GiftCard Partners Blog

Over the last few years, remote and hybrid work models have become standard practice across industries. In fact, as of 2024, nearly 30% of all full-time employees work remotely, 63% have flexible work arrangements, and 16% of U.S. companies are fully remote. While the urgency of the 2020 pandemic may have subsided, keeping remote employees engaged, connected, and motivated remains a top challenge for HR teams and organizational leaders.

Employee rewards and recognition programs are no longer “nice to have.” In 2026, they’re a core lever for engagement, retention, and performance—especially as organizations navigate hybrid work, tighter budgets, and rising expectations for personalization and impact.

If you’re investing in sales incentives, you want more than activity — you want measurable impact, motivated teams, and clear ROI.

Rewards work because they make effort visible. They connect day-to-day performance with recognition employees can actually feel—and remember.

Employee engagement isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s a measurable driver of productivity, retention, and business performance. Yet despite years of surveys, culture initiatives, and leadership training, engagement remains stubbornly low across industries.