers.

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Remote employees should also be included in any extra company profits you divvy out, such as stock options, holiday rewards/bonuses, and so on.

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Sharing company profits serves the dual purpose of rewarding remote employees and motivating them to do an even better job next year. After all, if they know that ensuring the company performs well leads to a better bottom line for their wallets, they’ll be highly motivated to make more sales or drive better customer interactions in the next business cycle and beyond.

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Gifts for remote workers matter

At the end of the day, thoughtful gestures—big or small—can make a huge difference to remote employees. A well-timed gift or token of appreciation helps reinforce that their hard work and commitment aren’t going unnoticed, even from afar.

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Whether it’s for a birthday, work anniversary, or just because they’ve been doing an amazing job, a gift card is a simple yet meaningful way to say thank you. With over 360 options to choose from, Prezzee’s digital gift cards make it easy to send something personal, instant, and rewarding—no matter where your team’s logging in from. Explore our business solutions here!

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FAQ about gifts for remote workers

How do you buy lunch for remote employees?

The easiest way to treat remote employees to lunch is with a digital gift card. Services like Prezzee let you send food delivery gift cards instantly, so your team can order from their favourite local spots—whether it’s through Uber Eats, DoorDash, or a nearby café that accepts gift cards.

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How do you engage remote employees?

Engaging remote employees starts with good communication and recognition. Regular check-ins, virtual team-building activities, and thoughtful rewards (like digital gift cards or personalised messages) help keep them connected and motivated. Giving them a say in team decisions and celebrating wins also builds stronger engagement over time.

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What are good gift ideas for remote workers?

Digital gift cards are a top choice—they’re flexible, instant, and can be tailored to each person’s interests. You could also consider experience-based gifts, like online classes, subscriptions, or food delivery services to brighten their work-from-home routine.

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How do you celebrate milestones for remote workers?

Celebrate birthdays, work anniversaries, or project wins with a virtual team shout-out, a digital card, and a thoughtful gift. Sending an eGift card through Prezzee makes it easy to mark the occasion—no shipping required.

There’s something about the final stretch of the financial year that makes time feel like it’s speeding up — and slowing down — all at once.

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Your team’s juggling targets, reports, wrap-ups, and probably a few too many tabs open. Team motivation might be dipping, focus might be scattered, and energy? It’s running on fumes.

But here’s the upside: this is also one of the most powerful times to rally your team. With clear goals, thoughtful recognition, and a few well-timed morale boosts, you can turn EOFY pressure into momentum.

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Whether you’re leading a sales team chasing ambitious KPIs or managing a crew just trying to cross the finish line, this guide is here to help. We’ll walk through simple, practical ways to re-energise your people — no intense budget required. From goal-setting to gratitude, and quotes to quick wins, it’s all here.

Let’s turn the final quarter push into something worth celebrating.

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2. Understanding what drives team motivation

Before you can boost motivation, you need to understand what actually drives it.

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At its core, team motivation comes from two sources: intrinsic (internal) and extrinsic (external). Intrinsic motivation is when people feel genuinely engaged in the work — because it’s meaningful, interesting, or personally rewarding. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is all about external rewards: targets, bonuses, praise, or that Friday afternoon wrap-up drink.

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Both matter. And during crunch periods like EOFY, external motivators often take the lead. The trick is knowing how to use them without burning your team out.

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So — how do you motivate a team when the pressure’s on?

Start by tapping into three things that fire up team motivation across the board:

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1. Progress:

People feel more energised when they can see that they’re moving forward. Break big goals into smaller milestones and track the wins.

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2. Purpose:

Don’t just focus on the “what” — remind your team of the “why.” What does hitting this goal mean for your customers, their careers, or the wider business?

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3. Appreciation:

It’s simple, but powerful. A “thank you,” a shoutout, or a small Prezzee gift can go a long way in keeping spirits high.It also helps to recognise that motivation isn’t static — especially at this time of year. Energy naturally ebbs and flows. Some people are powering through to hit their targets. Others are coasting on autopilot. Your job as a leader isn’t to push harder — it’s to help unlock what makes each person tick.The better you understand how to motivate a team on an individual level, the easier it becomes to lift the whole group.

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3. How to motivate a team under pressure

When the pressure’s on, team motivation can go one of two ways. It either fuels momentum — or it grinds people down.If your team is hitting the mid-year wall, it doesn’t mean they’ve checked out. More often, it means they’re overwhelmed, overextended, or just unsure how they’re tracking. That’s where great leadership makes all the difference.So, how do you motivate a team when time is short and the stakes are high?

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Break big goals into smaller wins

That looming target on the dashboard might feel intimidating. But breaking it into smaller milestones makes progress feel real and achievable. Celebrate the mini wins — they create momentum, and momentum is motivating.

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Make progress visible

Use leaderboards, dashboards, or even a shared team Slack thread to track how things are going. The more your team can *see* that they’re making headway, the more likely they are to keep pushing.

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Dial up the purpose

EOFY can feel transactional — numbers, spreadsheets, deadlines. But behind every target is a reason. Maybe it’s about helping customers. Maybe it’s securing funding for new hires. Remind your team what success actually unlocks.

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Build recognition into your rhythm

When the pressure’s on, appreciation often falls off the list. Flip that. This is when recognition matters most. A quick thank you, a shoutout in your team chat, or a Prezzee gift card dropped into someone’s inbox can be the thing that turns their day around.

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Set the tone from the top

Your team will take their cues from you. If you’re calm, clear, and confident, they’ll mirror it. If you’re panicked or disconnected, they’ll feel it. Model the mindset you want to see — and stay human. EOFY is a test of focus, sure. But it’s also a chance to build trust, rally your team, and finish strong together. Because team motivation doesn’t come from pressure alone — it comes from feeling supported in the middle of it.

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4. How to motivate a sales team (even without money)

Sales teams often carry the biggest targets and the most visible KPIs — especially as EOFY looms. But what happens when budgets are tight, bonuses are limited, or your people just need more than a commission carrot?Turns out, motivation doesn’t have to cost a thing. You can still inspire, energise, and reward performance in ways that feel meaningful — even without throwing money at it.Here’s how to motivate a sales team when incentives are limited, but expectations are high.

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Shine a light on effort, not just outcomes

Salespeople are used to being measured on results. But not every call, pitch, or follow-up leads to a close — and effort deserves recognition too. Celebrate consistency, smart risk-taking, and attitude. Show your team that you’re watching *how* they show up, not just what they close.

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Tell customer stories

Reconnect your team with the real-world impact of their work. Share feedback from happy clients, success stories, or even “wins we almost got.” Sales can feel transactional — reminding your team of the human side boosts morale and meaning.

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Run short, fun team challenges

Gamify the grind. Try low-stakes challenges like “most follow-ups in a day,” “creative outreach of the week,” or “biggest bounce-back from a rejection.”

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Make wins visible and shareable

Set up a #wins channel, start team meetings with good news, or send a “leaderboard snapshot” on Friday afternoons. When people see momentum building, they want in.

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Let them take the wheel

Empower your team to lead something — a training session, a roleplay, a pitch brainstorm. It builds ownership, confidence, and connection across the crew.

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Say thank you — often

Sales can be a rollercoaster. And sometimes, what keeps someone in the game isn’t a commission — it’s knowing their effort is valued. Whether it’s a callout in a meeting, a personalised note, or a small surprise reward, gratitude goes a long way. Because at the end of the day, team motivation doesn’t come from money alone. It comes from feeling seen, supported, and fired up to keep going.

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5. Sales team motivational quotes

Sometimes it’s a powerful quote that lands. Other times, it’s a simple, straight-up line from a teammate or team lead that hits the right nerve. Here’s a mix of both — ready to share, repeat, or remix in your next team meeting.

• ‍“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” – Maya Angelou
  Great for bouncing back after a lost deal. Resilience is everything in sales.
• ‍“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier
  Perfect for steady grinders. Every follow-up counts.
• ‍“Don’t wait for the stars to align — reach up and rearrange them how you want.” – Pharrell Williams
  Creative, energetic — good for snapping a team out of autopilot.
• ‍“You are your best thing.” – Toni Morrison
  For those quiet achievers who need a confidence boost. ‍
• “The biggest risk is not taking any risk.” – Scott Farquhar
  A local legend’s reminder that bold moves pay off.
• ‍“Have a crack. What’s the worst that can happen?” – Every Aussie manager, ever
  Simple. Relatable. Gets a laugh — and maybe a closed deal.

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Everyday Phrases That Actually Work

And sometimes, you just need something simple and tried-and-true to get the team where they need to be. Here are a few classics that have helped reset the vibe, refocus attention, or lift morale — fast:

• “That one didn’t land — and that’s okay. What’s next?”
  For bouncing back after a rough call or missed target.
• “We’re not chasing perfection, we’re chasing progress.”
  When the team’s stuck overthinking or second-guessing.
• “You’ve done the work. Trust it.”
  A confidence boost when nerves or doubt creep in.
• “Let’s get scrappy and go again.”
  Helps to keep the energy light when it’s time to reboot.
• “One good call. That’s all it takes today.”
  A motivating nudge when someone’s struggling to start.
• “We’re closer than we think.”
  Perfect for the home stretch. Helps reframe and refocus.

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6. Build a culture that fuels performance

End-of-financial-year pressure might be seasonal — but team motivation shouldn’t be.

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The most effective leaders know that motivating a team isn’t about a last-minute sprint. It’s about building a culture where people feel seen, supported, and energised year-round. That kind of environment doesn’t just help you hit EOFY targets — it helps your team thrive long after the reporting dust settles.

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So whether you’re managing a sales team, a hybrid crew, or a bunch of high-performers running on low fuel, the same principles apply. Break the work down. Make progress visible. Celebrate small wins often. And most importantly — make people feel appreciated.

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When people feel valued, they bring their best. So as EOFY approaches, don’t just focus on what your team needs to do — focus on what they need to feel.

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That’s how you build motivation that lasts.

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FAQs: Motivating Teams at EOFY

EOFY can put a lot of pressure on teams — but it’s also a huge opportunity to build momentum, connection, and pride. Here are some quick answers to common questions about keeping teams motivated when it matters most.

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How do you motivate a team under pressure?

Start by simplifying the message. Pressure can make things feel overwhelming, so your job is to create clarity. Break big goals into smaller wins, communicate frequently, and keep the energy supportive, not frantic. Motivation grows when people know what to do next — and feel confident doing it.

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What’s the best way to motivate a sales team without bonuses?

Recognition, ownership, and connection are your secret weapons. Public shoutouts, team-driven contests, or even asking a rep to lead a session builds pride and momentum. Prezzee gift cards also help — they’re flexible, personal, and fast. Most importantly, show your team that their effort isn’t going unnoticed just because money’s tight.

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What if my team just seems burned out?

Acknowledge it openly — don’t pretend everything’s fine. Check in one-on-one to understand what’s draining them. Then act: reprioritise, cut unnecessary tasks, and give permission to pause. Even small shifts, like letting the team finish early on Friday, can make a big difference. When people feel human at work, they recover faster.

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How often should I recognise team efforts?

More than you think. Especially at EOFY, when the finish line is close but the workload is heavy, frequent recognition keeps motivation alive. Mix it up — a Slack shoutout, a handwritten note, or a quick surprise Prezzee can all show your team you see them. The goal: make appreciation part of the rhythm.

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How do I keep motivation high after EOFY ends?

Use EOFY as a springboard, not a finish line. Host a team debrief to celebrate wins, reflect on what worked, and reset for the new quarter. Involve your team in planning what comes next — when people help shape the vision, they’re more invested in the outcome.

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How does team motivation impact results?

Motivated teams don’t just work harder — they work smarter. They collaborate more, bounce back quicker, and are more likely to go the extra step. Especially during EOFY, when pressure is high, team motivation is often the difference between surviving the sprint… and finishing strong.

Look around your workplace. Chances are, the new faces joining your team aren’t just young — they’re Gen Z. And they’re not easing their way in. They’re rewriting the rules.

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Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z is the first generation to grow up entirely online. They’re bold, values-driven, and not afraid to challenge the way things have always been done. By 2025, they’ll make up over a quarter of Australia’s workforce — and that number is only going up.

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Whether you’re onboarding interns or leading a multigenerational crew, one thing’s clear: understanding Gen Z in the workplace isn’t optional. It’s the key to building stronger, more engaged teams today — and into the future.

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2.Who Is Gen Z? Understanding the generation

Gen Z has grown up in a very different world. They’ve never known life without the internet. They’ve come of age during global crises, political polarisation, and rapid technological change. Many entered the workforce during a global pandemic — a time of massive disruption and uncertainty.

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All of this has shaped their values, expectations, and approach to work. They’re independent, socially conscious, and highly adaptive. They want their work to feel meaningful, their voices to be heard, and their wellbeing to be supported.

Here’s what sets them apart:

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Tech-native from day one

Gen Z can troubleshoot, multitask, and find information fast — but they also expect tech to just work.

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Purpose-driven

They care deeply about the social and environmental impact of their employer. And they want to know that their work is meaningful.

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Diversity-first

Inclusion isn’t a bonus — it’s a baseline. They expect workplaces to walk the talk on equity and representation.

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Feedback-focused

They’ve grown up with instant feedback loops (likes, comments, followers), and they want the same in their careers.

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Mental health aware

Gen Z talks openly about burnout, anxiety, and work-life balance — and they expect their employer to do the same.

They're curious, creative, and deeply values-led. But they can also be misunderstood, especially by leaders used to managing Gen X or Millennials.

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3. Gen Z expectations in the workplace

Gen Z isn’t just looking for a job — they’re looking for alignment. They want to work somewhere that reflects their values, supports their wellbeing, and offers real opportunities to grow. If those boxes aren’t ticked, they won’t hesitate to walk.

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This generation doesn’t separate “work” and “life” the way older generations did. They see their job as part of their identity, and they expect it to feel meaningful, inclusive, and flexible.

So what exactly do they want from the workplace? Here are the big ones — and why meeting them matters for long-term engagement, loyalty, and performance.

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Flexibility, not just location freedom

Yes, they like working remotely. But it’s bigger than that. Gen Z wants flexibility in how they work, when they work, and how their success is measured. It's about trust and autonomy — not just where they sit.

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A sense of purpose

Gen Z employees want to feel connected to the “why” behind their work. Whether it’s contributing to a mission or helping a customer, they want to know that their efforts matter. This doesn’t mean your company has to save the world — just be transparent about your impact and values.

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Support for mental health

It’s not just about offering an EAP. Gen Z in the workplace look for psychologically safe environments where burnout is taken seriously, workloads are manageable, and vulnerability is okay. This includes regular check-ins, empathetic leadership, and modelling work-life balance from the top.

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Inclusive workplace culture

Gen Z expects real inclusion — not just policies, but behaviour. That means using correct pronouns, calling out bias, and actively making space for every voice. Diverse representation in leadership and decision-making is key.

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Rapid feedback and recognition

Waiting six months for a performance review? Not going to cut it. Gen Z wants timely feedback and recognition that feels authentic. Whether it’s a shoutout on Slack or a Prezzee gift card for a job well done, what matters is that it’s seen and felt.

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Career growth and learning

They’re ambitious, and they don’t want to stagnate. Gen Z in the workplace expect clear paths for development, access to learning, and support to grow in their roles. If they can’t see a future with you, they won’t stay.

Meeting these needs helps retain Gen Z talent — and builds a stronger, more future-proof team overall.

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4. Managing a Gen Z team: What works and what doesn’t

Managing Gen Z in the workplace isn’t about throwing out your leadership playbook — it’s about knowing which parts to update. This generation brings a fresh mindset to work: they value collaboration over command, autonomy over micromanagement, and meaning over metrics.

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If you want them to engage, grow, and stick around, you’ll need to adapt your style. That doesn’t mean lowering the bar — it means raising your leadership game

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Here’s what actually works with Gen Z in the workplace, and what’s better left behind.

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What works:

Regular, two-way feedback

Think micro-feedback. Small comments, frequent check-ins, and open convos. Ask things like, “What’s working for you this week?” or “What support would help right now?” Make feedback a dialogue, not a download.

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Clear and human communication

Gen Z doesn’t do corporate jargon. Be direct, transparent, and empathetic. Let them know what’s going on, even when things are tough.

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Personalised development plans

Forget cookie-cutter career paths. Help Gen Z build a development journey that feels meaningful to them. Let them explore stretch projects, mentoring, or shadowing — and revisit it regularly.

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Celebrating progress, not just outcomes

Wins aren’t always about finishing the project. Sometimes, just surviving a tricky week is worth recognising. A Prezzee gift card, a virtual kudos wall, or a team lunch can all keep morale high.

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What doesn’t:

Micromanagement

This is the fastest way to lose their trust. Set clear expectations, give them room to work, and check in supportively (not intrusively).

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Clunky systems and outdated tech

If your internal tools feel like they’re from 2009, Gen Z will be frustrated fast. Invest in platforms that support collaboration, not roadblocks.

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Rigid hierarchies and red tape

Gen Z in the workplace prefer flat-ish structures where ideas matter more than titles. Don’t shut them down with “we’ve always done it this way.” Invite fresh thinking.

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5. Motivating Gen Z employees

Motivating Gen Z takes more than a pizza party or a pat on the back. This generation is driven by meaning, recognition, and the chance to make a real impact — not just clock in and zone out.

They want to know that what they’re doing matters, that their ideas are valued, and that they’re growing as they go. When you tap into those needs and give them space to thrive, they’ll bring energy, creativity, and fresh thinking to the table.

Here’s how to motivate them in ways that actually land:

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Recognition that’s meaningful

Tailor your praise. Some may love public recognition. Others prefer a private message or thoughtful reward. Show appreciation with personalised, instant digital gifts that allows them to choose something that actually excited them

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Tie tasks to a bigger impact

Help them see how their work connects to customer outcomes, business goals, or community benefit. Even admin tasks feel better with context.

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Let them lead something

Even junior team members thrive when given ownership. Whether it’s a campaign, a project, or a new system, trust them to figure it out — and support them as they go.

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Build in creativity and experimentation

Have a “new ideas” channel. Let them pitch improvements. Run mini innovation sprints. Gen Z thrives in spaces where they can contribute and co-create.

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Offer autonomy with accountability

They don’t need to be babysat — but they do need clarity. Set outcomes, agree on timelines, and let them own the process.

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6. Building a Gen Z-friendly team culture

Culture is everything — and Gen Z knows it.

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For Gen Z, culture isn’t just about perks or posters — it’s about how a workplace feels day to day. It’s whether people feel safe to speak up. Whether leadership walks the talk. Whether inclusion is embedded, not just advertised.

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This generation is quick to sense inauthenticity, and even quicker to disengage when the vibe is off. So if you want to attract and keep Gen Z talent, it’s not just about what you offer — it’s about what you model, celebrate, and reward.

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The good news? A culture that works for Gen Z tends to lift the whole team. Here’s how to shape one they’ll want to be part of:

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Create psychological safety

Gen Z thrives in environments where it’s safe to speak up, ask questions, and admit mistakes without fear of judgement. That kind of culture doesn’t happen by accident — it comes from leaders who model vulnerability, encourage curiosity, and respond to missteps with support, not shame. When people feel safe to be real, they do their best work.

