GiftCard Partners Blog

U.S. workers are spending $5,620 a year on WHAT?

The answer might surprise some, but for many, it’s not a shock—coffee and lunch. According to one estimate, the average U.S. worker spends around $5,620 to $7,700 annually on these everyday expenses. If you’re thinking this seems high, consider the costs of your daily coffee run and lunch break. They add up fast.

As the workforce continues to evolve, so do employee expectations for engagement and corporate responsibility. Today's "activist employee" isn’t just looking for a paycheck—they want to align with companies that reflect their values and take meaningful actions on social and environmental issues. Recent trends suggest that effective employee engagement is increasingly tied to how companies support causes that matter to their employees, creating opportunities for deeper connections between staff and the organization.

Does your company work in the cloud? According to a new Elance Report the number of businesses seeking to hire online contractors doubled in 2011. 83% of the small businesses surveyed by Elance said they plan to hire up to half of their workforce as virtual in the next 12 months. GiftCard Partners was built on a virtual model and has been recognized for its ability to function in alternative ways, free of the constraints of a 9-5 office atmosphere. Here are Elance's predictions for the 10 most popular online jobs going forward

In today’s competitive job market, offering a paycheck alone isn’t enough to attract and retain top talent. Employees expect a well-rounded benefits package that supports their financial security, professional growth, and overall well-being.

As organizations look toward 2026, one theme is cutting through the noise of compensation, hybrid schedules, and employee benefits: purpose. A new Gallup and Stand Together study, The Power of Purpose, shows that purpose at work is not a soft concept; it’s a measurable, high-impact driver of engagement, energy, and retention.