Stadium for Employee rewards

40 Employee Rewards (4 Unique Recognition Ways You Won’t Find Anywhere)

Supercharge your global gifting with Bystadium and revolutionize reward solutions with proven case studies!

Supervisors or managers seeking methods to show appreciation for their employees may want to consider launching a reward program.

Recognition and awards may both enhance motivation, minimize attrition, and increase productivity in workplace.

What Are Employee Rewards?

Employee rewards are structured incentives designed to motivate, recognize, and retain employees. They can be financial (like bonuses or gift cards), non-monetary (such as personalized swag kits), or experiential (like wellness retreats or staycations).

The core purpose of rewards is to drive performance, loyalty, and engagement by making employees feel seen and appreciated in tangible ways.

According to the Incentive Research Foundation, employee rewards that align with employee interests see a 22% increase in engagement, particularly when delivered through customizable reward platforms.

Employee Reward Solution

Choose from a variety of gifting and engagement experiences — all customizable to your own brand. No monthly fees. No contracts.

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Stadium is an all-in-one employee recognition software that combines peer-to-peer appreciation, milestone rewards, custom gifting shops, and analytics under one platform.

Benefits of Employee Rewards

1. Improved Job Satisfaction

Recognizing workers’ efforts and successes fosters a sense of worth and satisfaction in the workplace. Job satisfaction and employee pleasure at work are simply some of the numerous advantages of rewarding them, and they should not be overlooked.

A sense of gratitude leads to greater pleasure and fulfillment in their jobs, eventually lowering turnover rates.

2. Improved employee morale

A culture of rewards and recognition fosters a pleasant work environment. Witnessing coworkers being recognized for their efforts fosters a friendly environment that increases morale and encourages collaboration.

3. Increased employee loyalty

Employees at companies that prioritize appreciation are 56% less likely to be seeking a new job. Organizations that appreciate employees’ contributions may strengthen their worker relationships.

Recognized staff are more likely to acquire a sense of loyalty and devotion to the business, which reduces turnover and helps to retain top talent.

4. Greater Employee Motivation:

Employee recognition and awards programs are effective motivators, motivating staff to exceed expectations.

In fact, McMaster University research found that employees who receive excellent acknowledgment had an 89% stronger feeling of motivation and drive. It is clear that when they feel appreciated and valued, they are more engaged, dedicated, and motivated to achieve their objectives.

5. Positive Organizational Culture:

Rewarding the employees contribute to a strong company culture.

A culture that honors and celebrates employees’ work attracts top talent, promotes recognition, and fosters a peaceful workplace environment.

What Are Performance-Based Employee Rewards?

Performance-based rewards are powerful tools for motivating results and celebrating high achievement. These rewards are tied to measurable outcomes such as hitting sales goals, completing strategic projects, or exceeding quarterly KPIs—and they come in many flexible formats.

1. Stadium Shops

Give employees the freedom to choose from a curated reward catalog that includes tech, wellness gifts, and branded merchandise.

Stadium’s custom shop model allows you to assign points based on performance, and let employees redeem them on their terms.

Stadium Points are a gamified, flexible recognition currency that lets employees redeem rewards across categories—ranging from healthy snacks to luxury gadgets—all through a branded digital shop.

2. Gift Cards

One of the most preferred reward formats, digital gift cards offer immediate gratification and maximum choice. Whether it’s Amazon, Airbnb, or a favorite local restaurant, Stadium makes it easy to integrate gift cards into your reward system.

3. Cash Incentives

These include traditional bonuses, profit-sharing plans, and performance-based raises. When tied to clear goals and delivered promptly, cash rewards reinforce accountability and drive results.

4. Personal Expense Assistance

Supporting high performers with real-life costs—like groceries, gas, or utilities—creates goodwill and reduces financial stress. You can scale this through Stadium’s reimbursement-based perks system, especially for remote and hybrid employees.

5. Spot Awards

These are fast, flexible, and ideal for real-time appreciation. Whether it's $100 in points, a surprise bonus, or a prepaid lunch, spot awards allow managers to respond instantly to wins. Tie it to a points-based system that gives you monetary rewards or gift cards as bonuses for major wins or milestones hit. It’s an immediate, tangible “great job!”. Stadium integrates this with Slack, automating award delivery the moment kudos are received.

6. Workspace Improvements

Reward employees with tools that make their job easier. Think standing desks, noise-canceling headphones, or ergonomic keyboards. Through Stadium, you can create a dedicated “Workspace Rewards” shop category to standardize options.

7. Paid Holiday

Time is a precious currency. Offer top performers an additional day off to decompress, especially after big launches or high-pressure periods. It’s simple, scalable, and sends a clear message of trust.

