Low Cost / High Impact Rewards

Chair massages during stressful periods (tax season, year-end closings, etc.).

Birthday cake (or restaurant gift certificate to promote heathier eating, and spending time with family)….birthday flowers on desk.

Post a thank-you note on an employee's door

Wash the employee's car in the parking lot during lunch.

Have an internal notecard, called the "You Done Good Award" that can be sent by any employee to any other employee, or a "Pat on the Back Award" given by managers, a copy of which also goes into the employee's personnel file.

Photo recognition! Photos in the lobby of outstanding employees, or a collage with the employees' pictures and a notation of his/her best achievement of the year.

Write handwritten notes on the paycheck envelopes.

Stock the company break room with multivitamins.

Cover the person's desk with balloons.

Special parking spot closest to the entrance.

Give spontaneous time off for specific accomplishments.

Reward a small group with a limo ride to restaurant for a special lunch.

Scavenger hunt around the community…team building AND lots of fun!

Rent a sports car for the employee to drive for a week.

Allow flex-time work schedules.

Bonuses (even small ones) or gifts for meeting monthly goals.

Send a $20, $50, or $100 bill to a spouse with a thank-you note for his or her support during the
employee's overtime.

Company shirts, caps, etc.

Impromptu afternoon ice cream socials.

Have regular "casual dress" days.

Hold informal retreats to foster communication and set goals…make them fun!

To promote health, offer free annual fitness testing with rewards for meeting improvement goals.

Taken from personal experiences of committee members and from "1001 Ways to Reward Employees" by Bob Nelson.