20 Corporate Incentives for Employees to Motivate & Engage Your Team

Modern workplaces require organizations to constantly motivate their employees. Motivating employees can help boost a company's overall performance.

However, it can be challenging to find effective ways to boost morale and motivate employees. Mostly, all employees want is a bit of recognition.

While “Fun Friday activities” can make employees happy, it is a temporary fix. To ensure employees feel valued and recognized, companies now implement incentives.
Studies have shown a 44% boost in performance with incentive programs for employees. Though most companies offer money in the name of incentives, the idea is beyond that.

This blog post will explore incentive ideas for employees that can boost their morale. Additionally, the blog will help companies choose from various incentive ideas.
Stay tuned!

What are incentives for employees?

Suppose an employee has done exceptionally well. A simple “good job and keep up the good work” may not be enough. It is essential for employees to properly recognize such talents. And that’s where incentives for employees come in.
These are monetary or non-monetary offers and benefits that companies offer their employees. To ensure they work with more confidence and interest, offering bonuses and incentives to employees can help companies achieve their goals.

Benefits of Incentives for Employees

Everyone seeks appreciation and recognition. Even in the workplace, where employees dedicate a significant amount of time to producing their best work, companies should find ways to motivate them.

With rewards and incentives, employees can be boosted in morale and motivated. Not to mention, such offers increase employee satisfaction.

But beyond this, there are other significant benefits of incentives for employees:

• Offering employees incentives can help meet specific company goals. For instance, a software company wants to expand its market with a new segment. The company offers sales bonuses to employees who exceed their sales targets.

• Giving incentives will promote employee satisfaction. As a result, the turnover rate will be low, leading to the elimination of unnecessary hiring costs. When employees feel appreciated, they are likely to stay.

• When you provide incentives to employees, they feel a sense of belongingness. That positive feeling promotes a great work culture in the organization.

• Employees who receive appreciation through awards and incentives are more likely to perform at a higher level. That boosts the overall company productivity.

Types of Incentives for Employees

Incentives are a powerful tool for both organizations and employees. Giving employees incentives can increase satisfaction. As a result, they will deliver better performance that will benefit the company in the long run.

There are some common types of incentives for employees that companies should be aware of:

• Monetary incentives: Bonuses, stock options, gift cards, and vouchers are a part of monetary incentives. These incentives can benefit employees directly, and you can offer them based on individual or team performance.

• Non-monetary incentives: These incentives include flexible schedules, employee recognition programs, paid time off, and personalized gifts. Such incentives don’t offer any monetary benefits, but they significantly boost employee satisfaction.

• Experiential incentives: Companies organize corporate events to have a fun gathering. Or they can offer tickets for trips and outings.

• Lifestyle incentives: With such incentives, you can make a strong impact to boost the quality of a person’s life. These incentives include financial wellness programs, gym memberships, and other benefits.

List of Incentive Ideas for Employees

Have you developed company incentive ideas for employees? No? Don’t worry! We’ve got your back.

To create incentive programs for employees, it is essential to understand what they would value the most. Every employee is unique with their own set of preferences.

To radiate joy and happiness among employees, consider providing a mix of both monetary and non-monetary incentive options.

Here’s a list of corporate incentives for employees that you can choose from:

Gift Cards/Vouchers

Instead of offering direct money to employees, you can provide gift cards/vouchers that cater to their interests. Some options are as follows:

• Target Gift Cards: Retail therapy can be rewarding for your employees. To ensure they are in a happy place, a Target gift card can be a great employee incentive.

• Chef & Brewer Gift Cards: To celebrate sales targets, your employees would want more than just a “thank you”. With Chef & Brewer gift cards, you can motivate your employees to work more freely and effectively.

• Curtis Lumbar US: With thoughtful incentives, employees get a sense of care from the company. Employees seeking remodeling services will find a Curtis Lumbar US gift card to be the ideal choice.

• Great American Days US: Searching for incentives for employees to motivate? As a fun employer, you can provide a Great American Days US gift card. The card unlocks various gift options, ranging from balloon rides to racing cars.

Food & Snacks Incentives

Food makes everyone happy. For little achievements, you can give employees incentives in the form of food gift options. The options include:

• Food gift set: Present your employees with a gift set that includes their favorite food items. To add a touch of personalization, consider providing a gift set that features a specific flavor. From Groveland Confections, a Curiously Caramel Gift Set will seal the deal.

• Dry snack items: Did your employee just win a Fun Friday quiz? As an incentive, you can offer them lip-smacking dry snacks. The Original Mushroom Jerky from Moku Foods can be a good reward for employees.

• Tea gift options: Promote positivity among employees with tea as a motivational incentive. Sipping a cup of warm Sweet Hibiscus Rooibos from Firebelly Tea US can provide an energy boost to employees.