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Foster connection and belonging

Culture is built in the small stuff — weekly rituals, casual conversations, shared wins. Gen Z values connection, but they won’t force it. That’s where leaders can create space for it to happen organically. Think Friday “shoutouts,” team Slack threads for non-work chat, or monthly lunches. When people feel like they belong, they stick around.

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Use tech that supports hybrid work

Whether your team is fully remote or a mix of in-office and online, seamless collaboration is non-negotiable. Gen Z expects tech to be fast, intuitive, and flexible — not clunky or outdated. Tools like Notion, Trello, Slack, or Miro make it easy to stay connected, brainstorm, and build momentum no matter where people are logging in from.

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Embed your values in real ways

Gen Z is watching for consistency. If your company says it cares about sustainability or social impact, they’ll expect to see that reflected in how you operate. Let teams volunteer, choose causes to support, or donate rewards (like Prezzee gift cards) to charities they believe in. Values aren't just for your ‘About Us’ page — they should live in your everyday decisions.

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7. Creating a better workplace for everyone

Managing Gen Z well isn’t a side project. It’s a future-proofing move.

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When you create a culture that supports Gen Z’s needs — things like flexibility, feedback, growth, and belonging — you’re not just making one group happy. You’re building a better experience for everyone on the team. These shifts lead to stronger trust, deeper engagement, and a culture where people actually want to stick around.

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And when it comes to appreciation? Prezzee’s gift cards make it easy to show you care in a way that feels instant, personal, and flexible. Because when your people feel seen, valued, and empowered, they don’t just perform — they thrive.

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FAQs: Managing Gen Z in the workplace

Gen Z is bringing fresh expectations and energy into the workplace — and they’re changing the way leadership, culture, and communication look. Here are some quick answers to common questions about managing, motivating, and retaining Gen Z employees.

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What are the differences between Gen Z and Millennials in the workplace?

While both generations value purpose and flexibility, Gen Z tends to be more vocal about their boundaries, mental health needs, and expectations around tech. They’re also faster to move on if they’re not feeling seen or supported.

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How do you discipline Gen Z in the workplace?

With care and clarity. Start with a private, respectful conversation focused on behaviour and outcomes. Use it as a chance to understand what’s going on, not just correct mistakes. Growth is the goal — not punishment.

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How is Gen Z influencing leadership in the workplace?

They’re driving a shift toward more empathetic, collaborative leadership. Managers are being asked to be more transparent, accessible, and emotionally intelligent. And that’s good for everyone.

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How do you retain Gen Z employees?

Focus on continuous learning, regular recognition, flexibility, and wellbeing. Offer tangible development pathways and keep the culture inclusive. Recognition — like a Prezzee gift card — doesn’t hurt either.

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What is most important to Gen Z in the workplace?

A sense of purpose, work-life balance, mental health support, frequent feedback, and inclusive leadership.

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What leadership style does Gen Z prefer?

Coaching over commanding. Listening over instructing. They want leaders who trust them, develop them, and treat them like adults.

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1. EOFY Reviews: How to Boost Employee Engagement in Your Mid-Year Check-Ins

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In the Australian workplace, EOFY (End of Financial Year) reviews are a staple of the performance calendar. Typically held around June or July, these mid-year check-ins offer a structured opportunity to reflect on progress, align on goals, and plan for the remainder of the year. But they can be much more than a box-ticking exercise — they’re a powerful tool for strengthening your team.

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Used thoughtfully, EOFY reviews can help boost employee engagement, reinvigorate motivation, and enhance performance. They offer a timely chance to re-centre teams after a busy first half of the year and re-establish a sense of purpose and direction. Beyond individual performance, they play a role in shaping team culture, retention, and the overall employee experience.

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At Prezzee, we recommend viewing EOFY reviews not as a task to complete, but as a moment to connect. The right approach fosters trust, transparency, and motivation that lasts well beyond the review itself.

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‍2. What is team engagement and why does it matter?

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Team engagement refers to the level of emotional investment and commitment employees feel towards their team and their work. It goes beyond job satisfaction or individual performance — it's about how connected people feel to their team’s purpose, how valued they feel, and how motivated they are to contribute.

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Why is team engagement important?

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An engaged team is a high-performing team. Research consistently shows that when employees feel engaged, they’re more productive, collaborative, and loyal. They’re also more likely to take initiative, support their peers, and stick around longer.

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On the flip side, low engagement can result in higher turnover, missed goals, and a disengaged culture. That’s why boosting team engagement isn’t just a “nice to have” — it’s essential for achieving business outcomes.

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EOFY reviews, when done well, can reignite that engagement by showing employees they’re seen, heard, and supported in their growth.

Add an image of people chatting in an office space 

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3. EOFY reviews can be used to boost team engagement

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EOFY reviews are perfectly timed to assess progress and reignite energy for the second half of the year. They’re a moment of pause — and with the right approach, a launchpad for stronger engagement.

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Mid-year check-ins provide the chance to reinforce what’s working, recalibrate goals, and clear up confusion. But more importantly, they offer a one-on-one forum where team members can feel recognised, motivated, and involved in shaping their own path forward.

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When structured thoughtfully, these reviews foster two-way conversations, invite upward feedback, and make employees feel like valued contributors rather than cogs in a machine. That’s where engagement flourishes.

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Prezzee recommends making these reviews about more than performance — they’re a chance to build trust, connection, and a shared sense of purpose.

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4. Common pitfalls in mid-year reviews

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End of Financial Year (EOFY) reviews and mid year check-ins are one of the most important opportunities team leaders have to improve employee engagement. But too often, these reviews fall into common traps — leaving employees feeling uninspired, unheard, or simply ticking boxes. At Prezzee, we’ve worked with businesses of all sizes and know how critical it is to get this moment right. Done well, a mid year review doesn’t just measure performance — it can recharge motivation, improve team engagement, and support long-term retention.

Here’s what often goes wrong, and what to do instead.

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Vague or generic feedback

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One of the fastest ways to disengage an employee is to offer feedback that’s too broad or non-specific. Phrases like “You’re doing great” or “Keep up the good work” may sound positive, but without detail, they leave employees wondering what they’re actually doing well — or how they could improve.

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Focus on strength-based feedback. Be specific about what the employee has contributed, how it’s added value, and where there’s opportunity to grow. This builds clarity, confidence, and a sense of direction — all key drivers of employee engagement.

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Only focusing on past performance

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It’s easy to spend the entire review talking about what’s already happened. But the most impactful EOFY reviews look forward, not just back. When the conversation is purely retrospective, it misses a chance to explore goals, development opportunities, and future priorities.

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Balance past achievements with forward-looking questions like: What do you want to work on next? What support would help you grow? Where do you want to go in your role this year? These conversations deepen engagement by showing your team that their development matters.

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No meaningful follow-up

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Reviews that end without a clear action plan can leave people feeling deflated — especially if they’ve opened up or asked for support. When feedback isn’t documented or followed up on, employees may feel like their input was ignored, and momentum is lost.

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Set clear next steps during the review and commit to revisiting them. Even a quick follow-up meeting a few weeks later can signal that you're invested in their progress. Consistent follow-through builds trust and accountability, two critical ingredients in building team engagement.

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Lack of personalisation

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A templated review approach might save time, but it risks missing the mark. Every team member brings different strengths, goals, and working styles — and when that’s not reflected in the review process, it can feel impersonal or transactional.

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Prezzee recommends asking questions that align with their career aspirations, acknowledge challenges they’ve faced, and highlight specific contributions. At Prezzee, we believe employee engagement starts with making people feel seen and valued — and that means going beyond one-size-fits-all.

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Overlooking recognition and appreciation

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Recognition isn’t a bonus — It’s essential. If your mid year review doesn’t celebrate wins or acknowledge effort, it misses a powerful moment to boost morale and strengthen connection.

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Prezzee recommends integrating recognition into every review conversation. That could be a verbal thank you, a team-wide shoutout, or a personalised digital gift card to show appreciation. Every little bit counts, especially when they’re meaningful, timely, and tailored.

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Recognition is one of the most effective ways to keep your team motivated and engaged — especially when paired with personalisation and purpose.

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Turn your reviews into motivation

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At Prezzee, we believe EOFY reviews should do more than evaluate — they should energise. By avoiding these common mistakes and reframing your mid year review as an opportunity for connection, recognition, and growth, you’ll unlock deeper employee engagement and drive better results across your team.

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Need help turning appreciation into action? Prezzee’s digital gift cards are a simple, instant way to reward and recognise your team. From celebrating milestones to showing everyday gratitude, our business platform gives you the tools to boost morale in a way that feels personal, flexible, and meaningful.

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[INSTRUCTION: Add an image of two people having their a mid year review here using the RTE image tool]

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5. How to boost employee engagement during mid-year check-ins

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EOFY reviews aren’t just about evaluating performance — they’re also a chance to create meaningful connections and reinvigorate motivation across your team. When done well, these conversations become a catalyst for greater engagement, stronger alignment, and a deeper sense of belonging.

Here’s how to approach them with intention.

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Start with strengths and progress

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Start by focusing on what’s going well. Kick things off with a recap of your team member’s strengths, achievements, and recent progress. This recognition helps reinforce a sense of value and contribution, which is essential for fostering team engagement. It sets a constructive tone and builds confidence heading into deeper conversations.

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Set meaningful goals together

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Next, it’s time to look forward. Work together to set meaningful, relevant goals that align with both business priorities and the individual’s personal development. When goals are co-created, they feel more motivating — and employees are more likely to stay committed to them over time.

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Ask open-ended questions

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Don’t fall into the trap of ticking boxes. Ask open-ended questions that invite honest reflection, such as “What do you need more of from me as a manager?” or “What would make your work feel more fulfilling?” This approach not only sparks richer dialogue but helps uncover blockers, aspirations, and opportunities that might otherwise stay hidden.

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Follow up with development actions

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But feedback alone isn’t enough. Follow up with clear development actions and check-ins to show you’re serious about growth. Whether it’s training, mentoring, or stretch opportunities, having a plan in place shows your team member they’re supported — and that you’re invested in their future.

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Invite upward feedback

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Engagement also improves when feedback flows both ways. Invite upward feedback during your check-in, giving employees a safe space to share their thoughts on what’s working, what’s not, and how leadership can do better. This not only boosts psychological safety but helps you improve your leadership style, too.

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Recognise and reward contributions

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And finally — never underestimate the power of appreciation. Recognise effort and celebrate wins, big or small, as part of your check-in. Whether it's a shoutout for collaboration or a digital gift card to mark a milestone, small moments of gratitude help build loyalty and morale. Prezzee’s instant, customised and personalised digital gift cards make it easy to deliver a reward that’s both meaningful and flexible — perfect for boosting engagement without delay. Or, take a look at our other corporate gifting solutions that make it easy for you and your business.

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6. How to improve team engagement all year round

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EOFY reviews are a powerful engagement tool — but they shouldn’t be the only one. The most engaged teams aren’t built through one-off conversations. They thrive when recognition, connection, and growth are embedded into everyday culture.

Take a year-round approach to engagement that goes beyond performance management and taps into what really motivates people. Here are a few proven ways to keep team engagement high — every week, not just at review time.

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Build in regular team rituals

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Create small, consistent rituals that bring people together, such as Monday morning check-ins, end-of-week win sessions, or monthly team lunches. These touchpoints strengthen team culture, improve collaboration, and give everyone something to look forward to.

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Recognise effort often — not just during reviews

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Recognition is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve employee engagement. Make recognition a regular habit, whether it’s a quick shoutout on a team call or a more formal gesture, like sending a personalised digital gift card to mark a job well done. Frequent, timely appreciation goes a long way toward keeping morale high.

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Make career growth a continuous conversation

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Development shouldn’t be limited to the review season. Check in regularly on growth goals, learning opportunities, and career aspirations. By making these conversations part of your team’s rhythm, you’ll keep people feeling valued, supported, and invested in their future.

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Foster transparent, two-way communication

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Open, honest dialogue helps build trust. Set the tone with regular team forums, 1:1 catch-ups, and feedback channels that encourage honest conversations from all directions. When people feel safe to share ideas and concerns, engagement and accountability rise.

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Celebrate milestones, wins, and moments that matter

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Team engagement isn’t just about hitting targets — it’s also about feeling connected. Celebrate both professional and personal milestones, whether it’s a project launch, a work anniversary, or a birthday. Small celebrations help employees feel seen as people, not just workers.

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7. Make your EOFY reviews count for your employees

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EOFY reviews are more than just a performance checkpoint — they’re one of your best tools for strengthening team engagement, boosting morale, and creating a culture of continuous improvement. When approached with care, these mid-year check-ins can deepen trust, align goals, and show your team that their growth matters.

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But remember, engagement isn’t a one-time effort. Treat EOFY reviews as a launchpad, not a finish line. It’s the follow-through, recognition, and everyday connection that truly make the difference.

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Whether you're refining your review process or looking for simple ways to motivate your team, Prezzee’s digital gift cards are an easy, flexible way to show appreciation and drive engagement. With instant delivery, personalisation options, and hundreds of leading brands to choose from, they're a powerful way to turn feedback into fuel — no matter where your team is based.

Because at the end of the day, engaged teams are built on thoughtful leadership, meaningful recognition, and consistent care. EOFY is your moment — make it count.

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FAQs: EOFY reviews and employee engagement

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EOFY reviews and employee engagement strategies can raise a lot of questions — especially when you’re trying to strike the right balance between performance and people. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions team leaders and HR professionals ask when it comes to team engagement, mid-year reviews, and building a motivated workforce.

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What is meant by team engagement?

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Team engagement refers to the emotional connection and commitment employees feel toward their team, their work, and their organisation. Engaged teams are more collaborative, motivated, and invested in shared goals—making team engagement a key factor in business success.

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What does good team engagement look like?

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Good team engagement shows up in both behaviour and outcomes. Engaged teams communicate openly, support each other, contribute ideas, and go the extra mile. They’re more likely to stick around, hit their targets, and contribute to a positive, high-performing workplace culture.

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What are the 4 C’s of employee engagement?

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The 4 C’s often used to frame employee engagement are Connection, Commitment, Contribution, and Confidence. Together, these pillars reflect how supported employees feel, how aligned they are with the company’s goals, and how empowered they are to perform their best.

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What are the pillars of team engagement?

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The key pillars of team engagement typically include communication, recognition, growth, trust, and purpose. When these elements are consistently nurtured, teams feel more connected and motivated, resulting in better collaboration and higher productivity.

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What are the 4 E’s of employee engagement?

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The 4 E’s stand for Enable, Engage, Empower, and Energise. These represent the actions leaders can take to ensure employees have what they need to succeed, feel involved in the process, are trusted with responsibility, and remain motivated day to day.

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What is the ladder of engagement?

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The ladder of engagement is a framework used to describe increasing levels of employee involvement, starting from passive interest and moving toward active leadership or advocacy. It helps organisations understand how to move employees from disengaged to fully engaged over time.

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As the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words. While verbal praise is always appreciated, it should be the minimum baseline for showing employee appreciation.

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There’s nothing else like the adrenaline of receiving a reward that makes the positive return of praise, reaching goals, or doing the right thing more memorable.

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Since our appetite for rewards changes as we get older and more mature, gold star stickers and candy should stay in the classroom. It’s crucial to stay evolving with your team to increase employee engagement.

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Along with modern rewards, you also need modern methods. But does a recognition solution like this even exist?

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If you answered with an employee rewards program, you are correct (here’s a gold star — just kidding.)

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Employee rewards programs positively impact employee retention and make performance management fun for leadership. Think of it as a game for the employee and employer with different objectives but the same satisfying feeling of accomplishment.

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You, as the leader, enjoy the increase in employee growth and actions aligned with company values. In contrast, your team enjoys accomplishing personal and performance growth disguised as rewards.

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Let’s Get Started: Setting Up Your Rewards Program

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Let’s check out the general steps you should take when creating and maintaining an employee reward program.

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Use a Survey

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Poll the experts — your employees. You won’t know what will motivate your team the most until you ask.

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An easy way to do this is by sending a Slack message (or whatever messaging software you use) to team members with a link to an online survey. Remember to keep it anonymous so your employees won’t feel reluctant to submit ideas.

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Ask specific questions to help guide responses, such as the following:

• What motivates you the most?some text
  • For example, fun events, monetary rewards, time off, or social recognition.
• How long should a rewards program last?some text
  • For example, a month, quarter, year, or ongoing.
• What do you need the most motivation for?some text
  • For example: hitting sales targets, obtaining new clients, or reaching a new career milestone.
• What type of rewards system do you prefer?some text
  • For example, company-wide contests, incentives, a personal structure to challenge themselves, or teams vs. teams.

You can use the examples we gave here in a multiple-choice format or leave it open-ended.

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Determine a Budget

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Setting a budget is crucial to setting realistic expectations for you and your employees and will also help structure the program.

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Once you have considered the employee-submitted ideas, start grouping common entry types into themes. Determine which themes will accommodate your budget.

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Identify Meaningful Rewards

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Once you’ve established the rewards system, time frame, and budget, it’s time for the fun part — determining the reward. Make it easy on yourself and keep it simple — a meaningful reward can also be easy.

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Prizes don’t have to be complicated, expensive, or grandiose. A meaningful reward will make your employees' lives easier or be a perk they couldn’t obtain otherwise.

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Examples of valuable rewards can include:

• Gift cards: The functionality of gift cards is famously easy. Make it even easier with instant digital delivery with Prezzee eGift cards. With options like Target, Chevron, HelloFresh, Airbnb, and hundreds more in Prezzee’s catalog, you can send your employees rewards they’ll actually use.
• Performance swag: Whether we want to admit it or not, a new wireless keyboard can be exhilarating. A customized mousepad with an image of their pet? Even better. You’ll earn some brownie points by providing an option to make their workday a little easier.
• Extra PTO day: Some may say an extra day off might be more valuable than a monetary reward. (Check with your human resources contact first to ensure that granting additional PTO days is approved.)

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Make Program Onboarding Fun

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The onboarding process is the preview of the program and the first opportunity to draw your employees in, so don’t present it with the same energy as any regular meeting.

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You can even reward those paying extra attention to amp up the anticipation.

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Fun program onboarding ideas include:

• Hosting an in-office team breakfast to kick off the event.
• Send digital “You’re invited” invitations with instructions on how to get started.
• Hold a “surprise party” disguised as a meeting (bonus for masking it with a notoriously boring meeting name). Instead, introduce the program and bring the hype with what rewards and gifts they can start working towards.

Tip: Begin the program on the same day it’s announced. You will want to capitalize on the momentum of the excitement to get your team signed up and ready to participate as soon as possible.

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Ask for Employee Feedback

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Asking for feedback is an essential step in ensuring the adoption of your program. It’s always a good idea to keep your employees in the loop to keep them involved and further invested in the reward system. When a teammate feels like they are being heard, they are much more likely to stay engaged and participate.

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Try periodically emailing a survey link to your team’s distro list to monitor the program’s effectiveness and perception. You can use a ranking system (1 through 5 is best), multiple choice of provided answers, or an open reply box for responses.

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Examples of questions you can use for the survey include:

• What about this program is keeping you motivated?
• What would you like to see continued? Discontinued?
• What is a feature or roadblock of the program that is hindering your usage, if any?
• What’s one feature you wish could be added to the reward platform?
• Does the timeframe of when points must be earned to redeem prizes work for you? Why or why not?
• Do you enjoy working independently towards rewards, or would you rather join forces in groups? (or vice versa)
• What are more ways you’d like included as opportunities to earn points? Are there any service awards you’d like to incorporate?

