32 Employee Rewards To Motivate Your Team (Without Breaking The Bank)

Employee rewards are one of the simplest, most effective ways to boost engagement, morale, and retention. And they don’t have to cost much. 

It’s more important to spend a minute showing your team members that you value the contributions they give to your company, every single day. You can start small—just make sure you do something.

Something as simple as rewarding individuals for a job well done creates a sense of belonging and boosts their self-esteem, and creates a strong emotional connection between the employee and the company.

At SnackNation, employee engagement is something they think about everyday. While they might technically sell snacks, they’re really in the business of creating more engaged teams and more awesome offices. One of the things they’ve learned is that recognition is a crucial part of creating an engaged team.

But not all rewards are created equal. The more creative, unique, and personalized the reward, the greater the impact on both the individual and the culture.

So here’s a list of 32 great employee rewards you can offer—because you don’t need to spend a lot to make a big difference.

What counts as an employee reward?

Employee rewards are meaningful gestures used to acknowledge an individual’s hard work, boost morale, and show employees that leadership values their contributions. 

Recognition is a crucial element of building employee engagement, and rewards serve as the tangible incentive that builds the company culture of appreciation. There are different types of rewards, including:

• Monetary rewards are direct financial or items with value, like gift cards or company swag
• Non-monetary rewards are free or low-cost gestures that focus on convenience or personal touch, like a handwritten note or special parking space
• Experiential rewards are activities that break up the routine workday, like mandatory days off or office parties
• Peer recognition rewards use systems designed to empower staff to reward each other directly with small bonuses for a job well done

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Quick reference: 32 employee rewards by budget and effort

Reward	Cost	Effort	Best for (remote or in-person teams)
Handwritten note	Free (or near free)	Low	Both
Charitable donation	Up to $35	Low	Both
The Five Minute Journal	$30	Low	Both
Lunch or dinner on the boss	Up to $35	Medium	Both
Car wash at work	$25-$35	Low	In-person
Thank you video	Free	Medium	Both
Custom coffee mug	$15	Low	Both
Custom phone case	$40	Low	Both
Mandatory day off	Free	Low	Both
Monday Night Football party	Around $35	Medium	In-person
Front row parking	Free ($40 for sign)	Low	In-person
Custom Fathead	$30-$35	Low	Both
Bring your dog to work day	Free	Low	In-person
One-on-one mentoring	Free	Medium	Both
S’well water bottle	$35	Low	Both
Swap jobs for a day	Free	High	In-person
CEO for a day	Free	High	Both
Food trucks	Free	Medium	In-person
Casual dress	Free	Low	Both
Books	$10-$25	Low	Both
Laundry services	Up to $35	Low	Both
Micro-bonuses	$5/user	Low	Both
Summer hours	Free	Low	Both
UberEats gift card	Up to $35	Low	Both
Swag	Varies	Medium	Both
Custom stickers	Varies	Low	Both
Audible account	$14.95/month	Low	Both
Nerf guns	$10-$25	Low	In-person
The prize wheel	Around $35	Medium	In-person
Offsite	Varies	High	Both
Uber or Lyft credits	Up to $35	Low	Both
Wall of fame	Varies	Medium	In-person

32 employee rewards that won’t break the bank

1. Handwritten note

It’s so simple, yet so effective. There’s just something about the personal touch of a note written in your own hand that really shows you care. Bust it out for birthdays, yearly anniversaries, or for significant performance milestones.

You can never underestimate the power of seeing a handwritten note arrive in your mailbox!

Cost: Practically free!

2. Charitable donation

The key here is to personalize it by choosing a cause close to the recipient’s heart. Get to know your employees, and align your donation with their passions.

Does your sales rep love dogs? Donate to a local no-kill animal shelter.

Is your head of operations nuts about the environment? Find a suitable environmental cause. 

You’ll demonstrate that you’ve been paying attention, and your employees will feel cared for and appreciated.    

Cost: Up to $35

3. The Five Minute Journal

This is a favorite of the team at SnackNation, where they really emphasize personal growth and development. The Five Minute Journal concept comes from the realm of positive psychology. 

The idea is to set aside just five minutes each day to help you focus on the good in life. It helps make affirmation and gratitude an automatic part of your day, and results in happier, more productive lives.