These rewards not only motivate individual performance but reinforce your culture of appreciation and excellence. Using Stadium, you can automate and personalize every reward moment across departments and locations.

What Are Recognition-Based Rewards?

Recognition-based rewards are built around appreciation, visibility, and emotional impact. They are often peer-driven or manager-initiated acknowledgments that highlight employee contributions in meaningful, low-cost ways. These rewards are critical for fostering a sense of belonging, especially in distributed teams.

1. Peer-to-Peer Kudos

There’s something really powerful about peer-to-peer recognition.

When coworkers take the time to acknowledge each other’s hard work and live the company values, it creates a culture of mutual respect and appreciation.

Some companies encourage this by letting employees “award” digital badges or kudos to teammates who knocked it out of the park.

It’s like an internal social media shoutout system that boosts morale and productivity.

Tools like Stadium integrate directly with Slack and Teams to allow colleagues to praise each other instantly.

These shoutouts can trigger points or badges, which reinforce the feedback loop.

2. Personalized Recognition Notes

A handwritten thank-you card or tailored email from leadership can carry immense weight. These gestures reinforce authenticity and are particularly effective for values-based recognition.

3. Internal Newsletters

Featuring top contributors or teams in your company’s internal comms can elevate their visibility. Platforms like Stadium allow you to auto-tag recognized individuals so their names appear in weekly digest emails.

4. Public Shoutouts

During all-hands meetings or town halls, recognize individuals for specific wins. Whether it’s a product idea, cross-functional help, or customer praise, the key is specificity.

5. Digital Wall of Fame

Create a virtual gallery that showcases recognized employees each month. Stadium’s recognition feed aggregates this into a live scrollable board that boosts morale and transparency.

6. Symbolic Awards

From a rotating “Employee of the Month” trophy to branded T-shirts for culture champions, symbolic awards are cost-effective but carry storytelling value.

7. Occasion-Based Rewards

Celebrate birthdays, work anniversaries, and personal milestones like completing certifications. Stadium’s automation tools help you schedule and personalize these events across regions.

Recognition-based rewards are about reinforcing who your company is—not just what it does. With Stadium, you can automate meaningful recognition rituals while keeping the personal touch alive.

Also Read: Employee Reward Companies

What Are Experiential & Purpose-Driven Rewards?

Experiential and purpose-driven rewards give employees the chance to feel seen beyond their job titles. These rewards create long-lasting memories and communicate that the company cares about personal interests, wellness, and values alignment—not just performance metrics.

1. Swag Kits

Who doesn’t love a good swag haul?

SwagMagic’s Swag Gift Kits (One of Stadium’s brand) are like treasure troves of branded goodies.

From stylish apparel to handy desk accessories, these kits let you represent your company pride while indulging in a little retail therapy.

These kits can include everything from branded apparel to office equipments, curated wellness items, or even pet accessories. They’re ideal for welcome gifts, birthday surprises, or team achievements.

Stadium enables custom swag shops and snack box automation so you can deliver them globally without managing logistics manually.

2. Experience Days or Tickets

Give employees time to explore something new—whether that’s a live event, local excursion, or escape room with friends. The experience should be aligned with employee preferences (e.g., music lovers get concert tickets; foodies get restaurant vouchers). Through Stadium, companies can offer prepaid event vouchers, add point-redemption options, or link employees with vendors.

3. Staycations and Local Retreats

Offer employees a weekend getaway or relaxation retreat nearby. A staycation doesn’t require travel but still helps employees recharge. This kind of reward works well for high-performers in high-stress roles. Stadium supports reimbursement workflows or giftable Airbnb experiences.

4. Pet Day & Pet-Friendly Perks

From branded pet gear to a “Bring Your Pet to Work” day or pet-sitting credits—these rewards are joyful and inclusive. Especially useful for hybrid or WFH employees. Stadium allows pet-specific bundles to be shipped via the same shop system.

5. Theme-based Snack Boxes

SnackMagic (another Stadium’s Brand) offers delightful theme-based snack boxes with tasty treats tailored to specific themes or occasions.

From movie night munchies to healthy trail mixes, these curated boxes make for fun and memorable snacking experiences.

According to a survey by Snack Nation, 67% of employees feel more appreciated when receiving theme-based snack boxes from their employer.

High-quality snacks, locally sourced gourmet items, and exclusive brand gift boxes make memorable rewards.

Stadium’s reward shop features items from hundreds of premium food and beverage vendors, ensuring every item feels personalized.

6. Leave Early Fridays

Small shifts in schedule—like a surprise early sign-off on Fridays—can create a powerful morale boost. Pair this with a digital note of appreciation and a light branded snack kit.