Look at critical themes across the board — what do most responses have in common? Don’t throw away outlier answers: This is an opportunity to understand what certain employees may need differently to be set up for success.

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Rewarding With a Points System

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Once you’ve decided what metrics you will be giving points for (for instance, meeting a monthly sales goal or obtaining a client), consider using a points-based system to cash in for rewards.

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Keep a rewards catalog handy — both digitally and physically — to allow employees to identify what they want to work towards and reference to stay motivated.

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Once ready to trade points for what they’ve had their eye on, use Prezzee eGift Cards as an instant reward delivery tool (with no delivery fees) — the game aims to keep the cause-effect immediate.

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Additionally, if you go with Prezzee’s Smart eGift Card, you give your employees the ultimate swap card. The Smart eGift Card allows recipients to choose where to spend their eGift Card from the over 370 brands and retailers in the Prezzee catalog — the perfect choice for any employee.

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Immediate Rewards Boost Rewards

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When you award an employee immediately, it signals their hard work is associated with something good. Positive reinforcement works best when given immediately — with people and pets! The shorter the time between meeting the goal and the praise, the bigger the impact.

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Combat Short-Lived Excitement

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It’s the human body’s job to maintain a state of homeostasis to keep us stable.

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After the adrenaline of vigorous exercise, feeling the stress from driving in traffic, or even the happy excitement of walking into our surprise birthday party, your mind and body are constantly trying to maintain a level of balance. With how our body works, excitement can be a fleeting emotion.

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Therefore, it’s imperative to keep the excitement flowing with frequent opportunities to keep earning, such as bonus points occasions.

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The Power of Bonus Points

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It’s a great idea to give bonus points that don’t tie to work performance to fight homeostasis and show employees that they are valued for who they are — not just what they do.

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We all have days when we’re off our game, but a good manager ensures their team is human; performance results will naturally ebb and flow. Highlight the power that each personality brings to the table by utilizing bonus points to celebrate your team.

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Bonus point ideas include:

• Employee birthdays: Give them a birthday gift they’ll actually use — reward points. Plus, the fact that their employer not only remembered their birthday but took action towards it will have a memorable impact on their employee experience. Prezzee offers customizable eGift Cards to personalize your rewards to any occasion with a video, image, or note of appreciation, celebration, and encouragement.
• ‍Work anniversaries: Feeling valued is a huge personal motivator. Sometimes, showing someone they are an appreciated part of the team can be just as effective as a reward. Do both by granting bonus points to celebrate work anniversaries.‍
• Exemplifying company core values: Reward in real-time with kudos points when you see an employee promoting a positive company culture.

You might want to limit these to one-on-one interactions to avoid unnecessary fairness debates. After all, this should be an award based on the character behind closed doors, not for public optics.

• Peer-to-peer recognition: Colleagues don’t often have the chance to formally showcase their appreciation for each other. Recognize a teammate of the week (or month) chosen for the employees by the employees.

Ask for peer-only nominations based on camaraderie, teamwork, or character, and then hold a vote. Award the winner with bonus points to show love.

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Employee Rewards Platforms

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It’s important to consolidate your team’s progress in one place for easy access and organization. An excellent recognition tool to consider is the use of employee recognition software.

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These systems help automate rewarding your employees to prevent great work from slipping through the cracks.

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How Do Employee Recognition Platforms Work?

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Software for employee recognition programs are tools that help management understand and monitor metrics that are not quantitative, like numbers.

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A strong leader strives to understand his team’s qualitative stats — employee satisfaction, motivation levels, and feelings of being valued — just as much as their business numbers.

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Employee recognition software options help monitor, analyze, and report back on the ever-evolving state of your team. They also host reward programs to keep your team’s happiness levels running smoothly.

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Aspects of reward software to consider:

• Does it integrate with communication platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, or similar?
• Who can shout out who? Can only managers shout out direct reports? Or can praise be lateral through the ranks? Both have their merits, but one might work better for your specific company.
• What’s your budget? Pricing may vary based on your needs and the size of your company.

Tip: If you can’t decide between platforms, ask if you can sign up for a free demo or trial version to better understand what will work best for you.

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Rewarding With the Ease of Prezzee

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No matter what direction you want to take your employee rewards program, Prezzee is a partner you can depend on to deliver not only eGift cards but employee satisfaction.

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With hundreds of popular retailers, Prezzee Business also gives your conscious an eco-friendly high five by avoiding the plastic waste of a traditional gift card.

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Shop by and browse our ever-growing collection of eGift cards today to get a flash of inspiration imagining what your employee’s future points exchange will feel like. Sign up today and see the rewards tomorrow!

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Sources:

‍It’s about time: Immediate rewards boost motivation | Cornell Chronicle‍

What is Homeostasis? | Scientific American‍

Positive Reinforcement and Operant Conditioning: Examples | Verywell Mind

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A majority of business leaders believe that promoting wellness can affect employee and productive performance, according to Forbes.

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It’s unsurprising that of the same leaders, who represented more than 500 U.S. companies of varying size, CNBC reported that 87% of businesses consider health a business investment or an essential part of their organization’s business strategies.

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These findings prove that the value placed on employee wellness should be considered an effective business strategy. While already a popular belief held by most business owners, this number is only expected to grow, according to CNBC.

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Let’s dig into the positive effects on business that are causing such a trend to develop in promoting health and wellness in the workplace.

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Mental Health in the Workplace

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First, how exactly could you define mental health?

Mental health encompasses anything that falls into our emotional, psychological, and social well-being buckets. If you aren’t experiencing physical pain, chances are it’s the state of your mind making you feel off.

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Our mental health directly dictates how we deal with stress, interact with others, maintain energy levels, and make decisions. It’s no wonder companies have started to take this area of health just as seriously as the physical!

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Leaders should never blame poor employee work performance with the accusation of laziness or disengagement because they could lose the trust of a productive worker. Instead, ask yourself if this could indicate mental burnout or distress.

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Watch for early warning signs, including low energy, irritability, unusual forgetfulness, and anxiety. If you feel there could be an issue, contact your human resources department for guidance on how to aid the situation.  

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Why is Health and Wellness Trending?

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The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts found that 62% of missed workdays can be attributed to mental health conditions.

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In addition, 50% of full-time employees reported leaving a job for mental health reasons, while mentally distressed workers are 3.5 times more likely to have substance use disorders.

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Ways To Maintain Positive Mental Health

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Those with positive mental health are more likely to realize their full potential — in and out of the office. The positive contributions that a happy, mentally healthy person contributes to your company will far outweigh the costs of maintaining this headspace. The cost of unhappy employees is high: The CDC estimates that missed work days due to depression costs employers $17 to $44 billion a year.

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With support, employees can more easily handle stress, cope with setbacks, connect with teammates, and stay positive. Mental wellness doesn’t have to only be improved by regular physical exercise and maintaining a healthy diet. Don’t limit the options that could benefit your employees in case the one area you decide to focus on doesn’t click for them.

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Experts agree that meditation, social interaction, volunteering, and even learning to improve one’s financial health can help alleviate mental distress and promote mood.

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3 Ideas for Wellness Gifts for Employees

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So, how can you use this growing trend to improve the health of your employees and your business?

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Supercharge the employee rate of adopting mental health habits by implementing a gift card incentive program. One way is to view mental health practices as a fun micro-vacation at the office.

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Hold mini-events throughout the week and award those participating with a raffle ticket. Pull a winning ticket for a gift card at the end of whatever period you decide. Appropriately, ensure the gift card focus falls within the health and wellness genre.

Keep reading for sessions and events you can host for your team.

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Run or Walk Club

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Establish a weekly run or walk club. This can be held during lunch or after work (you can even coax folks out starting at 4:30 pm to get an early end to the day). Don’t go crazy with the distance or pace — start slow and steady and gradually build up if the group likes.

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Distribute tickets to each attendee per session, then hold a raffle to win a gift card at the end of the week (or month, depending on your budget.)

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A very motivating eGift card idea is a spa day to help ease sore muscles from the progress of their new hobby.

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Meditation Session

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Grounding exercises such as yoga, mindfulness practice, meditation, and deep breathing are great options to combat stress.

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Establish a meditation session during lunch hours — the easy element of this is that it should only take 15 minutes max, and no one gets sweaty (great counter option if run club participation is hindered by the excuse of “I forgot my change of clothes.”)

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Give participants a raffle ticket for a drawing frequency of their choosing. Consider a food and drink eGift card to encourage healthy habits by learning how to cook new fresh favorite meals.

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Volunteer Day

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Experts believe finding purpose at work and helping others is a significant mental health booster. Choose a few Fridays out of the year to volunteer at local charities. If you decide to go more frequently, say once a month, ask employees to nominate organizations with a special meaning or tie to their lives.  

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Because this is a rare occurrence that requires more effort by the employee, hold a raffle after each volunteer session, and don’t be afraid to go a bit bigger with the digital gift card value.

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Give the Gift of Choice

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To support your employees' mental health and wellness, it’s often best to let them choose their reward. While this can be difficult to implement, Prezzee’s eGift card options are here to help.

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Additionally, you could consider Prezzee’s Smart eGift Card — essentially the ultimate swap card. With the Smart eGift Card, recipients can choose from the over 360 brands and retailers in Prezzee’s catalog. They decide where they want to utilize their reward, meaning this eGift Card offers a tangible gift and the gift of choice.

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Count on Prezzee

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No matter what practices you decide to adopt for your team, Prezzee is here to support your future healthy habits.

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With Prezzee, you can pleasantly surprise employees by customizing their newly earned eGift cards with an inspirational message or words of encouragement. We’re always here to help you keep going, so you can lead a happy, healthy team.

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Sources:‍

‍What Is Mental Health? | MentalHealth.gov‍

10 Tips to Boost Your Mental Health | BC Mental Health‍

Wellbeing Positively Impacts Firm Performance | Forbes

Mental health stigma at work - why it's a problem | Kaiser Permanente

How to Improve Mental Health | MedlinePlus

Depression Evaluation Measures | Workplace Health Strategies by Condition | CDC

Employers boost mental wellness benefits amid the Great Resignation | CNBC

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Your remote workforce is just as important as your in-office employees. In some cases, they may be even more critical to your business operations, especially if you have an online enterprise or your business has many retail storefronts around the globe. In the wake of COVID-19, many businesses have hired clusters of remote workers or changed their schedules to enable part or full-time remote work for existing employees.

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Like traditional employees, remote employees need to know that you appreciate them from time to time. Days like National Work from Home Day on the last Thursday of June (June 29, 2023) shouldn’t go by without some celebration! If you’re not sure how to accomplish that, read on. We’ll take a look at 18 ideas for rewarding remote employees in detail.

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1. Double Down on Flexibility

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If you want to reward your remote employees, why not double down on one of the perks of their unique positions: schedule flexibility?

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In short, you can offer remote employees working hour flexibility and reward them for their time and attention. Many remote employees opt into these positions specifically so they can parent their kids, work a second job, or work for their favorite company despite being in a different time zone.

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Schedule flexibility is certainly something you can provide as a business owner or scheduling manager. For example, limit the restrictions on how many hours a worker has to be "in-office" each week or allow remote employees the option to hop on when it works for their time zone (that can be especially helpful if the time zone differences are significant).

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You can also implement a “work from anywhere” policy (like we have at Prezzee). For example, if an employee wants to travel to another country, encourage them to do so! Team members can work for a certain amount of time from different time zones and really enjoy the possibilities of remote work.

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By doubling down on flexibility, you may reward remote employees by giving them what they truly crave: scheduling freedom. Lots of employees got used to this during COVID-19, and they might be loath to give it up now.

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2. Hold Virtual or In-Person Team-Building Activities

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But you can also reward remote employees by holding team-building games and events. Here are just a few ideas:

• Hold a weekly game night over Zoom. That’ll bring everyone together and could help your remote employees feel more connected to the other office workers, especially if they don’t see them all that often. Games like Pictionary or a Trivia Night work remotely, but you can also send out a gaming-focused digital gift card and meet up with your virtual team and conquer your favorite games together.
• Schedule a monthly get-together. This idea only works if your remote employees are still relatively close to your other employees, but it still brings the office together. For remote teams, send out a food delivery eGift card and then dine together over a video call. This gives your coworkers a chance to connect and socialize.

These activities and gifting opportunities combine rewards and team bonding in a way that strengthens a work environment’s company culture. A focus on employee morale lets everyone know the leadership team cares about their well-being as individuals, not employees.

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3. Send eGift Cards to Remote Workers

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Gift cards are popular corporate goodies for several reasons. They’re easy to buy, easy to send, and fairly surefire gifts that won’t be rejected. After all, who can say no to a gift card for one of their favorite brands?

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But plastic gift cards have a few problems, too. For one, they contribute to environmental pollution. Even 50 gift cards can make a major impact in terms of whether your business is really eco-friendly (a key concern if your enterprise wants to minimize its carbon footprint). For another, physical gift cards need to be carefully sent to each recipient, which can be tricky if you have remote workers scattered around the country or the globe.

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eGift cards are much easier and more convenient, and they don’t come with the same environmental impact downside. With eGift cards from Prezzee, you can:

• Send a digital gift card to anyone, anytime, and any place in a matter of minutes.
• Send gifts to your remote employees without contributing to environmental pollution.
• Customize the gift cards with branded imagery, like your logo, to help complete the corporate gift.
• Personalize each gift card with a prerecorded video or text message. That way, each employee feels like you sent them a specific, personalized gift, not just the same gift everyone else received.

Even better, Prezzee’s eGift cards can easily be swapped out or changed from one retailer to another. So if you get one remote worker’s favorite brand wrong, it’s no trouble for them to swap the gift card and its value to another brand or brands, so they can go shopping to their heart’s content.

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eGift cards are a phenomenal way to show your workers that you care no matter where they happen to get the job done.

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4. Send Remote Workers Company Swag as an Initiation Gift

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Remote workers should feel excited to join your company when they're first starting out. Unfortunately, much of the first-day energy can be lost in translation if they clock in from a remote desk and don't get to meet everyone in the office or take an official tour of the corporate building.

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But you can reward those remote employees directly by sending them some company swag as an onboarding gift. Truly, they already deserve a reward for making it through the interview and hiring process! Successful onboardings result in successful employees; a solid onboarding program leads to 50% increased employee retention.

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Company swag works as an initiation gift because it brings your remote workers into the fold and may help make them feel like they're part of the team "for real." Company t-shirts will make them feel like part of the team, especially if everyone on group calls is matching! Other much-loved items that are evergreen trendy include branded dad hats, sweatshirts, sweatpants, or the classic insulated drink tumbler.

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5. Shout Out Remote Employees on Social Media and Video Conferences

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Productive remote employees deserve to be rewarded for their extra efforts. That’s why you should shout out those employees on social media and any collaborative videoconferences.

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In-office employees get tons of attention and recognition every day. Your remote employees can fly under the radar. Make sure this doesn’t happen by specifically shouting them out on your Facebook business page or LinkedIn. Ask before doing this — some employees adore public recognition, while others might shy away from it, preferring to fly under the radar.

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6. Acknowledge Remote Workers’ Birthdays and Anniversaries

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Reward your remote employees by acknowledging their important dates, like birthdays and anniversaries. Something as simple as a personal email written from you to them may brighten up their day and make them feel special.

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Alternatively, you can announce each employee’s birthday or milestone work anniversary as it comes up on a company message board or website. Again, this could be an excellent way to shout out remote workers and ensure they feel connected.

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7. Let Remote Workers Take a Half Day (When Appropriate)

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Remote workers are already not beholden to some of the same limitations as in-person employees. So don’t hesitate to reward high-performing employees by letting them take a half-day here and there or when it’s appropriate.

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Say that one of your remote workers did a stellar job wrapping up a project ahead of schedule, and they don't have anything else on the docket. Reward them by letting them log off early or take a half-day (provided they don't have anything else that demands their attention).

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8. Give Out Some Extra Vacation Days

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Dole out some extra vacation days. Many employees love extra time off, as it enables them to pursue their hobbies or spend more time with friends and family members outside of work. A healthy work-life balance is vital for us all.

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Suppose you want to inspire some healthy competition in the workplace. In that case, you might consider giving out extra vacation days as a reward to high-performing employees, like whoever wins a given month’s “employee of the month” competition or a team remote Kahoot quiz. An extra vacation day as a bonus prize could get all workers to participate.

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9. Invest in Professional Development

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Don't forget to invest in remote worker development regularly. Consider meeting up with rockstar employees who are looking for promotions. Or provide time and resources for remote workers to attend development seminars and conferences, even if they have to travel to do so.

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10. Prioritize Peer-to-Peer Recognition

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Peer-to-peer recognition essentially involves giving your workers a chance to recognize and congratulate each other while building each other up for long-term collaboration and team spirit. That's pretty easy to facilitate as a business owner or manager if you use peer-to-peer recognition software or platforms.

Such software solutions let your employees:

• Send kudos or congratulations to each other when they do good work.
• Send each other special digital gifts.
• Recommend each other for projects, which is an especially helpful feature if you have a large organization with many different departments in many different areas.

Peer-to-peer recognition is a reward for your remote employees, make no mistake. It can make them feel like they are a part of the office like never before, plus it may help to ensure that your entire global team members feel like part of a unified team.

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11. Gift Gym Membership Subscriptions

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Gym subscriptions can be handy rewards for remote and in-office employees alike. When you gift gym subscriptions to remote workers, double-check that they have a gym for that brand in their local area.

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A gym subscription could be the perfect jumpstart to an office-wide wellness program or initiative. Consider pairing this with company swag like labeled towels or water bottles.

Or, simply cross off that research from your to-do list and send an eGift card to top fitness retailers so everyone can boost their home gym or buy high-quality workout apparel.  

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12. Send Thank-You Notes

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Nothing says personal attention and appreciation like receiving a note from your boss. You can show appreciation by sending out a personal Slack message (or making a post in a company-wide Slack channel).

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Such a gesture could be especially impactful and important if you manage or oversee hundreds of employees. The remote worker who receives a thank you note might be seriously touched by the extra time you took to reward them for their effort. If you’re sending a digital gift card with your praise, you can even use Prezzee to include a custom note or video.

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13. Gift Work from Home Equipment

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Remote workers can only do the great jobs they manage every day with the right equipment, ranging from webcams to keyboards to office chairs. Therefore, bosses and managers can reward employees with work-from-home equipment to upgrade their home offices.

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Pay attention to whether your remote workers complain about webcam quality or office chair comfort the next time you all communicate over a video conferencing call. Consider rewarding those remote workers with upgrades or funds to spend at the nearest Office Depot (or sending a digital gift card to top home goods suppliers.

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14. Pay for Software Subscriptions

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Similarly, remote workers often need to subscribe to software programs to get the job done, like Microsoft Office or video conferencing software. Foot the bill for these to reward your remote employees and prevent them from having to pay extra costs that your in-house employees get to avoid by default. Video conferencing helps serve all work types — remote, hybrid, and in-person.

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15. Send Balloons or Surprise Presents

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There’s nothing wrong with the old-fashioned staple of surprise balloons or presents delivered straight to each remote worker’s door. Just be sure to send these out en masse or as a group instead of singling out any individual, lest the gift gives the wrong impression.

