Employee gifting: how to recognise performance beyond Employee of the Month
Sign up for our newsletter for trending top content!
Introduction
Traditional Employee of the Month programmes often fail to capture the diverse contributions of modern employees. Research from Gallup shows that only 23% of employees feel consistently recognised, despite performing critical work. For HR Leaders, recognising achievements beyond standard awards is essential to boost engagement, retention, and productivity.
This guide explores creative employee gifting strategies, including custom awards like MVP, Culture Champion, and Innovation Star, helping HR Leaders structure recognition that motivates, aligns with company values, and drives measurable business outcomes.
Why should HR leaders move beyond Employee of the Month?
Focusing solely on monthly recognition misses the broader spectrum of employee contributions. McKinsey research indicates that companies with continuous recognition programmes report 31% higher engagement scores.
Expanding recognition can include:
- Project milestones
- Peer-to-peer appreciation
- Values-driven behaviour
- Innovative problem solving
Decision framework: HR Leaders can implement a three-tiered recognition model:
- Individual performance awards – for specific achievements or KPI delivery.
- Team awards – for collaboration or cross-functional success.
- Cultural awards – for behaviour aligned with organisational values.
Platforms like ApplaudIQ allow HR Leaders to customise awards, such as MVP, Culture Champion, and Innovation Star, enabling targeted, meaningful recognition that scales across teams.
How can gifting strategies increase engagement and retention?
Forrester reports that recognised employees are 36% more likely to stay with their organisation. Employee gifting reinforces recognition, signalling that contributions are valued materially and emotionally.
Comparison guide:
Creative gifting can include experiential rewards, dining, travel, and curated merchandise, aligned with employee preference. The combination of custom recognition categories and flexible rewards ensures engagement while demonstrating organisational investment in employee development.
Why should HR integrate values and culture into gifting?
Recognition tied to organisational values reinforces desired behaviours and strengthens culture. O.C. Tanner research shows that value-based recognition programmes increase discretionary effort by 22%.
Practical approach:
- Identify top 3–5 organisational values.
- Assign custom awards to behaviours exemplifying those values.
- Use gifting to reinforce these behaviours consistently across departments.
For example, Culture Champion awards can be paired with curated experiences or flexible reward options, ensuring employees feel both acknowledged and aligned with company culture.
How can HR ensure recognition is fair, inclusive, and impactful?
Inequitable recognition can demotivate employees and erode trust. SHRM notes that perceived bias in recognition reduces engagement by up to 28%.
Best practices:
- Set clear criteria for each award category.
- Include peer-nominated recognition to surface contributions invisible to managers.
- Monitor reward distribution to prevent bias across departments, levels, or locations.
- Offer choice in gifting to accommodate diverse preferences.
Platforms like ApplaudIQ allow HR Leaders to manage these processes centrally, automating award nomination, approval, and reward delivery while maintaining transparency and fairness.
Frequently asked questions
What are some creative ways to recognise employee performance?
HR Leaders can implement custom awards (MVP, Culture Champion, Innovation Star), peer-to-peer recognition, milestone-based rewards, and experiential gifting to go beyond standard Employee of the Month recognition.
How can gifting improve employee engagement?
Gifting signals tangible appreciation, reinforcing recognition and motivating employees. Forrester found that employees receiving timely rewards are up to 36% more likely to remain engaged.
Why should HR link awards to company values?
Value-driven recognition reinforces behaviours that shape culture, drives discretionary effort, and strengthens alignment between employee actions and organisational goals.
Can ApplaudIQ help manage custom awards and gifting?
Yes. ApplaudIQ enables HR Leaders to design custom award categories, automate nomination workflows, and provide flexible reward choices for employee gifting.
Conclusion
Employee gifting beyond traditional Employee of the Month programmes allows HR Leaders to recognise a wider array of contributions, strengthen culture, and drive engagement. By integrating custom awards, values-aligned recognition, and flexible reward options, organisations can ensure recognition is impactful, fair, and motivating. Platforms like ApplaudIQ simplify this process, making custom awards scalable and measurable across teams.
See how ApplaudIQ enables custom awards and flexible employee gifting to recognise performance beyond Employee of the Month. Explore the features today.
Sign up for our newsletter for trending top content!