7. Remote Work Perks

Offer rewards tailored to the home environment, like beverage subscriptions, ergonomic equipment, or decor upgrades. Stadium lets you organize these into a "Remote Life" shop collection for easy point redemption.

8. Branded Tech & Gear

Bluetooth headphones, portable monitors, and water bottles with your logo combine form and function. Employees enjoy both utility and recognition. Stadium lets you customize gear at scale, synced with brand guidelines.

Experiential rewards work because they speak to identity, not just function. Stadium helps you deploy these rewards globally, with automation options for remote, hybrid, and in-office teams.

How to Reward Team Milestones

Team milestone rewards celebrate collective achievements and help build cohesion across functions. They turn major efforts—like product launches, hitting revenue targets, or onboarding cohorts—into moments of shared pride. These types of rewards also communicate leadership’s gratitude at a group level and can be used to reinforce culture in remote and hybrid settings.

1. Watch a Film at Work

Organize a casual screening event in the office or host a remote streaming party for distributed teams. Pair the experience with snacks and beverages shipped to employees via Stadium’s snack box kits. This downtime creates bonding and reduces burnout post-deadline.

2. Happy Hours

Celebrate milestones by sponsoring team happy hours—either at a local bar or virtually with cocktail/mocktail kits delivered to each participant. Stadium’s custom kit logistics allow for real-time celebration coordination across cities or even countries.

3. Team Activities

Book fun shared activities like trivia games, scavenger hunts, escape rooms, or painting classes. These are best scheduled after a collaborative success and help reset energy before the next project sprint. Stadium enables gifting of experience vouchers or prepaid cards for such events.

4. Outdoor Team Meals

Organize a team brunch, picnic, or rooftop lunch to mark a milestone moment. In hybrid settings, Stadium can ship matching lunch boxes to remote workers so they can dine together virtually.

5. Fun & Games

Send employees to the arcade, bowling alley, or a virtual gaming night using point redemptions in Stadium. These light-hearted rewards promote social interaction and reinforce team relationships.

6. Lunch with the Boss

Turn recognition into face time. Let employees or teams share a lunch with leadership to talk goals, accomplishments, or just build rapport. Use Stadium to deliver prepaid lunch credits or DoorDash/UberEats codes.

7. Charitable Donations

Mark the team’s success by allowing members to donate part of their reward points to a cause of their choice. Stadium supports charity gifting integration, making this a great way to turn team pride into community impact.

When teams win, they should feel it together. Stadium lets you celebrate wins at scale, automate experiences, and ensure every team milestone is honored—whether remote or in person.

What Are Career Growth & Learning Rewards?

Career development rewards motivate long-term retention by investing in an employee’s future. These incentives recognize personal and professional growth while aligning with both company goals and individual aspirations. They are ideal for high-potential employees, continuous learners, and team members taking on stretch assignments.

1. Online Courses & Certification Sponsorships

Reward employees by covering tuition or subscriptions to platforms like Coursera, Udemy, or edX. You can also offer sponsorships for professional certifications (e.g., PMP, SHRM-CP). Through Stadium, you can issue learning credits or Points redeemable for education platforms.

2. Internal Advancement Tracks

Recognize growth by nominating top performers for advancement pipelines or internal leadership tracks. This may include priority mentoring, strategic project placements, or direct exposure to senior executives. Stadium helps track milestones and attach recognition flows to learning objectives.

3. Special Projects & Strategic Assignments

Reward high performers with access to high-impact or cross-functional initiatives. These “stretch” roles accelerate learning and leadership readiness. Stadium supports this by integrating Points and recognition triggers into project completion checklists.

4. Tool Upgrades & Productivity Boosters

Invest in professional growth by funding access to tools and subscriptions—like design software, analytics dashboards, or premium productivity apps. Stadium allows companies to feature digital subscriptions in the shop, tied to career-enhancing rewards.

5. Present to Leadership Opportunities

Turn recognition into visibility. Offer employees a chance to share their work, ideas, or wins directly with executive teams. Pair this opportunity with a branded gift or thank-you reward via Stadium to make the moment more memorable.

These rewards help you cultivate a learning culture. With Stadium, you can align growth milestones with automated reward triggers, letting employees see a clear path from effort to acknowledgment.

What Are Employee Wellness Rewards?

Wellness rewards support employee health, resilience, and mental clarity—areas that are increasingly critical for retention, morale, and sustainable performance. These rewards are particularly effective when personalized to the physical, mental, and emotional wellness needs of diverse teams.