Cost: $30 

4. Lunch or dinner on the boss

This simple gesture is a great opportunity to learn more about what makes your employees tick. The more you get to know them as people, the more you can help them succeed.

Spending time with your employees outside of work makes your employees feel valued and seen as people, not just resources to fill a shift, and can increase loyalty.

Cost: up to $35

5. Car wash at work

We all know our most valuable commodity is the one we can never get back—our time. Help employees maximize their free time by giving them an on-demand car wash at work. Apps like Washos offer just such services.

Cost: $25-35

6. Thank you video

Think of this as a handwritten note on steroids. It’s a personal way to voice your appreciation. Get the whole team in on the action to show your employee how much their contributions matter.  

You don’t need to be a professional videographer to make a compelling thank you video. In fact, apps like iMovie for iOs or Powerdirector for Android enable you to shoot and edit the entire thing on your phone.

Cost: Free

7. Custom coffee mug

Sites like Vistaprint allow you to create custom mugs for about the same price as a trip to Starbucks. Treat your employee to a one-of-a-kind gift that he or she will appreciate for a lifetime.

Cost: $15

8. Custom phone case

Coffee mugs aren’t your style? Try creating a custom phone case.

Every phone needs a case. Why not reward team members with a case that lets them know you care.

Cost: $40

9. Mandatory day off

Reward stellar performers by forcing them to take a day off.

Why mandatory? Because, most likely, your star achievers are going to be the hardest ones to pry away from their work. To make sure that the day off is truly rejuvenating, institute a hard and fast rule—no email or phone check-ins.

Use scheduling software like When I Work to make it easy. You can block off a day for your employees, so they can’t pick up a shift and are forced to take some time off.

Cost: Free

Working in a labor-intensive industry like healthcare makes offering workplace rewards like a mandatory day off even better. You can help reduce fatigue and burnout while recognizing your employees. See how When I Work makes it easier.

10. Monday Night Football party

Mondays aren’t always everyone’s favorite day. Give your team something to look forward to by throwing the most epic office Monday Night Football party they’ve ever experienced.

Once a year, when there’s a particularly good matchup, SnackNation projects the game on a massive screen, providing pizza, beer, and healthy snacks. They even hold a spirit contest during the day where they encourage employees to represent their favorite teams (of any sport). The winner gets bragging rights and a gift card.

Cost: around $35

11. Front row parking

Reserve a prime parking spot for the month’s top performer. To make it extra special, make a custom parking sign.

Making your employees’ lives easier is always a great way to show appreciation, even if it’s just a few steps to the front door. This also shows your customers that you value your employees and go out of your way to do something nice for them. Customers see that and feel that it will apply to them, too.

Cost: Free ($40 for custom sign)

12. Custom Fathead

Fatheads are sure to be a crowd favorite. Surprise your employee with an oversized custom wall hanging… of their face.

Cost: $29.99 – $34.99

13. Bring your dog to work day

If your office space can handle it, allow your employee to bring their doggos in for the day. Nothing elevates the office mood quite like man’s best friend.

Plus, office pets have been proven to reduce stress and help foster relationships between coworkers.

Cost: Free

14. One-on-one mentoring

More likely than not, your employees crave mentorship—they just might not know how to ask for it.

Make it easy for them by rewarding the org with a mentorship program. Find volunteers among leadership, and pair mentors and mentees based on their interests, goals, and desired career paths.

This is a great way to cross-train employees and invest in their future as a reward for a job well done. Not only will they see the tangible benefits now, but it will pay off for them in the future as well.

Cost: Free

15. S’well water bottle

Why do we like this? Because this is something your employees will use everyday. Every time they do, they’ll make an unconscious, positive association with their workplace.   

Besides, with their sleek design and eco-friendly impact, S’well bottles are just freaking sweet.

Cost: $35

16. Swap jobs for a day

Sometimes all you need is to switch things up to get your employees to think creatively and come up with new ideas. Allow them to choose a job they want to learn more about, and swap jobs with their colleagues.

Bonus—this practice will give your team a new appreciation for other departments, and give them a new perspective to take on the challenges within their own role.