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16. Forward Customer Praise for Their Work

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From time to time, customers might send you direct praise for a single remote worker. This could be anyone from a customer service agent who helped them with a big problem or a remote salesperson who connected them to the ideal product for their needs.

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In these cases, why not let those remote employees know about the positive impact they had on that customer interaction? Not only may this boost their morale, but it will also be a lovely way to remind them that you see them as individuals, not moneymakers.

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17. Share the Company Profits

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Has your company done phenomenally well over the last business quarter or year? Then it’s only fair you share that prosperity with the people who made it happen: your workers.

Remote employees should also be included in any extra company profits you divvy out, such as stock options, holiday rewards/bonuses, and so on.

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Sharing company profits serves the dual purpose of rewarding your remote employees and motivating them to do an even better job next year. After all, if they know that ensuring the company performs well leads to a better bottom line for their wallets, they’ll be highly motivated to make more sales or drive better customer interactions in the next business cycle and beyond.

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18. Write Endorsements or Recommendations

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Lastly, you can and should reward remote employees who are planning to leave your company for one reason or another. If they’ve done a fantastic job at your brand for months or years, there’s no reason not to help them get their foot in the door at the next job.

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To that end, consider rewarding those employees with endorsements or recommendations. Write a recommendation letter for young remote employees who are looking to get into graduate school. Or write a job recommendation letter or LinkedIn recommendation for any other remote employee looking to break into a competitive industry or work for a company known to have a very competitive hiring process.

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Rely on Prezzee for Employee Recognition Programs

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In the end, any and all of these ideas could be excellent ways to show your remote employees that you care about their hard work and daily devotion. With the right rewards and incentives, your remote workers will be as effective and productive as your in-office employees, if not more so.

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That’s one more reason why you should think about sending eGift cards for birthdays, anniversaries, or just for doing a great job. Prezzee’s eGift cards are available for over 360 popular retailers and can be sent anytime, anywhere.

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Sign up for free and send some today!

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Sources:

‍COVID-19 Pandemic Continues To Reshape Work in America | Pew Research Center‍

Employee Motivation | Inc.com‍

Why Are Reference Letters Important for Getting a Job? | Entrepreneur‍

How to Boost Company Morale | Business News Daily‍

Onboarding Can Make or Break a New Hire’s Experience | Harvard Business Review

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The well-being of our team members should always be our bottom line. Unfortunately, too many good employees quit due to job satisfaction issues that could easily be resolved through simple adjustments.

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It’s time to elevate the mood of your work environment, provide meaningful incentives to drive employee engagement, and see your company’s culture thrive with happy, driven employees.

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At the same time, you can foster meaningful business relationships, letting productivity rise with consistent teamwork and encouraging employee recognition.

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By implementing some of these employee retention strategies, you empower your top talent, inspire your new hires, and prevent employee turnover. Luckily, Prezzee’s got you covered. This is our guide on seven ideas to boost employee retention.

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1. Support the Mental Wellness of Employees

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Many companies have seen departing employees over the past few years, citing mental health issues that healthcare initiatives could have helped mitigate. Some businesses have lost top performers from burnout, who could have prospered if leaders actively prevented burnout.

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This is why it’s essential to prioritize your team members' wellness, especially for mental health. Mental health is one of the top contributors to high turnover, and it’s only gotten worse in recent years. Part of supporting the mental wellness of your employees involves minimizing the potential for your workplace to cause burnout or emotional exhaustion. For instance, simple improvements can go a long way, like more sunlight, introducing more plant life into the office, or creating a comfortable common space for employees to take breaks.

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Here are some healthcare initiatives you can take within your workspace to improve support for employees:

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Allow for Flexible Schedules

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Implement more flexible schedules, especially for remote employees who have to juggle home life with work. People are productive at all different points of the day. With a less strict routine at work, building healthier habits at home is easier.

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When your team members can start a tad later or take a longer lunch break to go for a walk or accomplish a few chores, they can enjoy their off-time more. This works easier for remote teams, but in-person or hybrid offices can also follow suit when appropriate.

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In terms of flexibility, consider allowing employees to choose when they want their camera on during calls. Maybe they could take calls while on a walk if the computer isn’t needed.

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Utilize Human Resources

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Encourage and provide in-person counseling with your human resources department. Help employees by giving them a space to ask questions, voice concerns, and receive guidance. Together with human resources, they can find new solutions to reduce stress in the workspace, boost productivity, and find healthcare support outside of work.

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Engagement surveys help leaders gauge when and how employees are the most productive. Beyond that, these surveys reveal ways to improve your work environment to reduce stress and boost mood and concentration.

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Burnout During the Pandemic

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With the isolation, increased anxiety, and disorganized workspaces resulting from the pandemic, mental wellness has been a new and persistent battle for many employees. The combined stresses of adjusting to lockdown and remote work created a wave that eroded mental health.

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Burnout, fatigue, and emotional exhaustion were all seen to take a huge uptick during the past two years, according to studies that analyzed the stress levels of American workers over the pandemic. Employee turnover rates rose alongside this increase in fatigue.

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Interestingly, a lot of this burnout and fatigue resulted from an imbalanced work-life, with work and home starting to blend uncomfortably under the new requirements of remote work.

The pandemic has taught us that we need clear separation and a steady balance between our home lives and careers.

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2. Promote a Healthy Work-Life Balance

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A healthy work-life balance is an essential factor in employee retention. Employees should feel that the stability of their home lives is supported — and encouraged — by their coworkers.

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Without a healthy work-life balance, employees will feel like they don’t have a mutually beneficial relationship with your team, and as a result, employee retention could suffer. Our employees work hard to boost our bottom line. In return, we also have to work hard to create a strong network of support that reaches beyond the workday.

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Cultivate Achievement With Careful Support

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Many employees have the potential to become top performers if they’re just given the right support to get there. That support is built on a healthy work-life balance.

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Employees shouldn’t feel they need to sacrifice more energy than they have to progress upward. Instead, support employees in having healthy, fulfilling home lives and, in that precise way, motivate them to bring their best selves to work. Encourage them to take time off for important events like weddings, funerals, and birthdays. Along that note, providing unlimited PTO can really help with this.

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The fact is that people will want to be top performers for a company that demonstrates compassionate support for their real lives outside of work. Employees gain job satisfaction by knowing that they are supported and needed.

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Calling Your Employees In

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If someone falls behind on work, invite them into a conversation, offering them the support they need to get back on their feet. When we call our employees in and work hard to understand what they’re going through, we demonstrate our support for their life outside of work.

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By giving time off to employees dealing with fatigue or burnout, you encourage a healthy work-life balance and boost your team's productivity. Employees do not overwork themselves or worry about seeming like a burden to their team when mental health breaks are encouraged with compassion. We feel energized and interested when our mood is in check.

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Emphasize to team members that their wellness at home is essential to the soundness of the workplace and team. Talk with them about ways you can help make that happen.

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3. Express Employee Appreciation

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This is such a simple point, but it often gets overlooked in the hustle of the work week. Employees feel more fulfilled working for a company where they are explicitly appreciated.

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Employee retention often sinks in businesses where hard work is expected rather than rewarded. There is no satisfaction in completing a task when employees feel invisible, despite the time and energy they sacrifice.

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Ways To Show Employee Appreciation

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When an employee performs well and does hard work, taking on more than usual, it’s important to recognize that.

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Here are some ways we can show employee appreciation:

• Try rewarding employees for their hard work with a thoughtful digital gift card for a brand they love. By expressing your gratitude and acknowledging their hard work, you show appreciation and recognize the extra effort they put forth. At the same time, encourage them to enjoy themselves outside of work.

• Try to thank your employees personally and on behalf of the whole workplace. Emphasize that the work they do also helps to support their team members. Start recognition programs where employees can be celebrated and rewarded for outstanding performance by the whole team.

• Celebrating birthdays is a fun way to show appreciation. Remind your employees that they are valuable when they are making great strides and when they are just doing their normal roles.

• Monthly acknowledgments are a fun way to express employee appreciation. But rather than doing an employee-of-the-month contest, find a less competitive, more inclusive way to say thank you. Try having fun with superlatives, emphasizing each team member for the particular strengths they contribute to the team.

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Employees stay in jobs where they have stability and support. By encouraging team members to work communally rather than competitively, you create a workplace culture that emphasizes and rewards strong team-building.

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Employees feel appreciated in jobs where they can find a tangible support network not just through human resources but with their fellow team members as well.

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4. Provide Paths for Career Advancement

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While employees certainly appreciate stable, reliable jobs, stagnancy can lead many people to look for better opportunities elsewhere.

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Offer your employees a position plus a career path that can help them grow. There are several engaging ways to promote career development.

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Employees feel loyal to those companies that cultivate their career growth. At the end of the day, you boost productivity, and your employee retention rate soars because your team is motivated by tangible ways to cultivate professional development.

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Development Opportunities That Motivate Employees

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You can offer your employees many development opportunities to motivate them to progress down their career paths and take on more responsibilities in the workplace.

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Here are a few suggestions we’ve come up with:

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• Offer seminars and Q&As from long-standing professionals in your chosen field. These group activities encourage creative thinking and new workplace friendships, all while providing employees with the information they need to plan their professional development.

• Incentivize team members to take on new responsibilities and learn new skills by rewarding them with incentive gifts that show your appreciation for their professional development. Instead of treating their career development as its own reward, you can thank your employees for learning more useful skills to contribute to the team.

• A mentorship program gradually guides employees down their desired career path. It can also make for a much smoother onboarding process. Employees can shadow a more experienced team member or take on a kind of apprenticeship role under them, learning little by little how to take on larger responsibilities and more active roles within the company.

• Introduce your team members to online courses and other classes they can take in person to learn new skills or perform a new job within your team. In some cases, you can even offer team members compensation (like a luxury eGift card) for these classes, emphasizing the importance of these skills to your company.

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No matter how you structure the company's career development, providing them with a way to progress serves to boost motivation and sharpen interest. Final takeaway: Effective employee retention strategies must always include opportunities for upward mobility, not merely something shiny to add to their LinkedIn.

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5. Foster a Community Around Your Workplace

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Most employee retention strategies focus on the professional lives of team members, but they miss out on the human aspect of the workplace.

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Categories like professional development and support can boost employee satisfaction, making it more lucrative to stay with a particular company. But sometimes, people get burned out or emotionally exhausted from jobs simply because they haven’t made many personal connections or friendships with their team members.

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This can make a workspace seem cold or uninviting. It’s hard to continue working and contributing to a team you haven’t personally connected with. Without a sense of community, teamwork can feel obligatory and unfulfilling.

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Humanizing Employee Experience with Community

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Sometimes, it’s not the job we’re doing that fulfills us but the people that we’re working with. Through our team members, we see our real impact on others by working with them and supporting them.

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In many ways, our neighbors at work are our first network of support, but team-building is impossible when that feeling of support is not there. Bring real soul into your workplace by encouraging your employees to get to know each other. Come up with fun activities to celebrate achievements or milestones. These milestones can be as little as finishing the week.

Activities that Foster Community

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Encouraging community is easier when we create a social atmosphere where employees feel comfortable breaking the ice. Here are some top-notch community activities to incorporate into the workplace:

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• Offer employees a free breakfast or lunch in your breakroom or common space. This event can come at the end of the work week, giving employees something to look forward to and a way to mark another week accomplished. Let this free food come with a longer break where employees can mingle as they chow down. For remote teams, a digital gift card to top dining locales can make an equally fantastic impact.

• Turn a monthly earnings report or performance report into a more engaging, collaborative event. Encourage employees to speak up, ask questions, and discuss possibilities with the rest of the team. After the report, celebrate with a group activity like a friendly game or a snack pot-luck, where every employee contributes desserts or cravings. This is also a great way to emphasize team building.

• Holiday parties are a fun way to let loose and show the team your wild side. Sometimes, goofing off with our coworkers and taking ourselves a little less seriously can really reduce the pressure of the career grind. At the same time, we let our team members in, breaking the ice and helping them feel more comfortable being themselves.

• Create an awards ceremony where employees vote for certain superlatives. After the voting, you can all have a laugh as a community when the winners are revealed. You can even go the extra mile by taking pictures or creating a parody yearbook to commemorate the year. Keep it HR-approved and workplace appropriate.

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Any of these activities and more can break up the tedium of the workweek, allowing us to be a little more informal or a tad less strictly professional. While some ideas may seem corny at first, they help us take ourselves a little less seriously, ultimately making it easier and less awkward to make real connections.

6. Use Perks To Incentivize Retention

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Many of us are already familiar with annual raises as a means to incentivize employee retention. This practice is fairly customary. However, there are plenty of other perks you can introduce for those who’ve been on your team for a long time.

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People feel that they are making an investment in their career path when they can earn tangible benefits for staying with a particular company. These benefits may just boil down to simple ways of making home-life or work-life more enjoyable.

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Some companies offer extra days off, increased flexibility, or work-from-home benefits (including eGift cards to furnish that home office). Either way, these perks can motivate employees to build a career within your company.

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Perks That Build Loyalty

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Looking for perks to say thank you to your coworkers? Consider these:

• Extra vacation time during the year to repay employees for the time and energy they’ve given to the company.

• An online course voucher, or similar type of educational scholarship, can support the professional development of your celebrated team members while motivating them to learn new skills.

• A virtual gift card for a fun vacation, experience, or other activity that lets your employees know that they deserve some rest and recreation after the work they’ve put in.

• Granting employees work-from-home privileges means allowing them to skip the office on certain days, completing their work from home. While remote work may seem less desirable nowadays than it used to, many people still prefer it. Plus, being given a choice to come into the office or not can be quite the privilege, showing that the company trusts you to work without management.

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With perks like these, employees feel inspired to continue their progress within the company.  

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Celebrate Work Anniversaries

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It can be a rewarding experience for the entire company to celebrate a team member on the anniversary of their employment. Together, mark the progress and growth the person of honor has made within the company.

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Make a special occasion out of a long-term work anniversary. For those employees who have been with your company for a particularly long time, perhaps plan a workplace party with food, cake, and other fan-favorite goodies.

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At the same time, you get to promote the perks of long-term company engagement. Your employees get a taste of the benefits that lay ahead. Plus, they’re motivated by the appreciation they see expressed to a long-standing member of the corporate community.

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7. Communicate Expectations Clearly

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Plenty of employees leave jobs simply because they were given a different impression of the company while interviewing compared to what they discovered once they were hired.

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It’s essential to clearly communicate the expectations during the recruitment process. Many people looking for work are filling out tons of applications every day, so realistically, they might not be reading every detail of your job posting.

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After you’ve found a potential new hire, review the responsibilities and qualifications with them during the interview process. If you can, introduce them to your team, or give them a tour of your workplace, to help them get a sense of what to expect.

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Mentorships Help Ease Employees In

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Mentorships can make training more productive and personally rewarding. New hires get to introduce themselves to others while getting a taste of what working with your team might feel like.

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At the same time, they take on responsibilities as they go, shadowing their mentor at a healthy pace, not prohibited by strict training regimes. The mentor can explain things in real-time, answering questions and providing useful tips to deal with specific problems.

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Mentorships create a sense of community and work as proficient team-building exercises. Now, your new hire has someone familiar they can trust within your community to introduce them to the rest of the team and show them the social ropes.

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Mentoring doesn’t need to be exclusively IRL. Remote companies can use Slack messages, regularly scheduled Zoom calls, or work collaboratively over a shared Google doc.  

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Build Work-Load Gradually

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While you may have high expectations for your employees, it never bodes well to dump them down all at once. While some companies may have a hit-the-ground-running philosophy, these techniques rarely benefit employee health or workplace productivity.

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Adapting quickly might be a useful skill, but ask yourself if it’s as useful now to your new hires as the skills they’re supposed to be learning on the job. Avoidable mistakes caused by overworked new hires can put a wrench in workplace productivity and create unnecessary tension, resentment, and other negative feelings. So please, introduce your new employee to their responsibilities gradually, letting them master each at a healthy pace without hurting the workflow of others.

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Use Exit Interviews to Survey Employee Satisfaction

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Finally, you can learn a lot from an exit interview conducted with an employee moving on from the company. This is a unique opportunity to find out what a particular employee expected from their career versus what they feel like they actually got.

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These are sometimes rare insights to gain. Exit interviews can provide valuable, candid impressions of your business from an outside perspective or a disinterested party.

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Prepare yourself to face criticism with an eye for innovation. Even if you encounter some bitter complaints, they will only give you a richer sense of the professional, social, and emotional impact your workplace culture has made and can make.

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Be an Open-Book. Appreciate Your Staff.

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It’s become quite hard in today’s world to be a closed-book as a company.

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The internet has created many forums, like Glassdoor, where employees and ex-employees can review their workplaces, rate the management, and discuss the pros and cons. The people of today are much more informed about what other companies are offering and what other people are saying about your company.

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So do your best to be an open book. Talk candidly with your new hires about things that you’re working on improving within the company.

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Show Appreciation for Your Team With Prezzee

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We hope you’ve enjoyed our ultimate guide to employee retention! At Prezzee, we’re passionate about helping you foster a community with your team to build a thriving, vibrant work culture.

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Whether you're looking for incentives to boost workplace performance, rewards to strengthen loyalty, or gifts to show employee appreciation on holidays, Prezzee has you covered with a huge catalog of digital gift cards. Our eGift cards make great corporate gifts for any occasion, with hundreds of activities, stores, brands, or interests to filter your search.

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Treat your valued employees with gift cards for food and wine, health and beauty products, vacations, and other engaging activities. Customize your gift with a unique message (text or a video) and your company logo.

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Sources:

Burnout And Stress Are Everywhere | American Psychological Association

The Scientific Link That Drives Employee Engagement and Productivity | Joe Robinson

The Company Christmas Party And Employee Happiness | Scientific Reports

Addressing Burnout in the Behavioral Health Workforce Through Organizational Strategies | SAMHSA Publications

The Five Secrets Of The Best Mentoring Programs | Forbes

Five Strategies For Improving Work-Life Balance | Forbes

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Thinking of getting the entire office a gift to celebrate their hard work or a successful quarter? Keep things manageable and avoid having to purchase dozens of distinct gifts from big retailers, opt to buy gift cards in bulk.

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Let us break down how to buy bulk gift cards without breaking the bank or running into a few possible hiccups.

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Why Buy Gift Cards in Bulk?

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Simply put, digital cards make perfect gifts and incentives for your team members.

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Corporate gift cards for brands like Target, and more are ideal employee rewards. A solid incentive program almost always includes a gift card or two for holiday gifts or special bonuses for jobs well done.

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However, these employee incentives have to be purchased and picked carefully.

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How To Buy Bulk Gift Cards

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The first thing to consider when buying gift cards in bulk is that there are two types of gift cards: physical and digital or “eGift” cards. They both have some pluses and minuses, though eGift cards are usually better choices for purchasing in bulk for a variety of reasons.

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Physical Cards

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Physical gift cards are the kind you can pick up in person at any store these days. They’re small rectangles of plastic and make the perfect accompaniments to written cards.

