GiftCard Partners Blog

As we approach the holiday season, the traditional office party is no longer the primary way to celebrate and thank employees. Many companies are opting for more flexible, digital solutions to recognize employee contributions, particularly in the era of remote work and distributed teams. With budgets often tightened and in-office camaraderie difficult to replicate, digital rewards—especially eGift cards—are emerging as the go-to solution for end-of-year employee appreciation.

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.

Employers are looking beyond the standard holiday bonus to create meaningful, memorable appreciation moments. With engagement still lagging nationally, thoughtful non-cash recognition can make a measurable difference in morale, loyalty, and performance.

The race to keep employees engaged has never been tougher, and organizations that rely only on cash bonuses are leaving real value on the table. Extra pay is appreciated, but it blends quickly into bills and everyday expenses. Non-cash rewards such as gift cards, experiences, and lifestyle perks stand out because they create emotional impact and memorable recognition. In a workforce where only 32% of employees report feeling engaged (5), recognition strategies built on experiences rather than transactions are essential for driving performance and loyalty. 

Your sales force is the engine of your company, and keeping that engine motivated is key to ensuring the overall stability and growth of your organization. In today’s competitive market, retaining top sales talent is more challenging than ever. To help you navigate this landscape, we’ve updated our insights on retaining a motivated sales team by focusing on three critical areas: compensation, career-pathing, and company culture contributions.