Employee Incentives – 3 Reasons Why Gift Vouchers Work Best

Getting the most from your employees, as consistently as possible, can be a difficult task in itself. Even for those who love their jobs, it is hard to remain in the game constantly as we all have lives going on outside of work.

Whether your staff have financial problems outside of work, issues in their relationship or whether they are just feeling a little complacent with life right now, one thing that is guaranteed is that working for your company is not their biggest priority 100% of the time.

If you are struggling to get the best from your employees as of late, yet they are far too skilled and valuable to let go, then the best approach you can take as an employer is to give your workers an incentive to perform more efficiently.

Providing rewarding incentives for your staff has benefits for both employees AND employers. Why? Well, it’s rather simple. Employees always work best when they feel valued, plus if workers are satisfied with their job and their impact on the organisation as a whole, they are likely to give so much more to the job than someone who doesn’t.

So, as a business owner or manager, you’ve probably already asked yourself the question: “what incentive can I give my employees that works best?” You have numerous options, including travel opportunities and cash, but perhaps surprisingly, it is gift cards and gift vouchers that drive employees to perform better than anything else.

If you’re wondering why that is exactly, then check out this executive white paper that was commissioned by the Incentive Gift Card Council (IGCC). We’ve summed up the important parts below:

Trophy Value

The IGCC found that gift vouchers are more memorable as they create a lasting reminder of a worker’s achievements. As an employer, that is exactly what you’re aiming for as you want to create a connection between the incentive and the achievement that you’re rewarding them for.

For example, whilst a bottle of wine and some chocolates will do the job, it won’t create much of a lasting memory. Whereas an action-packed day of adventure with other members of staff certainly will.

So, when thinking about what to get for employees, or teams that have been working hard, gift vouchers for quad biking or clay pigeon shooting might be just the thing you’re looking for.

Performance Will Improve

A survey found that 32% of employees did not feel their performance had improved due to a year-end cash bonus. They say money talks, but perhaps not well enough? The whitepaper also states that only 20% of employees use a cash reward to purchase something for either themselves or family members.

Perhaps it’s because people end up using the cash incentives to pay off bills or top up their petrol tank… who knows, but one thing that is for sure is that gift vouchers do help improve the performance of employees as they feel they have gained something – something of which cannot be spent on mundane day-to-day responsibilities.

Team Bonding

Rewarding your teams with gift vouchers for fun, team building activity days is always going to improve team bonding more than a few notes handed over here and there. If you want the best from your team, then getting them out of the office to enjoy some non-work-related fun is honestly the best approach you can take.

An activity day out will provide the perfect distraction that your employees need from the day-to-day stresses they are currently experiencing in their life. You can’t overhaul the challenges in life overnight, but you can at least do your best to accommodate them and improve the work part of it.

If you are looking for an extra special way to reward your employees this year, why not treat them to an activity day out? Not only will they have a blast letting their hair down and getting muddy, but they will create lasting memories that will keep them smiling, even when their desks are piled high with paperwork and deadlines!

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