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However, there are a few problems with buying a bunch of physical gift cards in bulk. For example, if you want to purchase 100 or more gift cards for everyone in your company, keep in mind that you’ll have to keep all of those cards:

• Organized
• Safe
• Labeled (unless they’re all identical)

Physical gift cards present a security risk:

1. Package Theft. Mail theft is at an all-time high. Three in four Americans lost mail to porch pirates, amounting to over 260 million parcels. A gift that goes un-received is akin to a gift that was never sent in the first place.
2. Barcode Theft. Thieves are getting smarter when stealing physical gift cards. Instead of running off with a gift card that hasn’t been activated, they head to a local supermarket, pull out some gift cards, and take a picture of the card number and PIN. Then, when the rightful owner redeems the information later, the thief swoops in and makes a purchase first. Grocery stores are not liable for this, leaving many without the gift cards they paid for.

Put simply, bulk physical gift card purchases place a lot of extra logistical work on your shoulders. That may or may not be a dealbreaker for you, but you should remember that you don’t have to deal with that if you purchase eGift cards instead.

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Why eGift Cards Are the Better Option

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eGift cards are digital equivalents of physical gift cards. Rather than being physical cards, they are digital gifts delivered to recipients' inboxes at a predetermined date and time. The buyer can specify when the cards arrive (such as immediately or on a recipient's birthday).

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Note that there's no difference in how these types of cards can be used. Practically every retailer that offers gift cards these days allows both digital cards and physical cards to be redeemed online or in person.

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There’s no denying that eGift cards are a little easier to handle when buying in bulk! You won’t have to store them physically, for example, nor do you have to worry about them not being delivered on time — or worse — stolen.

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The Details That Make a Big Impact

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These four factors can make a maximum impact on your employees, VIP clients, and sales prospects:

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Retail Brand

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Naturally, you’ll want to consider which retail brands you purchase gift cards for. Some of your team members may prefer one brand over another. When you buy gift cards in bulk from Prezzee, you can choose gift cards labeled for over 370 different brands, ensuring that there’s something for everyone.

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These brands include retailers for a whole range of necessities on shopping lists and wish lists. For a late-night snack, recipients will be grateful to pull out their Panera Bread®, or other food and drink eGift cards. Target, and similar home goods eGift cards will add that extra comfort their space has been missing.

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But what if you guess wrong? In that case, if you choose Smart eGift Cards, recipients can simply swap the brands that the cards apply to for a store of their choice. This way, everyone wins, and no one gets a gift card they don’t think they’ll spend in the near future.

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Corporate Imagery

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Say that you are buying bulk gift cards in order to reward your team for a particularly profitable quarter. This can show employee appreciation and help motivate your team to do even better in the next quarter!

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To make sure the team knows where the gift cards come from, incorporate your branded or corporate imagery, like a brand logo, on the card designs. That’s not possible with physical gift cards unless you custom order them, but it’s easier than ever to do with digital gift cards from Prezzee.

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Consider adding corporate imagery to the gift cards so that your employees know exactly where they came from as soon as they open them in their inboxes or incoming text message.

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Personalization Elements

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Don’t forget to add some personalization elements to your gift card program whenever possible. When you order digital gift cards from Prezzee, you can include personalized video messages to each recipient.

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Recording one video to send company-wide is an easy way to make mass gifting seem more personal. Then, when sending out individual gifts, like for onboardings, work anniversaries, or birthdays, you can then record a specific message for the recipient if you choose to do so.

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Environmental Impact

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Physical gift cards are linked to environmental concerns. As these cards are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and threaten the Earth and the people living there. The main ingredient of plastic gift cards is a carcinogen called vinyl chloride.

It’s harmless to touch, but the production process and breakdown of the plastics after use are where it gets dicey. While it’s possible to dispose of these single-use plastic cards safely, they still often end up dumped illegally in countries like Malaysia, India, Mexico, and Turkey.

Digital gift cards mean that PVC isn’t part of the equation. Sending digital gift cards (like those from Prezzee) is a more environmentally-friendly option that the recipient is sure to appreciate! They can shop guilt-free, knowing unnecessary plastic waste isn’t part of their purchase.

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Pricing and Card Value: What To Know

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Speaking of splurging, think about how much money you want to include on each card.

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If you have a reward budget, you already have your limit or cap for how much money you can spend. If not, check in with HR and your finance team to figure out what money can go where. That limit will affect how many gift cards you can dole out.

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Here’s how Prezzee helps businesses make big-impact, budget-friendly purchases:

• It’s free to sign up
• You can protect eGift cards in a digital wallet
• We have multiple payment options, including bank transfer, credit card, and pre-paid float

Specify the Dollar Amount Per Card

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Whatever you do, don’t skip this step in the checkout process: Always specify the dollar amount you want to purchase per card.

Alternatively, depending on the checkout page, the gift card shipper might first ask you how much money you want to spend in total. Be sure not to put that amount for each card. The last thing you want to do is order 100 gift cards only to discover that each card has $1,000 on it.

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Bulk Buy Gift Cards Ahead of Time (Unless They’re Digital)

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There’s one last thing to remember when buying bulk gift card orders: delivery and timing.

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If you purchase physical gift cards, you’ll want to buy them well ahead of time, especially if you are looking to buy gift cards for a specific retail brand (like a local store in your business’s community).

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That’s doubly true during the holidays, especially considering how slowly offices can run when large parts of the workforce take time off. And then, don’t forget the time it will take to mail or ship them all out afterward.

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None of this advice applies if you purchase eGift cards, of course. eGift cards don’t really run out, and they can be delivered at a time and email inbox of your choice, ensuring that there will be no such thing as late delivery or accidental misdelivery. That’s just another reason why eGift cards are typically considered to be superior to their plastic counterparts.

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Reward Programs Made Simple

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In the end, buying bulk gift cards for your team members could be a great way to reinvigorate them and reward them for all their hard work. Each of your staff members will surely be thrilled when they get a gift card to their favorite retailer, especially if you get a digital eGift card that’s delivered straight to their email inbox.

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Prezzee makes it easier than ever to treat your staff and make sure you never forget to get a gift for an anniversary, an employee of the month, or successful project completion. Check out our eGift card catalog today.

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Sources:

260 million packages disappeared in 2022; how to keep your deliveries safe | KRCR

How to avoid a gift card scam that could ruin the holidays | WCPO ABC 9

Climate minute: Single-use plastics like gift cards could be harmful to the environment | WHAS11 ABC

Plastic gift cards on environmental advocates' 'naughty list' this Christmas | ABC7 Los Angeles

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It’s time to energize your workplace!

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Whether your team is having a sluggish Friday or a sluggish quarter, as their leader, it’s within your power to get them excited about coming to work and turning in their best.

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By incorporating a sales incentive program, you can turn the weekday grind into a fierce (and fun) hustle. Motivate your employees with meaningful gifts and rewards when they go above and beyond.

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What is an incentive program and how do they work?

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An incentive program is any organized system that rewards staff for their productivity or personal development efforts.

Incentive programs can be excellent for motivating your employees and boosting productivity at work. The right incentives can help your employees remain engaged, productive, and happy with their work. Some reports show that incentive programs can help increase employee retention and improve performance and employee morale.

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Incentive programs vs reward programs: What’s the difference?

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First, it’s essential to understand what differentiates an employee incentive program from a reward program. Although the two words are often used interchangeably, they represent different uses and meanings.

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While different, sales incentives and sales rewards can’t exist without each other. An incentive is used for motivation to do something before the action is taken, while a reward is something given after an action or goal is executed.

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Motivation is one of the most powerful tools in our society, but it can’t exist without the possibility of a desired output. Likewise, promising rewards without attaching them to results can be a net negative.

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It’s for this reason that you plan the implementation of your staff incentive programs mindfully, ensuring the goals of both the employee and business are aligned.

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What are the different types of sales incentives and programs?

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There are several types of employee incentives that you can introduce to your company. We’ve listed the most popular forms of employee and sales incentives below.

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Financial employee incentives

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Financial incentives are exclusively monetary-based rewards. This can include incentives such as:

• bonuses
• profit sharing - where a portion of the company’s profits is distributed to employees
• stock options or;
• pay raises.

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Non-monetary employee incentives

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On the other side are non-monetary incentives. These might include the following:

• recognition programs
• professional development
• paid time off or;
• wellness or reimbursement programs.

You can implement incentive programs in-house or form partnerships with third-party services. A popular example of a third-party employee incentive is offering employees a Prezzee eGift Card catering to their interests.

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With over 370 brands to choose from, Prezzee offers an extensive catalogue which is sure to please all of your employees, regardless of their interests and passions.

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Additionally, if you want to offer your employees more variety and choice, consider the Prezzee Smart eGift Card. This ultimate swap card provides recipients access to hundreds of top brands, from Uber Eats to Sephora to famous cruise lines, and more.

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Do incentive programs work?

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According to the Incentive Research Foundation, 80% of successful companies use incentive programs to positively motivate their employees. But just because it’s the industry standard, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a foolproof way to improve efficiency.

For sales incentive programs to work, collaboration needs to be taken in the design stage of a program at every level, to ensure everyone’s goals are aligned. Goals need to be realistic and attainable for an employee, but they also need to align to the greater goals of a company. It’s important to be intentional with your incentive program – take time in planning your program and consulting all parties before announcing what sales incentives will be on offer.

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Build efficiency and team morale with meaningful employee incentive programs

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When designed collaboratively, and using the incentive format that makes the most sense for both employees and employers, incentive programs can be a mutually beneficial addition to your company’s policy. Whether you choose to add more professional development courses to your company calendar, or hand out regular Prezzee eGift Cards to those recognized as going above and beyond in the week, incentivizing your employees will always be a win.

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Sources:
What benefits can employers offer to improve employee retention? | SHRM

Ten Things Top Performing Companies Do Differently

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Your clients are the oil keeping your company steaming ahead at full speed, and it’s always important to let them know how much they mean to you. Giving your clients that recognition is a fantastic way to keep them with you for years down the line.

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Still, it can be hard to know exactly what to get each individual client, especially when you’re not totally sure what they already own, want, or like. Let’s take a look at some unique client gift ideas that they are sure to cherish forever, no matter what their preferences might be.

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1. Prezzee eGift Cards

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When you get someone a gift, you want it to be something that they’ll actually use. With clients, it can be hard to develop a super close and personal relationship that lets you know what kind of gifts they’d enjoy the most. For that reason, you can never go wrong with an eGift card.

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Digital gift cards let your clients choose exactly what they want their gift to be, giving them the opportunity to spend a little bit of dough on something that they might not have otherwise. But even then, it can be hard to narrow down your options to a retailer they’d like the most.

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In those situations, you can use a Prezzee Smart eGift Card, which is the ultimate swap card that turns into hundreds of brands and retailers, giving your recipient a chance to choose what they want from the link of brands and retailers in our catalog.

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We get it — sometimes, a gift card can feel a tad impersonal. However, Prezzee makes it fun by letting you personalize with a customized written message, photo, or even a video message. It makes this simple client appreciation gift something even more elite and memorable. You don’t even need a physical address to send your digital gift card: just an email or phone number is all you need.

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2. Reusable Water Bottle

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Some of the best gifts are also ones that are functional and can actually be used during your daily life. Reusable water bottles are an excellent client gift idea because they can be used throughout their daily lives, are environmentally friendly, and can also work as advertising for you.

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It’s a practical gift that can let your recipient fill up their bottle with water, coffee, or other beverages throughout the day. Considering that reusable water bottles can cut back on single-use plastics to better the environment, this is a gift that your client can feel good about using.

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But you can also put your company logo or insignia onto the side of this water bottle to benefit you indirectly. This piece of company swag is basically a walking advertisement for you, as people might ask your client about the logo on their water bottle, spurring a word-of-mouth conversation that leads a potential new client your way. Since 88% of consumers trust word-of-mouth advertising more than traditional marketing, this could be a nice boost.

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You can even use these at events and meetups to give out gifts to new leads. Most reusable water bottles with customization options aren’t too expensive when you buy in bulk, either.

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3. Bottle of Wine

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Bottles of wine are quintessential client gifts — and for a good reason. Wine is elegant and often on the pricier side, making your client feel cherished and valued. Plus, there are other benefits to wine outside of just its flavor.

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For one, wine can be used socially. Your client might choose to share their bottle with you and a partner, giving you the ability to network and get to know your client even better during off hours. Similarly, wine can be used to commemorate occasions like client milestones and more.

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You can enhance this client appreciation gift even more by pairing it with a wine glass personalized with your company logo or a stainless steel tumbler that can keep their wine at the perfect temperature, even during beach days or outdoor adventures. Or learn about which types of wine they prefer before you buy. If you don’t know which bottle they want or you simply want to give them the final choice, send them a wine gift card.

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Just be cautious and make sure that your client enjoys wine in the first place, as this may be an awkward gift to give if alcohol is against their values.

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4. Wireless Phone Charger

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If you need a client gift idea that is universally liked and accepted, then you can’t go wrong with a gadget for someone’s phone. Everyone uses a smartphone, and a wireless phone charger is a sleek, thoughtful gift that they’ll actually be able to put to use.

These charge your phone without even needing to be plugged in, making them a perfect bedside or desk-side companion.

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5. Heated Coffee Mug

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If there’s one thing that every working professional seems to run on, it’s coffee and tea. Caffeine is the gas in our tanks, but it can be frustrating to run back and forth from the microwave every time it starts to get cold. A heated coffee mug is a highly thoughtful gift that can completely revolutionize the way they drink their joe.

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A heated coffee mug can help to keep their favorite hot beverages at the perfect temperature throughout the day, ensuring that every sip feels warm and soothing. While these can sometimes be a tad more expensive, it’s a gift that is great for locking in a client sale and is practically fail-safe.

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6. Desk-Side Succulent Plant

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Plants have the power to benefit an indoor space, not just because of aesthetics, but for actual health reasons too. In fact, houseplants have been found to improve air quality, reduce stress, improve environmental wellness, support cognitive health, and even improve a sense of well-being.

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This is one gift that clients can place on their office desks or their bedroom, allowing them to add functional decor to their space. The only downside is that plants are an added responsibility; no one likes looking at an orchid slowly dying on their kitchen counter.

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This makes a succulent one of the best options for indoor plants because they are essentially self-caring. You don’t need to do anything to a succulent besides put it in a pleasant location with a suitable amount of sun. This makes it so that you’re not adding onto any stress that your client might already be feeling, but you’re helping them achieve some wellness in their day-to-day life.

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7. Fruit Basket

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Thoughtful gifts can last forever, but they don’t always have to. Some of the best gifts can disappear in just a few minutes, like an edible fruit basket. These are gorgeous arrangements that are perfect for a quick photo before diving in.

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A fruit basket with some chocolate-covered strawberries are fabulous for celebrating milestones, anniversaries, or birthdays in lieu of the usual cake or cupcakes. Fruit is a much healthier option that is also more accessible for most people in terms of diet restrictions, making this gift an easy one to share (or keep entirely to yourself — we won’t judge).

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8. Self-Care Gift Basket

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Sending a client just one gift is often enough, but it’s also nice to send them multiple things to keep the good vibes going. And a self-care gift basket (or a gift basket of any kind) can let your clients have multiple options to choose from in one fell swoop.

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A self-care gift basket can remind your client to take a step back and care for themselves. Fill a basket with soaps, a spa eGift card, lotions, incense, essential oils, and other products to show them that you care about their well-being.

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Client gift baskets filled with self-care products are a great choice when you don’t know your client well because there’s bound to be something in there that they enjoy.

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‍9. Memorable Experience

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Client Gifts don’t always need to be a tangible object. In fact, some of the best gifts are experiences. You can give your client the gift of an activity or an adventure that they are sure to remember for years to come. Perhaps you can get them a voucher for a high-end dinner that they wouldn’t have otherwise attended.

Other ideas include concert tickets, movie tickets, or zoo and aquarium vouchers. Put some thought in and think about what your client enjoys, then decide from there. As long as you put in some effort, it is hard to go wrong.

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10. Portable Projector

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Looking for a unique client gift idea that’s definitely off the beaten path? A portable projector lets your client watch movies, TV shows, and other forms of media without needing to carry around a laptop or a screen. Plus, these can be used to really enhance a cinematic experience at a backyard movie-watching party.

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Putting thought into your client gifts is always worthwhile

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Giving gifts to your clients shows them how much they mean to you. It’s also a simple way to make new clients feel more loved and welcome, giving them even more of a reason to stay with your company for a longer period of time.

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The main factor to consider when giving a client gift is the personal touch and sentimental value. Custom client gifts tend to mean more than those that are expensive, but there’s a good way to strike a balance. Consider things like company-branded swag, wine bottles, or the gift of experiences to make an impression.

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Or, give them the gift of choice with a Prezzee eGift card (including international options) that allows them to get whatever gift they want. Sign up for Prezzee Business and send your first client  gift card today that they won’t soon forget.

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Sources:

​​What Makes a Great Gift? | The New York Times

How reusable bottles and containers can help save the ocean | Oceana

Health benefits of indoor plants | Piedmont

Fruits | MyPlate

Why Word of Mouth Beats Advertising | Business News Daily

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Customers remember those businesses that not only provide a meaningful service to them but work hard to build trustworthy, meaningful relationships. No matter what service or product you might provide for a customer, memorable impressions are built on rewarding engagement.

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Most businesses already realize that it’s essential to thank their customers. That form of gratitude is an expectation that most customers already have, however, a simple “Thank you for your purchase” won’t leave a particularly memorable impression.

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Instead, stand out by giving your clients tangible rewards for their business. Foster a professional relationship with your client, giving them a real incentive to stay connected. At Prezzee, we’ll show you how: Below is our guide on drive sales with customer loyalty programs and rewards.

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Reward regulars with customer perks

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Clients feel privileged when they are rewarded for their regular business. When a company acknowledges a customer who's returning to do business again, it can create a mutually beneficial connection.

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Show your customers their business is valuable by repaying them with benefits, perks, discounts, and other privileges reserved just for regulars. In return, you’ll build brand loyalty because the customer knows they can come back to get even better rewards and perks.

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Studies have shown that people respond well to brands with loyalty programs, frequently becoming regulars. With the internet and online shopping creating so much competition, it helps to reach out to customers and show them that doing business with you can be a uniquely privileged exchange, offering some real return for their investment.

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Loyalty programs that incentivize customers to return

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There are plenty of loyalty programs out there that reward those customers who consistently return for business.

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Some of the most successful customer loyalty programs that businesses often employ include:

• Membership programs offer special discounts and coupons that are applied to purchases from members only. Members can also receive unique discounts or rewards during the holiday season or special occasions. Offering exclusive warranties, support, and other protection can create brand loyalty.
• Points program, where customer purchases earn them points or credit, which can then be exchanged for more products in the future or to get a discount on a certain item or service.
• Giveaway programs encourage returning customers. These programs offer giveaway tickets to customers for each purchase they make. Therefore, the more often they purchase, the higher their chances of winning the giveaway.
• Customer rewards programs encourage brand loyalty. Offer customers continuous rewards for returning to your services or spending over a certain amount. These rewards could be a free item, discounted service, or even a featured eGift card for a related service or product.

Customer referral programs can expand your customer base

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Customer referral programs are some of the best incentive strategies to bring in new customers. This type of incentive rewards existing customers for referring people to your business.

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The best way to use this type of incentive is to reward both the existing customer and the new customer they brought in. This way, the referred customer is also incentivized to go through and give your business a try.

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These programs can be quite lucrative, as statistics have shown that people are more likely to try a product directly recommended by a friend or family member. Also, those clients who get the referral are more likely to remain loyal, especially with a customer referral program.