• Sweet Treats: Give employees incentives that would bring a touch of happiness to them. Receiving a Dirty Cookie’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Shots can bring a smile to your employee's face. And that would motivate them to work better.

Wellness & Fitness Incentives

Wondering what compensation and incentives for employees you can provide? There are options you can consider to improve the quality of your employees’ lives. These incentives can be from the wellness & fitness domain.

• Comfortable pillows: To show you care for your employees, consider providing them with useful gifts as a token of appreciation. Stress can often affect them, and that’s why they must get adequate rest. A Go Neck Pillow from Ostrichpillow is just what your employees need for improved relaxation.

• Yoga Mats: Perhaps your company is celebrating World Yoga Day. To encourage and educate your employees on the importance of fitness, consider providing yoga mats as a resource. A Yune Yoga Striped Yoga Mat can be a great incentive idea for employees to carry on their fitness journey.

• Trainers: For the fitness enthusiasts on your team, incentives should be something that allows them to push their limits. A TRX Home 2 Suspension Trainer is an idea that can enhance the fitness training experience for employees.

• Stress-relieving devices: Achieving milestones one after another can take a toll on employees’ health. To reduce some degree of stress, companies can provide stress-relieving devices as incentive gifts. A TruMedic Impact Therapy Device PRO is an ideal option for such a purpose.

Lifestyle and Apparel Incentives

Employees often appreciate incentives that are closely tied to their personal lives. As incentive awards for employees, there are several options to choose from:

• Ovens: Many employees appreciate thoughtful gifts over monetary gifts. As an incentive to motivate top-performing employees, an Ooni Koda 16 Gas Powered Pizza Oven can be a suitable choice.

• Cool Hats: Even for little contributions, employees should get motivation from their employers. As a gesture of gratitude, you can provide incentives related to clothing and accessories. This would include B.M. Franklin & Co. April Showers hats.

• Premium Jackets: Employees who work in the field deserve incentives that would boost their morale. The North Face Men's Terra Peak Jacket can be an incentive option that makes them feel valued and satisfied.

• Puffy Blankets: Working during the holiday season can be distracting. To help them stay focused, you can provide incentives that encourage them to work without distractions. With a Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket, you can give a thoughtful holiday gift to employees.

Tech & Gadgets Incentives

Gifts can be a great form of incentives to get employees’ attention. Tech & gadgets as gifts are something that all employees love and appreciate. Let’s explore some options you can offer as incentive gifts for employees.

• Headphones: A useful gift option for employees would be headphones. These are incentive gifts that can help individuals seamlessly balance their work and personal life goals, whether it's listening to client calls or music. You can consider giving Beats Solo 4 True Wireless On-Ear Headphones for a clear sound experience.

• Sound systems: An employee who has worked exceptionally well deserves the highest order of appreciation. As an incentive, GHRK-400-PR: Bluetooth® Outdoor Rock Speakers, TWS, Waterproof Patio Sound System is a tech gift that they would truly love.

• Power Banks: Who doesn’t require a power bank? It is a useful gadget that employees would value. With an OtterBox Power Bank for MagSafe 3,000 mAh, you can ensure your employees reap the benefits of incentives.

• Keyboard Cases: As non-monetary incentive options, gadgets can be a great form of physical gift. Employees work on digital gadgets these days. For employees who work on tablets, a Samsung Bookcover Keyboard Case for Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus / Tab S7 Plus / Tab can be a good option.

Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Incentives for Employees

Incentives play a significant role in boosting employees’ morale. Receiving a gift voucher or a physical gift enables them to work with much more passion.

However, when implementing incentives, companies often make certain common mistakes. These include:

• Only providing incentives to top performers: Highlighting top performers is great, but it is also important to recognize employees who make even a small contribution to the workforce.

• Ignoring non-monetary incentive options: Monetary rewards have been recognized as incentives for years. However, many companies are now also giving importance to non-monetary incentives, as employees require practical solutions.

• Not aligning incentives with company goals: Ensure that the incentives you provide to employees align with the broader company goals.

• Building Unhealthy Competition: Offering incentives to only particular teams and employees can create an unhealthy environment. It is thus essential to offer incentives that would cover everyone in the organization.

Look For the Best Incentive Ideas for Employees at Gifted

With the above-mentioned incentives for employees, you can create a positive work culture. These incentives are not just a medium of motivation, but also a gesture to show that you care for your employees.

To maximize the effectiveness of incentive ideas, consider incorporating a combination of both monetary and non-monetary incentives. These would encompass a range of incentive options designed to motivate employees to work more effectively.

At Gifted, we curate incentive ideas with corporate events in mind. From holiday gifts to employee appreciation gifts, we offer a wide selection of options for every occasion. You can browse our categories and select the best gifts for your team members.

Explore our incentive and reward options to enhance employee motivation.