GiftCard Partners Blog

At the halfway mark of 2025, Gallup’s latest report on employee engagement reveals a sobering truth: only 32% of U.S. employees are engaged in their work. That stagnation is costing businesses a staggering $2 trillion in lost productivity. And while the stats are eye-opening, the real question is: What can leaders do about it?

A new type of employee is gaining ground: the self-driven high performer. Often mislabeled as “selfish” or “independent to a fault,” these individuals are motivated by internal benchmarks, personal ambition, and a desire for autonomy. They thrive on setting and reaching their own goals, not just company targets.

The conversation about the workforce in recent years has centered around turnover, hiring challenges, and the competition for talent. But new data suggests a different problem is emerging — and it may be more difficult for organizations to solve.

Employee rewards have evolved far beyond the old “Employee of the Month” plaque. Today’s workforce expects recognition that feels personal, flexible, and connected to their goals. According to a Gallup study, employees who receive frequent, meaningful recognition are 4x more likely to be engaged and 5x more likely to feel connected to company culture.

We all know it’s a little tough to focus in the office when kids are out of school and the weather is nice. Workplace productivity drops 20% during June, July and August, so to ensure your employees stay focused, happy and productive in the office, make sure they spend some of their time out of the office. Employers often use summertime to offer special perks like the 41% who indicated they offer flexible schedules, and the 28% who offer "summer Fridays." Ensuring that your employees take some time away from their desk for a vacation and "digital detox" is a great way to increase workplace productivity. For those workaholics who you can't seem to squeeze in a week at the beach other incentives such as gift cards are a great way to acknowledge hard work. Small denomination gift cards to popular retailers like 
The Limited, 
Boston Market, or 
AutoZone allows employees to treat themselves during the summer, and feel appreciated by their employer. Encouraging a work/life balance and rewarding hard work, especially when temptation to slack off is at its height, will keep your workforce engaged and workplace productivity going long after Labor Day. For more ideas on keeping your organization's summer productive check out this infographic from American Express Open Forum.