The guide to building an employee rewards program

Good employee rewards programs say “thank you.” Great ones? They boost engagement, help people stick around, and get everyone rowing in the same direction. In fact, according to the Achievers State of Recognition Report, employees with access to a personalized global rewards marketplace are 60% more likely to say they feel meaningfully recognized at work. That’s impact.

In this guide, we’ll break down what makes employee rewards programs work (really work), the kinds of rewards worth offering, and what separates the average from the exceptional — so you can build a program that’s equally appreciated and effective.

How to build effective employee rewards programs

A successful employee rewards program isn’t something you launch once and never think about again. (Unless you enjoy spending your budget on something no one uses.) The best programs are intentional, people-first, and designed to make a difference.

Here’s how to build a program that delivers real impact:

1. Set clear goals and metrics

Every rewards program needs a why. Before rolling anything out, make sure you’ve defined what success looks like — and how you’ll measure it. That clarity sets the foundation for everything that follows.

• Zero in on the behaviors and outcomes you want to drive, like more peer recognition, higher productivity, or fewer exit interviews.
• Tie those outcomes to real metrics, such as engagement scores, turnover rates, or project success rates.
• Use surveys, usage data, and employee feedback tools to track progress — and figure out what’s working.

2. Tie rewards to your values

Tying rewards to core values makes every “thank you” a reminder of what matters most — not just a metric to hit.

• Link rewards to your core values, so employees feel aligned and appreciated.
• Celebrate contributions that push key initiatives forward, whether it’s innovation, DEIB, or community impact.
• Add a line or two of context when recognizing, to show exactly why that behavior matters.

3. Offer flexible, personalized reward options

Fun fact: not everyone dreams of branded water bottles or movie tickets. The more flexibility you offer, the more likely employees are to want — and use — their rewards.

• Give employees options from a global rewards marketplace, covering everything from big purchases to personal experiences.
• Include both tangible and intangible rewards, like mentorship sessions, learning credits, or extra time off.
• Use past redemptions and feedback to tailor options, so the catalog doesn’t go stale.

4. Make rewards easy and inclusive

If your employee rewards program requires a how-to manual or only works for desk-based employees, you’ve lost half your audience. Convenience and inclusivity aren’t just nice-to-haves — they’re essential for your deskless workers too.

• Make the platform mobile-friendly and easy to access, whether employees are at a desk or on the floor.
• Integrate rewards into the daily flow of work, so recognizing someone is as easy as sending a message.
• Ensure rewards resonate across roles, locations, and cultures, so no one feels left out.

5. Leverage technology to enhance the experience

The right tech doesn’t just make things easier — it makes recognition feel genuine, not mechanical.

• Use AI to serve up reward suggestions based on employee behavior, interests, or past choices.
• Automate key moments like work anniversaries or goal completions, so recognition doesn’t rely on someone remembering.
• Connect your program to existing HR systems to simplify tracking, reporting, and program management.

6. Encourage peer-to-peer rewards

Rewards shouldn’t just trickle down from the top. Some of the most meaningful praise comes from the people employees work with every day.

• Give employees the tools to recognize each other easily, whether it’s through an app, a card, or a shout-out in Teams.
• Make peer connections even more powerful by tying them to points employees can redeem for the things that matter most to them — gift cards, experiences, donations, and more.
• Don’t save shout-outs for special occasions. The everyday wins deserve a spotlight, too.

7. Review and refine regularly

Even the best employee rewards programs need a tune-up now and then. Keep an eye on what’s resonating — and be ready to tweak what’s not.

• Monitor usage data and reward redemptions to see where engagement is high (or lagging).
• Ask employees what’s landing — and what’s falling flat, with quick polls or surveys.
• Refresh your strategy regularly, from reward offerings to how you communicate about the program.

6 employee rewards programs that drive success

The right program can shape company culture, boost engagement, and turn everyday moments into meaningful milestones.

Here are five leading employee rewards programs helping organizations motivate their people — and why Achievers continues to lead the pack.

1. Achievers

Achievers is an employee recognition and rewards platform built to shape behavior and drive genuine business results. Through a global rewards marketplace with more than 3 million options — and fulfillment in nearly 190 countries — Achievers helps employees feel seen, valued, and motivated. Whether it’s a gift card, charitable donation, or custom travel experience, every reward is designed to be meaningful.

With secure integrations into tools your team already uses — like Microsoft Teams, Workday, and Zoom — recognition happens in the flow of work. And thanks to 24/7, in-language support and zero markups on rewards, Achievers delivers more value, more often.

Key features:

• Global rewards marketplace with 3M+ options, no markups
• Access to 2,500 brands, plus custom company swag and charitable giving
• Always-on desktop and mobile access
• Built-in integrations with Microsoft, Workday, and more
• Concierge travel experiences and flexible reward types

Key benefits:

• 2.5x more likely to improve retention vs. other R&R providers
• 36% more likely to boost engagement
• 75% of employees feel more productive with access to a personalized rewards experience

Achievers helps leading companies turn recognition into results — by reinforcing the behaviors that matter most.

2. Workhuman

Workhuman combines recognition with social impact, offering both rewards and a focus on culture building. Their platform emphasizes storytelling in recognition moments and includes functionality for peer-to-peer feedback, service awards, and check-ins.

Key highlights:

• Values-based acknowledgements tied to company culture
• Social storytelling to enhance the impact of recognition
• Some global limitations with language availability for regions like Quebec and Asia

3. O.C. Tanner

O.C. Tanner provides R&R solutions focused on service anniversaries, performance milestones, and team celebrations. Their offering includes a global rewards catalog and strong support for company-branded awards.

Key highlights:

• Known for traditional recognition, like years-of-service awards
• Offers a curated selection of physical and experiential rewards
• Less emphasis on frequent, peer-to-peer connections

4. Awardco

Awardco offers an Amazon-integrated rewards platform that focuses on flexibility and automation. Their system allows employees to redeem points through Amazon’s global catalog and other reward options, such as event tickets and charitable donations.

Key highlights:

• Strong emphasis on cost-saving via no markups on Amazon rewards
• Simplified administration with automated workflows
• Limited global reward diversity compared to other platforms

5. Reward Gateway

Reward Gateway offers a combined platform for employee engagement, communications, and rewards. It includes a discount hub, peer recognition tools, and wellness features, making it a solid all-in-one platform.

Key highlights:

• Discounts and perks for day-to-day purchases
• Peer-to-peer recognition built into the platform
• Limited scalability for global or enterprise-level deployments

6. Bonusly

Bonusly is a user-friendly peer recognition platform designed for simplicity and adoption. It enables employees to send micro-bonuses and tie recognition to company values in a lightweight, easy-to-use interface.

Key highlights:

• • Fun, social recognition experience with emoji-powered shout-outs
  • Integration with Slack, Teams, and other workplace tools
  • Less comprehensive in terms of global rewards and analytics

Start building an employee rewards program that drives results

The best employee rewards programs don’t happen by accident — they’re built with intention. When rewards align with values, recognition is easy to give, and insights help you improve over time. Appreciation is important — but it’s just the beginning of building a more engaged workforce.

Achievers gives you the tools to make it happen. With a global rewards marketplace, seamless integrations, and AI-powered insights, you can recognize what matters — and drive the behaviors that move your business forward.

Ready to build a program that delivers real results? Let’s make recognition and rewards work harder for you.

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