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Rewards for a client referral may include exclusive discounts, free items, or complimentary services. However, for this program to work, the catch has to be that both the client and the person they referred to get to enjoy the benefits.

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If you’re debating on rolling out a customer referral program, it might be advantageous to check in with your base in the form of a survey (handing out eGift Cards as incentives to complete it, of course). Research shows that if over 90% of customer feedback rates the product as “very good,” they’re more likely to recommend the item to their circle. Free survey options can include Google Forms, Survey Monkey, and more.

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Once you’ve identified the target customer and perks for the referral program, it’s time to spread the word. Email campaigns, newsletters, and call-to-actions (CTAs) on blogs can help get the word out to your most loyal followers.

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Incentivize customers with seasonal and holiday gifts

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Nothing will keep your business fresh on someone’s mind like an unexpected gift. As the seasons turn, reminding your customer base that you appreciate their business is a great way to cultivate a sense of community.

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As the holidays kick off, people are bombarded with dozens upon dozens of advertisements. Make your ads stand out by moving beyond the “Buy this” or “Shop now” verbiage. Sending a free goodie to people in the top tier of your customer rewards program, for example, is a surefire way to get noticed. A thoughtful holiday gift is just the thing to let everyone know you’ve got their back.

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While a free gift is ideal — like a digital gift for essentials — you can also offer exclusive deals, discounts, or perhaps a free service. Depending on your business, you could get more creative with your gifts, especially for longtime customers.

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Check with your finance team to see what the annual budget allows for, but keep in mind that 90% of those who receive a free gift stated they would likely return, according to recent surveys.

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Use social media giveaways to incentivize customers to engage with your brand

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The premise is simple: on social media, you raffle off a particular product or service that you offer as a free prize. The only condition to enter the giveaway is that each person follows your account, likes the post, and shares it. (Generally, a more expensive product or exclusive service works best for building hype.)

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After that, your customers promote the giveaway for you, sharing it on their profiles. As the giveaway posts spread, it captures the attention of new customers. Just like that, you can gain troves of new followers. Even after the giveaway has ended, your online engagement will have seen a massive boost, with many people discovering your business and hopefully staying for the long run.

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Not loving the idea of a giveaway? Other ways to use social media for incentive marketing include:

• Tag-to-win (Tag two friends below, and you’ll all receive a prize)
• Caption contest (The prize goes to the most-liked comment or hashtag idea)
• Selfie contest (Competitors take and post a selfie, tagging the hosting account in the picture or caption)

Social media offers tons of creative possibilities, but there are hard and fast rules for contests depending on which platform you use. For example, on Instagram, you must state the terms and conditions, including who is eligible (based on country/age/etc.). You cannot prompt users to tag themselves in photos en masse, especially if they aren’t in that photo. More legalities include releasing Instagram from possible liabilities, including that Instagram is not affiliated with the giveaway in any way.

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Why are customer loyalty programs important for your business?

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As inflation increases and we recover from the pandemic, Forbes reported that customer acquisition and retention are determined by perceived value and savings. More people are looking to remain loyal to brands that use discounts, rewards systems, and other perks to repay them over time with a better value on products or services. This remains true even when the costs of those products rise.

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Savings matter more to today’s customers than before. A thoughtful brand loyalty incentive program is a convenient way for them to save on brands they already love. These make it easier and more affordable for customers to feel comfortable making purchases with your brand.

The best way to stand out as a business today is to offer unique customer rewards and loyalty programs that really show gratitude.

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If you’re looking for five-star prizes, rewards for a giveaway, or virtual gifts of gratitude for your regular customers, Prezzee can help. We have a huge selection of eGift cards that can be sent to customers, clients, and employees — really, anyone who deserves a smile and a shoutout. You can purchase digital gift cards for specific products, fun experiences, and services or simply give credit to the recipient to spend as they please with the Prezzee Smart eGift Card.

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With a unique, personalized gift, you can help create a more personal relationship with your clients, allowing them to feel closer to your company’s culture and community.

Sources:

• ‍50 Significant Referral Marketing Statistics: 2023 Data Analysis & Market Share | Finances Online
• ‍‍‍Success Qualtrics | Qualtrics XM Institute‍
• Increase Sales And Brand Loyalty By Running a ‘Gift with Purchase’ Campaign | Global Brands Magazine‍
• How to Host an Instagram Giveaway or Contest | US Chamber of Commerce‍
• Brand Loyalty Amid Inflation: How To Retain Your Customers | Forbes

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Everyone likes to be recognized, and your employees are no different.

The good news is that you don’t need any fancy employee recognition software to make your team feel seen and heard. The more that you verbalize positive feedback, the more it shows you’re paying attention — which results in more trust earned from your team.

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According to Forbes, a study showed that nearly 90% of employees who were shown recognition from their boss felt higher levels of trust in that manager. However, only 48% showed signs of trusting the authoritative figures of those who did not receive recognition.

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Ready to be seen as a better people leader, increase business results, and make your team feel appreciated? Keep reading to find out how simple it is to accomplish all three with the right employee recognition ideas and strategy.

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What is employee recognition?

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Recognition is defined as “the acknowledgment of something's existence or validity.” This might sound like a simple and easy act — because it is! All you need is some organization (a simple calendar to start) and a little creativity.

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In terms of your business, showing your employees recognition can come in an array of forms, whether it’s a mentioning an outstanding employee in a speech given at a company-wide meeting, or, through an employee recognition gift sent to their email. Each form of employee recognition has its own unique advantages, and knowing what’s the best way to show recognition will be specific to the wants and needs of your business and the employee themselves.

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The benefits of employee recognition

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Among many more examples, the top reasons to make employee recognition a priority include:

• Positive business outcomes
• Employee retention (decreased employee turnover and creates a positive environment for top performers)
• The encouragement of core values

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Do employee recognition programs work?

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Let’s take employee retention as an example, as it can be one of the most cost-saving areas for your company. Glassdoor’s Employee Appreciation Survey showed that 53% of employees reported appreciation from their boss motivated them to stay longer at their company. What might surprise you is that from that same group, 68% of respondents said their manager was already actively displaying a sufficient amount of appreciation.

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This proves what we learned before: appreciation can’t be reserved for merely one holiday out of the year. Keep it continuous — in this case, more is more!

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What are some measurable criteria for employee recognition?

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Whist it’s important to regularly show your company’s teams and individuals recognition, having a measurable employee recognition criterion can make giving recognition easier and more valuable. This isn’t to say the act of giving recognition should be overly formalized, more that a criteria can help guide you and make noticing important employee moments easier to recognize.

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The top criteria for employee recognition include:

• Reward sales performance
  It’s an effective motivator when we remind our top performers that we notice and appreciate their hard work and ability to excel within the sales team. By celebrating and rewarding these employees, we can incentivize them to continue to push on and reach their sales goals.
• Recognize individual progress
  While leaderboards and Employee of the Month awards are fantastic, you want to bring a human element to this. It's important to recognize individual growth and progress to maintain employee retention. Personalized, face-to-face expressions of gratitude from leaders make a lasting impact. By appreciating our employees when they improve or show growth, we remind them that their hard work and progress are noticed.
• Celebrate exemplary attendance
  Recognizing punctual employees is important, as attendance directly impacts productivity and profitability. Absences and tardiness can lead to decreased profits and negatively affect team dynamics. The CDC said that absenteeism costs roughly $1,685 per employee every year, for a total of $225.8 billion in the United States alone.
• Acknowledge important milestones
  There are many corporate milestones that are worthy of recognition in an employee’s time at your company. These include passing probation, yearly work anniversaries, and birthdays. Although not directly tied to company efficiency (like sales performance), employee recognition gifted for milestones tells your employees that you value their overall contributions to the team.
• Appreciate effective team work
  Real, honest, compassionate teamwork is something that can transform workspaces. When employees feel they can rely on one another or lean on each other, you’ve created a positive network of support where a business can thrive. Those who contribute to this positive culture of teamwork deserve to be recognized.
• Reward a positive attitude
  Recognize employees who consistently maintain a positive attitude, lift spirits and contribute to a cheerful work environment. It is not easy to wear a happy face to work all year long, especially with the many difficulties and stressors that come with daily life.
• Recognize compassionate customer support
  Your customer support team takes on the responsibility of being the voice for your business. They face a variety of different clients, all with different moods, stress levels, agendas, and so on, being careful to represent the company with respect and patience. Those that go out of their way to help customers reflect positively on the entire company as a whole.

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How to create an employee recognition program

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Now that you have some criteria for what events warrant employee recognition, it’s important to strategically plan how you intend to execute your company’s recognition program. Below are some key steps that will help you in developing an effective, productivity-driving employee recognition program.

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Use a survey to guide the development of your recognition program

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Poll the experts — your employees. You won’t know what will motivate your team the most until you ask.

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An easy way to do this is by sending a Slack message (or whatever messaging software you use) to team members with a link to an online survey. Remember to keep it anonymous so your employees won’t feel reluctant to submit ideas.

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Ask specific questions to help guide responses, such as the following:

• What motivates you the most?
  • For example, fun events, monetary rewards, time off, or social recognition.
• How long should a rewards program last?
  • For example, a month, quarter, year, or ongoing.
• What do you need the most motivation for?
  • For example: hitting sales targets, obtaining new clients, or reaching a new career milestone.
• What type of rewards system do you prefer?
  • For example, company-wide contests, incentives, a personal structure to challenge themselves, or teams vs. teams.

You can use the examples we gave here in a multiple-choice format or leave it open-ended.

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Determine an employee recognition program budget

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Setting a budget is crucial to setting realistic expectations for you and your employees and will also help structure the employee recognition program.

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Once you have considered the employee-submitted ideas, start grouping common entry types into themes. Determine which themes will accommodate your budget.

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Identify meaningful employee recognition rewards

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Once you’ve established the rewards system, time frame, and budget, it’s time for the fun part — determining the reward. Make it easy on yourself and keep it simple — a meaningful reward can also be easy.

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Employee gifts don’t have to be complicated, expensive, or grandiose. A meaningful reward will make your employees' lives easier or be a perk they couldn’t obtain otherwise.

Examples of valuable employee recognition gift ideas can include:

• Gift cards: The functionality of gift cards is famously easy. Make it even easier with instant digital delivery with Prezzee eGift cards. With options like Target, Chevron, HelloFresh, Airbnb, and hundreds more in Prezzee’s catalog, you can send your employees rewards they’ll actually use.
• Performance swag: Whether we want to admit it or not, a new wireless keyboard can be exhilarating. A customized mousepad with an image of their pet? Even better. You’ll earn some brownie points by providing an option to make their workday a little easier.
• Extra PTO day: Some may say an extra day off might be more valuable than a monetary reward. (Check with your human resources contact first to ensure that granting additional PTO days is approved.)

Ask for employee feedback over the course of the program

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Asking for feedback is an essential step in ensuring the adoption of your employee recognition program. It’s always a good idea to keep your employees in the loop to keep them involved and further invested in the reward system. When a teammate feels like they are being heard, they are much more likely to stay engaged and participate.

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Try periodically emailing a survey link to your team’s distribution list to monitor the program’s effectiveness and perception. You can use a ranking system (1 through 5 is best), multiple choice of provided answers, or an open reply box for responses.

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Examples of questions you can use for the feedback survey include:

• What about this program is keeping you motivated?
• What would you like to see continued? Discontinued?
• What is a feature or roadblock of the program that is hindering your usage, if any?
• What’s one feature you wish could be added to the reward platform?
• Does the timeframe of when points must be earned to redeem prizes work for you? Why or why not?
• Do you enjoy working independently towards rewards, or would you rather join forces in groups? (or vice versa)
• What are more ways you’d like included as opportunities to earn points? Are there any service awards you’d like to incorporate?

Look at critical themes across the board — what do most responses have in common? Don’t throw away outlier answers: this is an opportunity to understand what certain employees may need differently to be set up for success.

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Prezzee is here to help with employee recognition ideas

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At the end of the day, don’t overthink it. If you put effort towards showing up and bringing purpose and encouragement through appreciation each day, your team will notice. Remember: if you stay continuous with your signals of appreciation and keep them genuine, timely, and specific, you can’t go wrong.

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Sources:

• ‍Why Employees Need Both Recognition and Appreciation | HBR‍
• Anniversary Gifts by Year: Our Traditional and Modern Guide
• ‍How Recognition Makes WorkHuman | SHRM‍
• 3 Reasons Why Employee Recognition Will Always Matter | Forbes‍
• Employers To Retain Half Of Their Employees Longer If Bosses Showed More Appreciation | Glassdoor ‍
• Formal and informal employee recognition – which works best? | HRZone‍
• It’s about time: Immediate rewards boost motivation | Cornell Chronicle‍
• What is Homeostasis? | Scientific American‍
• Positive Reinforcement and Operant Conditioning: Examples | Verywell Mind

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The festive season is a great time to celebrate the successes of the year. It is also an opportunity to get together with co-workers and have some well-earned fun. To get into the Christmas spirit, some companies choose to partake in Secret Santa. This is a chance to get creative and show your team members how well you know them . It can also come with a healthy dose of competition. Who will give the best present and who will receive it? Only Santa knows. It’s a secret! If your office is doing Secret Santa this year, let us help you nail the perfect gift with our tips below.

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What is Secret Santa

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Secret Santa is a Christmas tradition where a group of friends, family or colleagues anonymously exchange gifts. Everyone then tries to guess which ‘Secret Santa’ gave them their gift. It’s a game that is full of suspense, surprise and Christmas spirit. Secret Santa has been around since the 1970’s and is still a game beloved by many.

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How does Secret Santa work?

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Secret Santa is a simple game, making it perfect for busy corporate environments. All you need to do is:

1. Write all names on a piece of paper.
2. Have each draw a name from a bowl or hat.
3. Assign a price limit for the gifts.
4. Set a date for the Secret Santa celebration.
5. Enjoy the guessing game when each employee opens their gift!

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5 Office Secret Santa Ideas

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Once you’ve received your name and your budget, the next step is choosing the gift! Here are five ideas to help get the creative juices flowing.

1. Something for themselves

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After a long working year, now is the perfect time for some self-care. An item that pampers them or encourages self-care is sure to be well-received. You can choose something specific like a City Cave Gift Card to treat them to a nice floating session or let them explore the world of self-care and wellness with a Pamper Gift Card.

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2. Something for their home office

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If they work from home, why not get them something for their workspace? With a Myer Gift Card they can dive into the world of lamps, blankets, fans and more - all items that can add an element of comfort to their home office.

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3. Something for their holiday

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With Christmas coming up, many of our coworkers will be getting ready to go on holidays. Help make this holiday season un with an experience gift card from RedBalloon they can use on their travels. Even if they’re not travelling this Christmas, something for their time-off will be appreciated.

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4. Something for their passion

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Giving them a gift that supports their interests outside of work is a thoughtful choice. Are they currently learning a new skill? Have they taken up a new hobby? If they are a jack of all trades, a Bunnings Warehouse gift card can help them get the job done. If they’re an avid cook, a Barbeques Galore Gift Card can help them take their holiday bbqing to the next level.

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5. Something for an inside joke

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You spend five days a week with this person. That’s more time than we spend with our loved ones! Chances are, you have shared a few funny experiences together. Think about an item that could bring back positive memories shared at work. If they are obsessed with a certain snack in the kitchen, a Woolworths Supermarket gift card could be the way to go.

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Secret Santa Gifts FAQ

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What are the best Secret Santa gifts for coworkers?

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Hopefully, you will have a bit of time to brainstorm gift ideas after you have received your Secret Santa name. Consider what you have learnt about this person over the years. What do you talk about on Monday morning? How did they spend their weekend? Is their desk decorated with anything specific that could provide inspiration? Whilst Secret Santa is not a serious activity, remember that your recipient will be your colleague. With this in mind, make sure that your gift is appropriate for the office. When in doubt, choose a gift that aligns with their interests and your company’s culture.

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How much should you spend on gifts for Secret Santa at work?

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Every company is different so there is no one correct amount. The amount spent on a Secret Santa gift should be determined by your team leader and communicated in advance. A value that is reasonable and within everyone’s means will prevent anyone from missing out on participating. Part of the fun is finding a meaningful gift within the confines of your budget. With Prezzee you can buy gift cards from $5 to $500.

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Why are gift cards the perfect Secret Santa present?

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The person who receives a gift card during Secret Santa is bound to be the envy of others. It allows them to get whatever is on their Christmas wish list. With a Prezzee Smart e gift card, your recipient has their favourite brand in hand and hundreds more. Select “gift as Santa'' when buying your gift card and your identity remains unknown to the recipient. Ready to be a mystery Santa? Browse our full range of gift cards now for personalised gifting with Prezzee.

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This year, HR professionals everywhere are facing a unique challenge. They know that recognition and rewards programs are absolutely key to employee retention and morale. At the same time, however, they’re being asked to “do more with less”, just like many other stakeholders in their firms. To make the situation even more challenging, many of them are facing the challenge of structuring a program that works in an equal and fair manner for remote and hybrid workers as well. Something’s gotta give – or does it?

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1. The Case For Recognition And Rewards

Years of research and real-world experience have proven what most HR professionals already knew to be true: workplace recognition, coupled with an effective rewards program, has serious real-world benefits in the areas of morale, retention, and even recruitment! But there’s still a demonstrated gap at many firms between what employees want and what they get. In a recent survey, more than a third of employees said they would benefit from monthly or even weekly recognition!

2. How And Why To Recognise?

Even the savviest HR professionals often miss the big picture when it comes to workplace recognition. It’s important to have a program that gives employees positive feedback from their superiors, but peer-to-peer recognition programs can provide a surprisingly large boost to morale. It’s good to know that the people around you know and appreciate your efforts.

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“Attributed” recognition is how most companies do it, letting the recipient know who’s appreciating them, but there’s also some data to show that the occasional bit of anonymous recognition makes a big difference as well. You probably won’t be surprised to hear that employees tend to see anonymous recognition as being more fundamentally authentic and heartfelt than attributed recognition. So consider adding that to your program as well.

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Should you recognise behaviour or achievement? That’s a trick question! You need to recognise both, because your top performers can make a difference in both categories. Achievement speaks for itself, but behaviour can foster a culture where peers and partners can achieve as well. It’s a big multiplier for excellence! Just as critically, recognising both behaviour and achievement makes it easier to reward employees who might not have a KPI or stated deliverable on which to excel.

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The last question is the toughest. Should workplace recognition be social, where everybody hears about it, or private? Again – you guessed it! – the best practice is to combine both. The obvious reason is because different people communicate and express themselves differently, with some wanting to shine among their peers and others preferring a quieter existence. But there’s also data to suggest that different situations within the workplace call for different strategies. If you have an employee who works tirelessly to handle a compliance or risk issue, for example, you might not want to publicise that across the firm. Similarly, there can be real morale value in publicly spotlighting the achievements of people who have a low profile in your organisation. Consider the recent viral post of the high school janitor who got a championship ring when his team won the state championship. What does that say about how that school district values its people?

3. The Risk Behind The Rewards

Most workplace recognition programs come with some sort of rewards, whether they’re simply ornamental, like a plaque, or absolutely extravagant, like the console televisions that were so popular in sales contests a few decades ago. In all cases, however, most employees would be surprised to learn just how much overhead and cost there is around rewards that can feel relatively modest once they reach their destination. That company-branded windbreaker from a brand nobody recognises? It costs more than you’d think. Upgrade the brand to one that the employees actually want, and now you’re talking real money. For something that might end up on the floor of a closet.

