GiftCard Partners Blog

According to arecent Gallup survey, as of mid-2025, only 32% of U.S. employees reported feeling engaged at work—a number that has remained stagnant. This has prompted many organizations to take a fresh look at their employee engagement strategies and recognition plans. As employers design their year-end rewards, offering personalized options and letting employees choose rewards that align with their goals can connect recognition to genuine motivation, learning, and growth. 

As 2025 comes to a close, HR leaders and business decision-makers are rethinking how to recognize, reward, and retain talent in a competitive market. Traditional year-end gifts—swag bags, baskets, or one-size-fits-all merchandise—are no longer enough. Employees expect something more personal, more practical, and more empowering. That’s why the Visa Reward Card is emerging as a top choice among corporate holiday rewards and prepaid card incentives for employees.

The best employee holiday gifts in 2025 include flexible gift cards, personalized recognition, and experiences that foster loyalty and morale. As the year comes to a close, employers are looking for ways to recognize achievements, motivate employees to finish the year strong, and carry momentum into the new year. Recognition during the holiday season isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a critical component of employee engagement and morale.

As businesses continue to try to drive efficiency in a macroenvironment that values real profits over artificial growth, employers need employees to be driven, efficient, and motivated in their work. Disengaged employees are the opposite. They aren’t connected to their roles or their companies, leading to slow, unmotivated progress in their roles and responsibilities.  

As we step into 2025, employee engagement has never been more critical to the success of organizations. In the dynamic world of work, where five generations—Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and the emerging Gen Alpha—coexist, leaders are faced with the challenge of crafting engagement strategies that resonate across this diverse spectrum. From the desire for stability to the search for purpose and meaning in work, engagement strategies must be flexible, inclusive, and personalized.