1. Gym Memberships & Fitness Reimbursements

Offer monthly stipends or partner discounts for gyms, fitness apps, or yoga studios. Whether employees prefer Peloton, ClassPass, or local boutique studios, this reward can be easily scaled with Stadium’s Points-based reimbursements or prepaid vouchers.

2. Wellness Kits & Self-Care Bundles

Curate care packages with items like essential oils, candles, hydration bottles, and wellness journals. These are ideal for stress relief after major deadlines or to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month. Stadium enables companies to ship pre-designed wellness kits or let employees choose their own via a “Self-Care” rewards category.

3. Mental Health Support & App Subscriptions

Cover subscriptions to Headspace, Calm, or other mindfulness apps. You can also offer stipends for therapy, coaching, or resilience training. Stadium allows point redemption for digital mental wellness tools and can integrate recognition flows for usage milestones.

4. Meditation, Stretch, and Focus Tools

Reward employees with physical items that promote mental clarity—like noise-canceling headphones, standing desks, or meditation cushions. These show that you care about long-term productivity, not just quick wins. Stadium’s product catalog includes ergonomic and sensory-friendly gear.

5. Preventive Health Perks

Offer biometric screenings, flu shot clinics, or reimbursement for routine checkups. Preventive care rewards show proactive investment in employee wellbeing. Stadium’s campaign feature allows employers to automate these offerings at key intervals.

6. Ergonomic Office Tools

Items like lumbar support cushions, adjustable chairs, or blue-light blocking glasses are low-cost but high-impact. Especially helpful for remote and hybrid employees, these rewards improve daily comfort. Use Stadium’s home office collection to streamline selection and shipping.

When wellness is treated as a reward—not just a policy—employees take notice. Stadium helps you turn these initiatives into moments of recognition, automated across geographies, and tailored to each team’s real needs.

Stadium- Your Perfect Employee Reward Solution

Your do-it-all platform for Rewards. Global Solution

Use Stadium to acknowledge people in all kinds of ways — all customizable to your own brand.

Celebrate milestones and wins
Incentivize Sales Goals
Mark Personal Achievements
Honor Special Days
Foster Peer-to-Peer Recognition

How leaders use Stadium

Create tailored online shops

Launch a custom employee rewards shop with your branding, curate your catalog, and personalize the experience for clients and prospects.

Include your logo and branding.
Select items and custom swag from our catalog.
Customers pick their own items and shipping destinations.

Boost Brand Awareness

Strengthen your brand presence by offering branded swag, custom shops, and on-demand merchandise to clients and prospects, creating a lasting impression.

Promote your brand with custom-branded merchandise.
Create branded swag stores for clients and prospects.
Leave a lasting brand impression with quality promotional products.

Simplify Gifting Workflows

Integrate Stadium with your CRM or marketing automation tools, automate gifting, and enhance your client engagement strategy effortlessly.

Connect Stadium with your CRM for seamless data flow.
Automate gift sending based on client interactions.
Elevate client engagement with automated gifting campaigns.

Are you ready
to take gifting to a whole new level?

Employee Rewards FAQ

What’s included in employee rewards?

Employee rewards can span financial perks (like bonuses, raises, and gift cards), non-monetary recognition (such as kudos or symbolic awards), lifestyle benefits (including PTO, fitness reimbursements, and wellness kits), and career-oriented incentives (like learning stipends or project ownership). Platforms like Stadium allow you to unify all these reward types in one automated and branded experience.

What’s the difference between rewards and recognition?

Rewards are typically tangible and earned—based on outcomes like performance, tenure, or results. Recognition, on the other hand, is a public or private acknowledgment of behaviors and contributions. The most effective companies use both: for example, combining a Slack kudos with redeemable points through Stadium.

How do you reward a hybrid or remote team fairly?

Hybrid recognition programs must be location-agnostic. That means using digital rewards, prepaid experiences, and logistics tools to deliver equitable value regardless of geography. Stadium handles fulfillment, timing, and selection—making it easy to treat every employee fairly.

What platforms support employee rewards and recognition?

Leading tools include Stadium, Bonusly, Kazoo, and Blueboard. Stadium is distinguished by its end-to-end reward system—offering Slack and Teams integration, branded redemption shops, custom automation, and support in over 170 countries.

Are monetary or non-monetary rewards more effective?

Both have value, depending on context. Monetary rewards boost short-term motivation and performance. Non-monetary rewards build emotional loyalty and reinforce company culture. According to Deloitte, companies with strong recognition cultures have 31% lower voluntary turnover.

Can you automate employee rewards?

Yes. Platforms like Stadium allow you to schedule recurring campaigns (for anniversaries, birthdays, or milestones), trigger rewards via Slack kudos, and assign point values tied to KPIs. Automation ensures no moment of impact is missed.

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