GiftCard Partners Blog

Moments of recognition are powerful, they give us a feeling of purpose, a sense of accomplishment and an undeniable drive to produce our best work. Recognition is continuously proven to motivate employees by allowing them to see and feel their personal value.

Carrots and sticks are a relatively old tactic in employee health and wellness programs. They are tried and true because they work. Carrots tend to prove to work better than sticks, but whether you choose to reward improved behavior and program engagement or provide (usually financial) disincentives for a lack of participation, these detractors and rewards work well to boost participation and results from employee healthy and wellness programs.
However, in analyzing effective tactics for employee health and wellness programs, we often overlook the most basic component of an employee health and wellness program. To be frank, it can feel intrusive for employees to have employers involved in their healthcare. Especially when dealing with sensitive topics like high cholesterol and weight loss, it can be intrusive for some employees to have employers involved, even if they are providing health care and insurance. In a recent study from the
Kaiser Family Foundation survey, 62% of employees felt it was inappropriate for employers to require workers to pay more for their health insurance premiums if they don’t participate in wellness programs. Additionally 74% said companies shouldn’t charge higher premiums if employees don’t achieve predetermined health goals. These two statistics bring employers back to basics and really require organizations to evaluate how they approach employee health and wellness programs. Will carrots or sticks work best for your company? Should employee health and wellness be a (strong) suggestion or a requirement for affordable coverage?
Read more from the Wall Street Journal.

Employee success is more likely to occur and has greater impact when it's shared by a team. Humans are social beings and we work better in groups. The word along the side is not subliminal messaging...it's meant to grab your attention.
Tell employees when they are on the right track. Open communication is key and it should go both ways, make   feedback a 360-degree process.
Everyone's opinion matters. Gather opinions and ideas from all levels of your team. Experience doesn't always mean innovative thinking.
Always reward success. No matter if it's an exceptional job on an individual project or a long career full of exceptional service, giving even small rewards like
gift cards can be highly effective in evoking repeat behavior.
Mix it up! Make sure employee working groups change. The more diverse working environments become, the more kinds of success employees get to experience. Cross-team collaboration is also a great team building exercise. For more information on employee success and how to promote it through team building check out Derek Irvine's
"Recognize This!" blog.    

Encouraging creativity among employees is vital for fostering innovation and driving organizational growth. When employees have the opportunity to express their creativity, it not only enhances individual development but also contributes to a dynamic and vibrant company culture. In this article, we'll explore the importance of employee creativity and provide practical strategies for promoting and harnessing creative potential in the workplace.

GiftCard Partners has been honored with the 2014 When Work Works Award for its use of effective workplace strategies to increase business, employee success and work-life balance.