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In 2023, it’s also important to be diversity-conscious. Is your gifting program compatible with different cultures and beliefs? What about age, body shapes, or gender identification? Are these decisions that you feel comfortable making on everyone’s behalf? Doesn’t the definition of “corporate responsibility” extend to making sure your workplace rewards make an equally positive impact across a broad diversity of recipients? These are tough questions, and they won’t get easier in the years ahead.

4. Prezzee Has The Answer

You probably know Prezzee as a world-class provider of fantastic and flexible gifting products. We help people celebrate holidays, show the love, and make someone’s day. But we’re also committed to building workplace recognition and rewards programs around the globe. What do we offer?

• ‍Total Flexibility‍
  • When you choose Prezzee Business for a recognition program, you’re automatically leveraging the hundreds of world-class brands and vendors who trust us to put their logo on virtual gift cards. Your employees will have all the freedom and flexibility they need to make their own choices about their rewards. Forget the stuffy old catalogues of outdated clothing and useless trinkets. Prezzee lets your top performers get what they want, while still feeling connected to your program.‍
• Helping Employees In The Real World‍
  • In today’s economic conditions, some employees need more than recognition; they need a helping hand. Which is where Prezzee comes in, with a full roster of brand partners that includes providers of daily necessities like food, fuel, pharmacy, and other items that can make an immediate difference for your employees. And with our Smart eGift Cards, the recipient can choose their vendor in privacy. ‍
• Responsible Cost Control‍
  • There’s nothing more frustrating for a recognition administrator than spending hundreds of dollars, or more, on rewards that feel cheap or low-value to their recipients. With Prezzee Business, you know exactly the impact your rewards will make. The cost is controlled, and the rewards are obvious to your people. Our gift cards can also help people leverage their own buying power; imagine the positive feedback you’ll get when “a Prezzee” puts someone over the top on the funds they need to make a dream purchase!‍
• Real Partnership‍
  • We understand workplace recognition and rewards like it’s our job – because it is. Let our people help your people determine the right program, at a price you can afford.

5. In The End, It’s About Your People

You know that workplace recognition makes a difference. You know that rewards are a big part. Now it’s time to make everyday, regardless of occasion, shine for your people. Prezzee is here to make it happen with you!

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Deciding to retire after decades of hard work is a huge milestone that is more than worth celebrating. If there is someone in your life who is about to enter the golden years, you’re probably starting to think about how you can wish them well. Whether they’re a loved one, your boss or a fellow colleague, we’re here to help you find the perfect farewell gift.

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Retirement Gift Ideas

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Something for the home

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Now that they’re leaving the workforce, they might be spending more time around the house. Help them spruce up their home or garden with these trusted homewares brands. 

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Myer eGift Card

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Myer is a one-stop-shop for all things interior decor. Think  elegant champagne glasses for dinner parties or a luxurious blanket for lazy afternoons on the couch. 

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Freedom eGift Card

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Freshening up your living space can help you truly embrace a fresh start. A new colour scheme or updated piece of furniture can make your home feel brand new. With a Freedom gift card, they can browse a wide range of homewares including rugs, couches, armchairs and more. 

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Bunnings Warehouse eGift Card

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Retirement is a great time to find a new hobby or get back to a long-forgotten DIY project. If they have a green thumb or a penchant for building things, a Bunnings gift card can help them get the job done. They can explore hundreds of home improvement products, outdoor supplies and, of course, the sausage sizzle stand. 

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Something for Their Travels

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With retirement often comes travel. If your giftee is about to say bon voyage for a while, check out these cards that are both thoughtful yet practical.

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Accor Hotels eGift Card

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Even if they don’t have travel plans on the card, you could treat them to a staycation with an Accor Hotels gift card. This trusted brand offers great deals on hotels, resorts and apartments across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. That means they can enjoy fluffy robes, great views and room service without even leaving their city. 

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Flight Centre eGift Card

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If you know they have itchy feet but haven’t yet booked their travel, why not help contribute to the cost? A Flight Centre gift card is a generous gift that can get them where they want to go. You can help them find the best prices for flights, hotels, tours and cruises. Then, wait for your postcard in the mail! 

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Something for Their Adventures

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With a new chapter comes a time for a new adventures and experiences 

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Anaconda eGift Card

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Have they always wanted to walk the Inca Trail or climb Mt. Mount Kosciuszko? There’s no time like the present! Support adventures in the great outdoors with an Anaconda gift card as a retirement present. From water bottles to tents, there is a wide range of outdoor accessories to explore. 

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BCF eGift Card

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What’s more relaxing than enjoying the sounds of nature as you wait to bring home a fish for dinner? If they’ve traded a work laptop for a fishing rod, a BCF gift card could help support their hobby. BCF is Australia’s leading boating, camping and fishing store. Whether it’s a pair of water shoes, an esky or a swanky new fishing rod, they can find it at BCF. 

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ClassBento eGift Card

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With a ClassBento gift card it’s easy to try an activity that is completely different from the normal 9-5. Retirement is a great time to get your hands dirty and learn a new skill. Whether it’s pottery, art, jewellery or latte art, there is a class for everyone. 

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Popular Retirement Gifts for Men

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A watch is a traditional retirement gift that he can keep for many years. You could help him upgrade his current timepiece or add to his collection with a gift card from Watch Direct. If he loves going to the movies, a gift card for Event Cinemas could help him see the latest releases. Or, if you’re more likely to see him on the green, a gift card for Drummond Golf can provide all the gear needed to hit a hole-in-one. A set of golf clubs is a popular retirement gift that encourages relaxation and fun during this next chapter of life. 

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Popular Retirement Gifts for Women

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If she’s a fashion lover, the Prezzee Smart eGift Card for Her can open up a world of shopping opportunities. You could help celebrate her lifetime of work with a timeless piece of jewellery or a new designer handbag. Or, if she’s a real thrill-seeker, she might appreciate  a little less traditional retirement gift. You could surprise her with a RedBalloon gift card. There are plenty of hair-raising experiences to choose from. It’s never too late in life to learn how to fly a helicopter or drive a race-car! 

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Foolproof Retirement Present Ideas

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When it comes to celebrating someone who is about to retire, consider how they like spending their weekends. Chances are, they’ll be doing a lot more of what they love, so think about a gift that supports their hobbies. When in doubt, a beautiful meal at a fine-dining restaurant is a festive way to celebrate the occasion. You could also give them the gift of choice with a Prezzee Smart eGift Card. This gift card gives them the option to choose from hundreds of participating retailer gift cards to find exactly what they want. 

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FAQs

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What is a good retirement gift?

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A good gift for retirement is one that facilitates adventure and travel in this next chapter of life. A gift card that allows them to do or see something new will be much appreciated. 

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How much money should you give for a retirement gift?

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How much money you spend on a retirement gift depends on your relationship to the recipient and how many people are contributing to the gift. If multiple people are chipping in for retirement gifts for coworkers, your individual amounts will be smaller. 

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When should retirement gifts be given?

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A popular time to present a retiree with their gift is on their final day of work. Whether you are a colleague of theirs or a loved one, timing your gift with their exit from the workforce makes it an even more special day. 

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Are you thinking of giving your employees a gift or holding a big Employee Appreciation Day party? That’s a great idea! More managers should take extra steps to show their workers that they care and appreciate their hard work.

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But your efforts will only land if you know the right things to say. Many folks have trouble finding the right words regarding employee recognition (some of whom you might not speak to every day). 

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That’s what this guide is for. Read on as we break down ten of the best employee appreciation messages to send, which are perfect to include in personalised eGift cards.

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What To Keep in Mind When Writing/Recording Appreciation Messages To Staff

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Some appreciation messages are better than others. In many cases, what makes the difference is how thoughtful you can be when writing or recording your words of appreciation for employees at an individual level. 

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Here are some things to keep in mind when drafting appreciation words for employees:

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Mention Milestones To Make People Feel Important

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Always mention important milestones or benchmarks in an employee’s professional career. For example, if an employee recently passed their ten year anniversary at your company, why not mention it in an appreciation message?

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Use Your Sense of Humour To Boost Engagement

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For both employees and managers, meaningful messages can feel a tad awkward. But if you inject a little humour into your written or recorded message, you can put everyone at ease. 

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Humour absolutely belongs in the workplace — it decreases burnout and boosts creativity. However, workers must toe the line between laughter and liability. Give it a go, and if you have doubts, ask your HR department.

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Pronounce the Employee’s Name Perfectly

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Depending on the size of your organisation, you might have one or more employees you aren’t very familiar with, some of whom may have names you find difficult to pronounce. In that case, look up how to pronounce those unfamiliar names accurately. 

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Pronouncing an employee’s name incorrectly negates the kind intent behind the message. Asking their direct manager to help you pronounce the name properly is key to making the right kind of impact. Plus, it’ll help you avoid any future social awkwardness if you have a personal conversation with that employee in the future.

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Go the Extra Mile — Write a Separate Employee Appreciation Day Message for Each Worker

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Nothing says "I really appreciate you" more than a manager writing or recording a separate message for each worker they employ. 

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The little things count, and the effort to personalise your appreciation messages for your employees’ hard work can go a long way toward fostering more employee engagement, employee motivation, and an overall positive attitude in the workplace.

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Write or record something personal and unique for every worker you want to connect with. This will help your workers recognise your brand as exceptional in its industry.

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However, if you have dozens or hundreds of employees, this can get incredibly time-consuming. In that case, you can make an equal impact by branding company-wide emails with corporate logos, custom images, or even videos with Prezzee. 

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Highlight the Positive Impact the Recipient Has on the Company

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Many workers — even high-performing, rock-star employees — fail to see how much of a positive impact they make. That’s why it’s your job to highlight their incredible work. 

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Speak specifically about the employee's major improvements to the company, the significant accounts they closed, or the other positive things they accomplished over the last year. In many cases, it helps employees recognise all the good they’ve done if they hear it from a manager or supervisor. 

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Or you can mention an employee’s work ethic, teamwork, and how they directly contributed to the company’s success. Regardless, it’ll improve their morale and self-esteem and might even lead to more outstanding work performance in the future.

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Bottom line: the more specific you are in your employee thank you messages, the better. 

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Top Employee Appreciation Day Quotes

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Want to get started writing or recording the best employee appreciation messages? Below are some example employee appreciation thank you quotes for you to try out. 

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Remember, feel free to tweak or adjust these messages — for example, you might make them a little more humorous depending on your audience, or you might make your employee appreciation note more sincere and direct to double down on your gratitude. It’s up to you!

• “You inspire the entire team and me — our company culture wouldn’t be the same without you.”
• “You don’t just do good work. You do great work and are a great employee. Keep it up, and we’ll fly high!”
• “Your outstanding performance showcases you as a role model to your coworkers and me. We couldn’t do this without you.”
• “It’s your #-year work anniversary! Just wanted to say how much we appreciate you and express gratitude for the light you bring to the workplace each and every day over your years of service. Kudos on a job routinely well done!”
• “Your presence makes every single day high-quality. Your unique perspective improves our work environment beyond measure. Thank you!”
• “(Name), you exemplify our company values and do excellent work. Thanks for your dedication and commitment.”
• “When we need innovative thinking and creative solutions, we come to you. Thanks for keeping us agile and ahead of the pack.”
• “Your candour, sense of humour, and intelligence are all vital to our business. Thanks for being a part of our team.”
• “(Name), our best day was when we decided to hire you!”
• “You go above and beyond each day, and we appreciate you for it! Thanks for your commitment to our company.”

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Templates for Success: Incentives for Amazing Employees

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As you can see, you can tell your employees many things to show them that you appreciate all their hard work. Remember to tweak the above messages depending on your personality, the employees you’re speaking to, and the type of message.

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For example, if you send an eGift card from Prezzee, it’s a breeze to make every one totally personalised. Not only can you choose from over 400 brands (including The Iconic, JB Hi-Fi, Red Balloon, Myer, and more), but the recipients can swap their eGift card for another if they want to. It lands in the middle of the Venn diagram between “the thought that counts” and “the gift of choice.”

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This is the best way to show genuine gratitude for the hard workers who keep your business running year after year. Sign up for free and send out eGifts today.

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FAQs about Employee Appreciation Day

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What is Employee Appreciation Day?

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Employee Appreciation Day is an annual holiday that encourages employers to recognise and celebrate the hard work of their employees. 

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When is Employee Appreciation Day?

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Employee Appreciation Day is celebrated on the first Friday in March. 

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How to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day

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Giving your employees a special gift paired with a thoughtful message is a memorable way to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day. You could also have a special lunch in the office or take everyone out for a team bonding activity.

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Is Employee Appreciation Day global?

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Whilst Employee Appreciation day is observed in America and Canada, the holiday is becoming more popular worldwide. Sending team appreciation messages is an activity that can be taken part in no matter where you are from. 

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Sources:

If You Don’t Know How to Say Someone’s Name, Just Ask | Harvard Business Review

6 Ways to Show Your Employees You Appreciate Them -- Without Paying Them More | Entrepreneur

Using Humor To Build A High-Performing Workplace | Harvard Business Review

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We all want our work environment to not just survive but thrive in the modern, competitive market. Our staff members need to be fully engaged and committed to a shared vision of company success. There’s no better way to inspire and get everyone on the same page than to regularly appreciate and recognise your workers, especially if you’re a manager or business owner.

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But whether you’re a manager, team leader, or a CEO, it can be tough to come up with fresh employee of the month ideas and other ways to appreciate your employees’ great work. You have a lot on your plate, and the big-picture problems beckon. We’re here to lighten your load with seven employee recognition ideas that will ensure that your team’s morale stays high year-round.

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1) Start an Employee of the Month Program

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It might be a bright idea to begin an employee of the month program. Why?

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An employee of the month program has two significant benefits for your office:

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• It recognises rockstar employees for the excellent jobs they do, giving them the motivation to continue performing above and beyond. This increases employee engagement and can improve employee morale.

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• It inspires a little healthy competition in the office. If done carefully, an employee of the month program will help your employees focus on personal achievement and growth — not inter-departmental or inter-team comparisons. With individual achievement at the centre and team wins as the major goal, you’ll have a friendly, energetic environment. This kind of workplace fosters teamwork, innovation, and collaboration.

A healthy employee of the month program will maximise employee recognition and appreciation, especially for those high achievers, perfectionists, and type A personalities. High-achieving employees flourish with extra recognition, so an employee of the month program that you hold every 30 days is a great way to give them what they need.

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Employee of the Month Ideas

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Generally, a good employee recognition program should include a recognition award, like a plaque, sign, or another prize. To sweeten the deal, you can offer a gift to each employee that wins the employee of the month recognition competition, like a personalised eGift card from Prezzee.

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But what if you have employees across several departments and want to ensure everyone gets a chance to participate? In that case, consider starting an employee of the month program for each distinct department. 

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For example, the sales team could have an employee of the month competition where the employee with the most sales at the end of each month wins. In contrast, your customer service department could have a contest where the team member with the most positive customer interactions wins the title. 

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It’s essential to make sure your employee of the month program is inclusive rather than exclusive. That way, every employee will feel like they have a chance to win, not just employees in one section or another of your business.

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2) Shout-out Rockstar Employees on Social Media & in the Office

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Rockstar employees appreciate a little additional attention and recognition; extra effort deserves an equal amount of praise. One way to do that is to give those rockstar employees a shout-out on social media and in the office.

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By giving your best employees a shout-out or a unique social media post, you show them that you recognise their specific contributions to your business and appreciate everything they've done.

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In-office praise works well, but public recognition takes on a new form when the company is remote or hybrid. Your work-from-home winning employees benefit from social media posts, perhaps most of all. Post this digital shout-out during a lunch break and send along a more tangible recognition award as well. You could also dedicate a slide to this announcement in your next company-wide meeting. Whether your employees are attending the meeting in the office or from home, this is a way to publicly show your appreciation. Writing an explanation of why this person has won the award and showing it to the entire company gives this special employee a chance to be recognised in front of their peers. 

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In addition, publicly recognising excellent employees will help you mentally track which workers you should consider giving promotions to. The best promotions are usually those that are already in your company fold. If you regularly recognise the best employees on your roster, you’ll have no trouble identifying who’s ideal for an open position as soon as a new job appears.

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3) Sign Up the Office for Team-Building Activities

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Team-building exercises such as scavenger hunts, escape rooms, and trivia nights are fantastic for boosting team morale and showing employee appreciation.

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For example, say that you had a particularly profitable quarter with your business. To reward your employees, you take everyone out to dinner somewhere with a trivia night competition and a prize of $100.

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Such team-building exercises bolster company culture and allow workers to socialise and mingle outside of workplace contexts. Furthermore, the right team-building exercises can help your workers do better work when they return to the office.

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In any case, team-building exercises like games, adventures, or tours can be a fun way to show your workforce how much management appreciates them and to facilitate better team management in the long term.

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Note: Think about timing. For example, don’t ask everyone to come in on their day off. Plan this event during regular working hours for maximum impact. 

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4) Improve the Employee Kitchen 

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Your employees will spend quite a lot of time in the kitchen or lunch area. It’s a no-brainer to show appreciation for them by improving this space as much as possible.

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For example, you can add a new coffee machine, a pool table or offer other workplace perks, like comfortable chairs and free snacks.

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In one sense, improving your employees’ kitchen allows you to funnel any surplus profits your company made back into the company, which workers always appreciate. In another sense, improving the kitchen shows your employees that you want to enhance their experiences specifically, not only pay for improvements to general corporate offices.

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5) Offer New Company Perks and Company Swag

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From time to time, introduce new company perks or give your employees company swag bags. Fill these bags with fun office supplies (like a desktop mini golf set), personalised nameplates, and cool T-shirts or notebooks with your company’s logo printed on them.

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New company perks are always appreciated since they make each day a bit nicer and more interesting for your employees. Meanwhile, swag bags allow you to personally approach employees to recognise them and say something nice about them before handing over a gift. It shows your employees that you are as committed to their development and success as you are to the success of your entire company.

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Examples of Gifts and Perks for Employee Recognition

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For example, you can assign new parking spots for employees or reserve the best parking spot for high-performing employees (consider making this a potential prize for an employee of the month program, too). Or you can introduce things like gym memberships, learning and development opportunities, or a daycare centre in the office.

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If you want to save a little money but still show your employees that you appreciate them, company bags filled to the brim with goodies and gifts could be just the ticket. Some fun recognition gifts for employees include:

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• eGift cards to an employee’s favourite retail brand. Prezzee Business offers gift cards to over 400 brands, so you know everyone can get one they like. Plus, they can always swap one gift card for another with the Prezzee Smart eGift Card.

• Snacks and lollies for an employee to munch on throughout the day

• A framed team photo

• Company key rings

• The sky’s the limit when it comes to giving your employees new workplace perks. Get a little creative — your employees will remember when you give them these things, improving loyalty and dedication.

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6) Highlight Work Anniversaries

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An employee of the month program can be great. Still, not every employee has the chance to win those competitions every month, especially if they have to juggle lots of projects simultaneously.

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That's why it's essential to have other ways to recognise your employees who are plodding away in the background. One good example is a work anniversary highlight or shout-out.

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Say that you have an employee who hasn’t won an employee of the month award, but they have been working faithfully at your company for 15 years without pause. That’s also deserving of recognition! So it’s only fair to host a special party or get together to recognise and appreciate that employee.

