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Deborah Merkin

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Deborah Merkin, CEO and Founder of GiftCard Partners™, Inc. and Engage2Reward™ LLC, brings two decades of experience to the forefront of the gift card industry. Armed with a BS from University of Massachusetts Amherst and an MBA from Babson College, Deborah's career spans technology startups and corporate giants, including AT&T Capital and Staples. A pioneer in establishing and shaping lucrative new distribution channels, Deborah’s expertise grew through consultancy roles with Linens’N Things and CVS®. This journey marked her entrance into the gift card and incentives industry and ultimately laid the foundation for the conception of GiftCard Partners. A Certified Women Owned Business, GiftCard Partners was founded in 2005 and has received the prestigious Best and Brightest Company to Work For® Award for 10 years nationally. With a focus on assertiveness and balanced steadiness, Deborah continues to drive innovation and growth in the dynamic world of gift cards. Beyond her professional success, Deborah is deeply involved in community service, recently joining the board of JBBBS.org and previously serving on the board of JFSMW.org for 5 years.
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Recent Posts

How to Foster Employee Loyalty

Last week in this space we talked about the lack of employee loyalty across the American workforce, at all levels, sectors and across geographic locations. So instead of leaving our readers to their own devices to figure out the employee loyalty conundrum, this week we figured we could give some tips on how to foster a loyal culture among your employees. Here are 3 areas of company culture that are critical to keeping employees happy, satisfied and loyal to your organization.
Compensation: Compensating employees can take many forms, and in order to foster employee loyalty compensation should extend beyond a paycheck. Standard payment is important, however finding innovative ways to compensate employees will help maintain loyalty among your workforce. Using spot rewards, like small denomination gift cards to popular retailers like 
CVS/Pharmacy
The Cheesecake Factory and 
The Limited is a great way to show employees you noticed extra effort on a specific project, or appreciated them staying late one night.
Environment: Creating a comfortable environment where goals are clearly stated and communication is clear between peers and from managers to their team is key in creating a culture of loyalty. Working hard and having fun as a team will form relationships and camaraderie that foster loyalty, job satisfaction and improved productivity.
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Combat Workplace Stress with Health and Wellness Programs

Workplace stress is an increasingly common issue, affecting both employee well-being and company performance. According to the American Institute of Stress, job-related stress is the primary source of stress for American adults, with 83% of U.S. workers reporting stress-related symptoms. This stress not only impacts individual health but also costs American businesses a staggering $300 billion annually due to absenteeism, turnover, and reduced productivity.

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Employee Recognition the Right Way

Everyone knows how valuable it can be to practice employee recognition across an organization. The key is to execute an employee recognition program the right way, if your employees don't feel recognized or are not comfortable with the recognition method, your organization is not going to get the ROI it is looking for by way of increased productivity, increased job satisfaction and high retention rates. Here are 3 key ways to make sure your employee recognition program is working for your organization and its employees.

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Universities Manage Rising Health Care Costs with Wellness Programs

Big companies, small businesses and even colleges are making necessary changes as they prepare to comply with the Affordable Care Act. Employees at the University of Minnesota are looking for ways to reduce their health care premiums and the university has provided them a way, in the form of their University Wellness Program. When employees participate in the Wellness Program they are awarded  points for completing healthy activities and can save up to $400 on their premiums in a single year. But it’s not all about the money. While employees enjoy the lower premiums, the University sees the potential in investing in their employees’ health and wellness as a way to increase morale and retention. Keep reading more about the University Wellness Program in,
As health care costs increase, University employees try to save, from Minnesota Daily. Want to kick start your Wellness Program? Health-focused incentives are a great way to reward healthy behavior in a positive way, gift cards to Whole Foods Market or CVS/pharmacy help keep employees on the right track outside of work.

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CVS/pharmacy Corporate Health & Wellness August Newsletter is HERE!

The realm of Corporate Health & Wellness is vast and changing constantly. GiftCard Partners is dedicated to keeping you up-to-date on the latest in corporate wellness, health and wellness program strategies, creating a healthy workplace, and more…enter the CVS/pharmacy eNewsletter. This
quarterly enews is a great way to stay current with all the news, trends and technologies in the Corporate Wellness industry. This issue highlights:

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