Payment Systems and Gift Cards Going Mobile
As smartphones become more prevalent in the daily lives of consumers, retailers are constantly coming up with ways to reach these consumers in the space where they are spending an increasing amount of time……….on their mobile devices. While systems like Square and PayPal previously targeted small to medium sized businesses, they have moved into the top tier retail space. This will allow consumers to make payments using their mobile device, instead of having to carry around a wallet full of plastic. Due to the increased importance and usage of smartphones, retailers are also making gift cards available through a mobile device more and more frequently. Not only is it easier for the person recieving the gift card to redeem their gift, but it also revolutionizes the way a friend, or employer delivers the gift. There is added convenience on both sides of the gift card. Imagine giving rewards to employees on a rolling basis through a spot rewards program. The employer can deliver rewards witha click of a button to any number of employees in any number of locations. Mobile gift cards are also revolutionizing the mobile retail space and transforming the way people give and receive gifts.
For more information check out this article and interview with Ken Paull, Executive Vice President of ROAM Data, from PYMNTS.com.
Safety Incentives Lead to Fewer Injuries at Work
Behavior based safety incentive programs have been shown to reduce on-the-job injuries. Behavior based safety incentive programs reward employees both for safe behavior, and reporting incidents of unsafe behavior or unsafe working conditions. Using this carrot based incentive program has proven to reduce injury, which also reduces workman's compensation costs for the organization. Based on a 2010 survey, the Government Accountability Office estimates that only 25% of manufacturing companies were using a safety rewards program. This means that 75% of manufacturers, which have higher rates of on-the-job injury, are both allowing more injuries and unsafe workplace practices to occur and simultaneously costing themselves thousands of dollars in workman' compensation claims. Safety rewards can range from providing small incentives for workers who serve on a safety and responsibility committee, to providing more substantial incentives such as gift cards to employees who report unsafe activity or unsafe working conditions. Providing substantial rewards to employees for making often difficult choices to report incidents shows employees that the organization they work for stands behind their choices and their safety. Showing that kind of support also helps maintain productivity, a positive morale, and employee retention rates within the company.
How do you show your employees that you care for their safety? For more information on safety reward and incentive programs check out this article from Risk & Insurance Digital Network.
How do Kraft, Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Adobe Boost Productivity?
Ensuring wellness in and across organizations. Talent Management magazine outlines
Tips to Ensure Wellness Boosts Productivity, which offers us key considerations for a sound framework and wellness program structure, as well as
5 Key Steps to Workplace Wellness. These are both interesting articles and offer ideas, but they are summaries of concepts we’ve been hearing about for some time. Now that wellness programs have been running long enough to show increased productivity, healthcare cost savings for employers and employees, and bottom line ROI; what’s next for creating an even more holistic approach to wellness?
An online community comment to the “Tops to Ensure Wellness” article offers the concept of management also paying attention to employees’ emotional and psychological well being while at work. Since physical well being is only 1 facet of a person’s whole being, is this facet of manageable and measurable within health and wellness programs? Since incentives and rewards have become fundamental parts of wellness programs, can they also be used to motivate emotional wellness on a measurable basis? Let us know your thoughts by commenting here.
Developing Healthy Lifestyles in your Office
eGift Cards Show “No Sign of Slowing Down”
“The most popular gift on the planet…the gift card”, says the NECN Business video story on CashStar. Nice video story about the rise in eGift cards. More and more companies are gifting these cards as incentives in their company rewards programs, like sales incentives, health and wellness rewards, and for increasing workplace safety. The B2B gift card marketplace is indeed growing with the help of innovations from companies like CashStar.