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Celebrating milestone work anniversaries like the 5, 10 and 15-year anniversaries for experienced employees incentivise your workers to stick around. Plus, they allow you to recognise those employees whose positions or talents may not suit the traditional employee of the month program. Once more: inclusivity is much better than exclusivity, especially regarding employee appreciation. For example, whilst your IT department might not have the same metrics for success as your sales team, they are still employees very much worth recognising.

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7) Have Staff Appreciation and Employee Recognition Days

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Go above and beyond with this principle and have regular employee appreciation days. This can improve company culture and worker satisfaction overall.

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For example, say that one department, in particular, did a fantastic job over the last quarter securing clients or answering customer complaints. A staff appreciation day for that department allows you to celebrate that entire department without singling out any specific individual.

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That could be the best strategy, especially if the department worked as a team and their success wasn’t due to an individual employee.

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Similarly, you can and should host quarterly or yearly (at the least) company-wide appreciation days. These are opportunities for your entire workforce to get together and have fun. Consider renting a restaurant for an evening or treating your employees to an in-office, after-hours cocktail party with beverages mixed by you or a hired bartender. For remote employees, send everyone a Restaurant and Dining gift card so you can all dine in style wherever you are. 

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Employee appreciation days show you acknowledge the constant effort exerted by your employees. Combine those days with some of the other strategies above, like giving your employees customised gifts or introducing new office perks to really “wow” your workers!

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Wrap Up

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Appreciating and recognising your employees will work wonders for workplace productivity, worker retention, and company morale. The more you acknowledge and directly appreciate your employees, the more committed they’ll be to your company, even when the going gets tough.

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That’s why so many companies use Prezzee eGift cards: personalised, customisable gift cards that you can design with your company logo and give to your employees. We offer gift cards for over 400 retailers, but each can be swapped out for a different retailer if your employee has a favourite brand.

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Why wait? Sign up for Prezzee Business and send out eGift cards to show your employees how much you appreciate them today!

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Sources:

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How to Manage an Employee-of-the-Month Program

The Leader’s Guide to Corporate Culture | HBR.org

Why Team Building Is The Most Important Investment You'll Make | Forbes

Office Rivals? Keeping Workplace Competition Friendly | Business News Daily

Why a Daycare Is Needed in a Business Office

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Employee Appreciation Day (March 1) is the perfect opportunity to recognise and reward the people who make your company a success. Taking the time to celebrate your employees is a real morale booster. Giving your staff Employee Appreciation Day gifts can help put a smile on their faces and remind them how much they are valued. Commemorating all their hard work in the first quarter of the year can also set the tone for the months to come. 

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How to appreciate employees for good work?

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It’s the thought that counts. Whether it’s communicated via email, a chat in the kitchen or a handwritten note, appreciation is motivating for employees. Showing your appreciation in the form of a gift can be even more meaningful. So every time your employee uses that item, they will be reminded of your gratitude. 

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What are good appreciation gifts for employees?

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The most well-received gifts for staff are those that are chosen with your employee’s unique interests in mind. Pair your gift with a meaningful compliment to further personalise your present. Your employees  may have never celebrated Employee Appreciation Day before. You have the chance to make it a special one for them. Speak from the heart and show your support for all their individual talents and hobbies.          

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8 Employee Appreciation Day Gift Ideas

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Not sure what to get your staff? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. With Prezzee, you can treat your employees with an eGift card from one of our 400+ retailers. Here are a few of our favourite employee recognition ideas:

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1. Enhance their WFH setup with Plants in a Box

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A new leafy green baby is the perfect employee gift for the plant parents in your team. Taking care of a living thing can also provide a sense of calm and encourage mindfulness. Brighten up their workspace at home or in the office with a gift from Plants in a Box. 

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2. Inspire them with a night at the movies

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Entering a new world for an hour and a half can be a great way to relax and see a different perspective. Throw in some popcorn and lollies and you’ve got a great night out. Treat your employees to an evening at the cinema with a HOYTS eGift Card. Bonus points if you can add a movie recommendation in your personalised message!

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3. Encourage a little self-care

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We all know work can be stressful. Help them take a load off with a facial or massage from endota spa. An excuse for some well-deserved pampering will make them feel rested,  rejuvenated and ready for the week ahead. 

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4. Fund a session of retail therapy

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Who doesn’t love shopping? If you know a fashion lover, treat them to a day browsing their favourite brands. They can keep up with the latest Australian trends with a Myer eGift card. Or, if online shopping is more their style, THE ICONIC is home to hundreds of great labels. 

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5. Help them stay cosy this winter

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The leaves are falling and it’s time to unpack the winter woolies. From homewares to fashion, there’s something for everyone at David Jones. This Employee Appreciation Day, help your employees stay toasty warm with a new heater, blanket, scarf or beanie. 

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6. Shout them a hair-raising experience

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Give them a story to tell with a Red Balloon eGift Card. After all, you’re not just any boss. You’re a cool boss. Whether they want to try skydiving, car racing, or something they’ve never even heard of, an experience gift is one they won’t forget. 

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7. Help them reconnect with loved ones

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Between long days at the office, school drop-off and social events, quality time with the family can sometimes slip by the wayside. Show them you value work-life balance with an eGift Card from Hotels.com. A night or two away from home will give them the chance to spend uninterrupted time with the people they love the most. 

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8. Treat the foodies to some goodies

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After a long day, there’s nothing better than curling up in front of the telly with your favourite meal. A meal delivered straight from Hey You is ideal as the weather gets cooler. Or, get everyone together during the day and order lunch straight to the office. With good food and good company, you really can’t go wrong.

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If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our full range of eGift cards here. 

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What to consider when picking out staff appreciation gifts

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Every employee is different. So, someone who spends their weekends in the great outdoors might not appreciate a gift of movie tickets. Or, a gift card for a bottle of champagne wouldn’t go down so well with employees who don’t drink alcohol. Ensuring that your gift is inclusive is an important consideration. To avoid making any unfortunate oversights, be sure to think carefully about your recipient’s interests and lifestyles. When in doubt, a gift that reflects what your company stands for is a good place to start. For example, if you are passionate about encouraging work-life balance, a gift card for self-care would align with this value. As with any corporate expense, a quick check-in with your finance team can help you decide on a budget for the gifts.

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Why a Prezzee gift card is the ideal gift for staff

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There is no one size fits all when it comes to the perfect gift. That’s the beauty of a Prezzee gift card. Each of your employees can get exactly what they want. With hundreds of brands to choose from, you’ll get it right every time. The gift card can also be personalised with your company’s logo, a message and an image. We recommend adding a whole-company photo to further add to the theme of appreciation. 

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FAQ about Employee Gifts

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Are employee gifts tax deductible?

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Gifts that are under the value of $300 and are considered ‘infrequent’ can be claimed on tax. 

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Should bosses give gifts to employees?

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A gift from the heart is sure to be a big hit with your coworkers. However, make sure to be inclusive in your gift-giving so that no one is left out. 

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Should employers personalise gifts for each employee?

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While personalising gifts for each employee can be a nice touch, it may not always be feasible or practical, especially in larger organisations. However, if the budget and time allow, personalising gift cards can make them more meaningful and demonstrate that the employer has put thought and effort into acknowledging the individual employee. 

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What is Employee Appreciation Day?

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Employee Appreciation Day is an event where employers give recognition to their employees. 

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When is Employee Appreciation Day?

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Employee Appreciation Day occurs on the first Friday of March each year. 

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What is a good employee message to write in the card?

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An effective message is one that both shows your gratitude and makes mention of the specific qualities you appreciate in an employee. For more guidance, see our article on Employee Appreciation Messages.

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In preparation for International Women’s Day on the 8th of March, we’ve come up with some inspiring, inclusive and thoughtful ideas for how you can participate in the day. Whether it’s a physical gift, a sweet message or a corporate activity, there are many ways to show your support for the women in your life who inspire you.

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International Women’s Day Theme for 2024

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Every year, there is a different campaign theme for IWD. The theme sets the tone for the discussions and activities of the day. The International Women’s Day 2024 Theme is ‘Inspire Inclusion’. This theme is about forging a more inclusive world for women. When women aren’t present or invited to the table we must ask "If not, why not?" Considering this question can help us better understand the barriers preventing inclusion. These powerful words also encourage us to call discrimination against women when we see it and take action. You can read more about the 2024 theme here. 

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5 International Women’s Day Gift Ideas

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Inclusion can be celebrated in many ways, whether it's offering to watch a friend's kids to give them a night off, taking a junior colleague out for lunch, inviting a newcomer to your community for coffee, or simply checking in on a friend going through a tough time.

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You can show your support for female business owners and founders by sending a gift card from one of the amazing, female-founded businesses available on Prezzee.  The perfect way to encourage relaxation, self-care and a moment of peace. She deserves it!

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1. Brighten their day with LVLY

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Founded by Hannah Spilva in 2015, LVLY (pronounced lovely) is a business that keeps loved ones connected with a fun, unique take on the traditional bouquet of flowers. With a LVLY eGift Card, you can help the woman in your life choose a beautiful bouquet of flowers or if they have a penchant for something sweet or savoury, look to one of LVLY’s acclaimed dessert boxes, drink boxes or nuts and flowers combinations. 

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2. Give them a well-deserved good night’s sleep with ettitude

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No can deny that women work hard and do it all. Show your care for their rest and healthy by adding a touch of luxury to their nighttime routine with luxurious bedding by ettitude. Founded by Phoebe Yu, ettitude offers a range of high quality bedding that is both sustainable and reasonably priced. With an ettitude eGift Card, they can enjoy buttery soft bamboo sheets and a good night’s sleep. 

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3. Support their health and wellbeing with Vitable

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Self-care can come in many forms. If they’re a health-conscious person, an Vitable eGift Card could be perfect for them. Founded by Larah Loutati, Vitable is Australia’s first personalised vitamin and supplements subscription service. With Vitable, you can give the gift of a good feeling, with your receipents able to take an online quiz to tailor their plan of vitamins and minerals to their needs. Then, their personalised vitamin pack is delivered right to their door!

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4. Treat them to makeup and skincare goodies with Adore Beauty

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Pamper her with a selection of luxurious self-care goodies using an Adore Beauty eGift Card. Adore Beauty stands out as Australia’s first online beauty retailer, a testament to its founder Kate Morris' innovative vision.

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How to Celebrate International Women’s Day in the Workplace

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International Women’s Day is an important calendar event to recognise at the office..If you are an employer or are part of the social committee for your organisation, we’ve got your back. Here are a few ideas for how you can get everyone at work involved in International Women’s Day.

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Take part in the #InspireInclusion Photo Challenge

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Strike a pose to show solidarity this International Women’s Day. The #InspireInclusion photo challenge encourages everyone to snap a photo of themselves making a heart shape with their hands and post it to social media along with a statement. Encouraging  team members to take part in the challenge and write their own statement about inclusion is a way for everyone to actively participate. 

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Host IWD Themed Trivia

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Recognising the historical and ongoing fight for equality is a large part of what International Women’s Day is all about. To educate your team members and start open conversations, write a list of IWD specific trivia questions. From facts about inspiring female leaders to historical events such as the birth of International Women’s Day in 1911, there’s always something new to learn. You could increase trivia attendance by offering a prize to the first place winner. A Prezzee Smart eGift Card is a versatile choice for team members

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Invite an Inspiring Guest Speaker

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Providing a platform for female and female identifying voices from all walks of life is a great way to highlight the diversity within the community. Whether it’s an inspiring business woman or someone who has overcome adversity, one of the best ways your team members can actively participate in IWD is to simply listen to the stories of women. 

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Celebrate your female identifying employees with a gift

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Why not use this day to reflect on the amazing women and female identifying people within your own business? Thanking these employees and celebrating their hard work can boost morale and bring the message of #InspireInclusion to life. With Prezzee Business, you can bulk order Prezzee eGift Cards for multiple employees. Gifts for International Women’s Day can be small but meaningful. A gift will show them that their talents and work ethic are appreciated by the whole company. 

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Create an IWD Playlist for the Office

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Compiling a list of feminist songs and songs by female artists is a fun way to celebrate women all day long. A few suggestions include: I Am Woman (Helen Reddy), 9 to 5 (Dolly Parton), Love is a Battlefield (Pat Benatar), Run The World (Beyonce), Juice (Lizzo), Mad Woman (Taylor Swift), and Respect (Aretha Franklin).

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Don’t overthink it

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Organising International Women’s Day workplace ideas can demonstrate your company’s genuine passion for women’s rights. But when in doubt, a simple thank you goes a long way. 

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At the crux of it, International Women’s Day is about recognition, celebration, and activism. By participating in some way, you are actively showing your allyship and supporting the women in your life. And those you’ve never even met. 

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FAQs about international Women's Day

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What is International Women's Day? 

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the achievements of women in all facets of life. It is also a day to shout the message of equal rights loud and clear. 

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When is International Women's Day?

International Women’s Day occurs annually on the 8th of March. 

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Why do we celebrate International Women's Day?

IWD is a day to recognise how far we have come as a society towards gender equality, but also how far we have to go. This day is a combination of celebration and activism.

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How did International Women's Day start?

In 1910, the leader of the Women's Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, Clara Zetkin, proposed the idea of an International Women’s Day at the second International Conference of Working Women. The idea received support from over 100 women representing different countries. We  have celebrated the day ever since. 

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Whether you’re a business owner, part of a company or a sole trader, the end of financial year (EOFY) is an important time to mark in the calendar. 

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Whilst EOFY represents a time for taxation and financial planning, it can also be a time for celebration for many businesses. EOFY parties and gifting have become increasingly more common in Australia as a way for companies to spend surplus funds for tax deduction purposes as well as celebrate their employees’ hard work over the past financial year.

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Read our EOFY guide for businesses to gain a better grasp on what end of financial year is, when it is, what a company’s EOFY celebrations involve, and what else you can expect during the fiscal year.

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What is EOFY?

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You might be familiar with EOFY, especially for the fantastic EOFY sales, but unless you work in accounting or finance, you might not fully understand what the end of the financial year involves.

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The good news is that you don’t need a finance degree to wrap your head around what EOFY is and what you as a business or individual need to do during the end of fiscal year.

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What does EOFY mean in simple terms?

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The financial year, also known as the ‘fiscal year’ describes a 12 month period used for taxation purposes. During this period, businesses and individuals report on their annual income and tax deductions from the previous year. 

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In Australia, businesses and individuals submit their tax and financial reporting details to the ATO (Australian Taxation Office) which can be lodged online through the ATO’s website, by paper, or via a registered tax agent. All Australians are legally obliged to submit their financial information during the fiscal year.

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When is end of financial year?

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The end of financial year period differs depending on what country you live in, however, in Australia the financial year starts on the 1st of July and commences on the 30th of June. 

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This period was established as law in Australia back in 1851 to help simplify taxation and financial reporting. Although EOFY is on the 30th of June in the following year, most people will need to lodge their tax return between 1st of July and 31st of October of the same year.

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Are End of Financial Year employee gifts a good idea?

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Whether your company is planning a ‘EOFY party or not, employee EOFY appreciation gifts are always a winning idea. 

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EOFY gifts are an ideal way to show employee appreciation over the end of the financial year period because they are more inclusive than a standard EOFY party or event. A key example of this is that many company employees work remotely, often in different cities than the primary company office. Unless you are gifting your team a gift card that can be used for transport, travelling for an EOFY party may cause inconveniences for remote employees as well as those with families or other commitments.

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It's for this reason that EOFY gifts are your best option when it comes to celebrating your business’ people during the end of the financial year. 

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Popular employee EOFY gift ideas

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It can be tricky to know what types of employee appreciation gifts will resonate with everyone who works at your company.  A Prezzee Smart eGift card grants employees the choice of more than 100s of retail and food brands to enjoy whenever suits them. 

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Why do companies throw EOFY parties?

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EOFY isn’t just about getting your business’ accountant to get all the financial paperwork and company budgeting in order, it’s a time for businesses to reflect on the year that was.

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EOFY parties have become a popular trend in the business world as they serve as a way for companies to thank their employees for the year that was. How a company chooses to celebrate their EOFY party is individual to each business, and can be as formal as a presentation followed by drinks to something as social as a company-funded dinner. 

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Popular EOFY party ideas for Australian businesses

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End of financial year parties are becoming increasingly popular as they help a business show gratitude for their employees hard work, which in turn can aid in staff retention. There’s no one right way of celebrating EOFY, however, there are some popular options that you as a business owner or HR lead may want to consider. 

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Small to medium budget EOFY party ideas

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A company-funded team bonding activity like bowling, mini-golf, paint & sip or Organising a social get-together in a popular bar with complimentary drinks and snacks – hiring a venue allows for presentations and speeches if that’s a priority.

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A company-approved day off to allow employees to enjoy the day as they wish.

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A company-funded dinner at a popular restaurant that is in proximity of the business’ offices for employee convenience.

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Show your employees you care this EOFY

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End of the financial year can be a stressful time for both business owners and employees alike. But end of the financial year, is also a good time to reward the people who make up a company for this year’s hard work.

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Whether it’s a catered dinner with a view, or a thankful gesture in the form of a gift card, showing your company that you care this EOFY will make all the difference in the long-term. 

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Browse our Prezzee business catalogue and see a wide range of popular EOFY eGift cards. 

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In today's economic climate, many team members may be feeling the pinch of the rising cost of living. As an employer, it's crucial to find ways to support your staff and ensure they feel valued and secure. Here are some effective strategies to help.

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1. Recognise and reward employees

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As the cost of living increases, many must restrict the amount of money spent on the things they enjoy the most. It’s for this reason that rewarding your employees with a versatile gift that’s catered specifically to their interests can be a meaningful way of showing them you care. With a Smart eGift Card like those offered at Prezzee, employees can choose from a wide range of food, retail and adventure experiences – all things they may have put on hold otherwise. By rewarding your team with a personalised gift, it will give your employees the well-needed boost in their week, and give them another reason to look forward to their weekend.

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2. Motivate employees with a meaningful bonus

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A bonus is always appreciated, but gifting a bonus that makes a meaningful dent in their rising costs of living is something that can make a lasting difference. A particularly thoughtful way to show your employees that you care during times of economic hardship is with a gift card to Bill Fairies. Employees can use a Bill Fairies eGift Card to pay off a variety of bills and expenses such as internet, gas, electricity, and even school fees. This gesture can help them manage their expenses and feel valued at the same time.

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3. Promote physical and mental wellbeing

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When your team is working on a big project or has a lot going on at home, it can be hard for them to find the time for their physical and mental health. Show your employees that their health comes first by surprising them with the gift of wellbeing. This might look like starting a regular lunchtime yoga class in the park, stocking regular healthy treats in the office kitchen, or gifting each employee with a wellness experience of their choice via a Health & Wellness eGift Card. Whether wellness means buying that new gym accessory they’re after or grabbing some new books for their well-needed reading break, a Health and Wellness eGift Card will help them find their zen.

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4. Remind your employees that they’re physical and financial wellbeing always comes first

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The rising cost of living has affected a lot of Aussies in significant ways, and has forced many to compromise on the things they might normally enjoy. It’s important to remind your employees of how much they are valued as part of your company. Whether it’s something as large-scale as a work policy change or something as small but meaningful as an employee gift, every act of appreciation will help in improving the wellbeing of your employees during difficult times.

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