You can use scheduling software like When I Work to make this easy. Schedule the shifts and assign your staff different positions, or reserve a few shifts for this swap. Either way, your employees can see it on the schedule and get excited for it.

Cost: Free

You can make this way easier by putting it in the employee schedule. See how When I Work can help you make this and other staff incentives happen.

17. CEO for a day

This strategy works best at bigger companies, where the CEO can’t be 100% accessible.

Have the employee shadow the CEO… and weigh in on important decisions, especially ones that relate to the team. They’ll come away with a new, holistic perspective on the business, and feel like they have a say in some of the high-level decisions.

Cost: Free

18. Food trucks

Food at work always brings up the mood. That’s probably why it’s the second most requested perk in the office. Food trucks are a convenient, easy way to deliver gourmet food straight to your employees.

And since food trucks are always on the lookout for hungry lunchtime patrons, you can often negotiate a discounted rate or free item the first time a new truck visits your area.

You’ll also be supporting another local small business, which is always a great way to do business.

Cost: Free

19. Casual dress

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.

Instituting a casual dress code signals to your employees that you care about their comfort and their ability to express themselves as individuals. Casual dress is also consistent with a results-oriented culture. 

Like unlimited vacation, it shows that you’re more interested in the work they produce than forcing your employees to conform to cultural norms.

In some industries, like law or finance, casual attire might not seem like an option. But increasingly, companies in these fields are choosing to adopt a flexible dress code, allowing employees to dress casually on most days, but requiring more formal attire for certain situations, like client meetings.

Bonus idea: at SnackNation, Friday is the day the dress code gets a little weird. They’ve had Aloha Fridays, Football Fridays, Flannel Fridays (when the weather permits), and most recently Flashback Fridays, when team members dress in ‘80s or ‘90s era apparel.

Cost: Free

20. Books

This gesture supports a culture of perpetual growth and development, and will demonstrate an interest in the individual recipient that goes above and beyond.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few recommendations to get you started:

Deep Work by Cal Newport

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Radical Candor by Kim Malone Scott

Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

 Mindset by Carol Dweck

Cost: $10-25

21. Laundry services 

Just like car wash services, laundry apps like Rinse give your employees some of their time back.

Besides, does anyone actually like doing laundry?

Cost: Up to $35

22. Micro-bonuses with Bonusly

Bonusly is an online platform that enables your employees to reward each other with micro-bonuses for a job well done. Companies like ZipRecruiter are already using Bonusly to create an environment of recognition.

Cost: Free – $5/user

23. Summer hours

A staple of East Coast offices in industries like tech, media, and fashion, many employees let their employees leave at 2 pm on Fridays during the summer—as long as they can wrap up their work, of course.

Employees appreciate the opportunity to start their weekends early and enjoy some extra time in the summer sun. Plus, the 2 pm light at the end of the tunnel motivates most employees to come in a bit earlier and maximize their time in the office. 

More often than not, your employees will be more productive with a shortened Friday schedule.

Scheduling software makes this easy, so your team can see exactly what’s coming up, knowing they have a respite coming at the end of the week. It’s a fun reminder of the reward.

Cost: Free

24. UberEats gift card

Meal planning is difficult to maintain throughout the week, and if you don’t have an onsite restaurant or good food nearby, getting lunch can be a major hassle and interruption.

UberEats solves this problem by delivering great local food at Uber speed.

Cost: Up to $35

25. Swag

It’s Stuff We All Get. Business leaders tend to underestimate the allure of swag for their employees, and see it as mere marketing collateral, something you give away at a booth at a convention.

But more often than not, employees are dying for some company swag. They want to show off who they work for, and will gladly wear that t-shirt like a badge of honor.

Cost: Varies

26. Custom stickers

Create a sticker of the employee’s face and pass them out at the next team meeting. The possibilities are endless here.

Stickermule is a super simple and affordable service for making custom stickers.

Cost: Varies

27. Audible account

Unless you have an entirely remote workforce, your employees have a daily commute.

Make that commute a bit more productive by gifting your employee an Audible.com account. An Audible membership gives you access to their vast library of audio books, which contains fiction, business, and personal development titles.

Cost: $14.95/month

28. Nerf guns

We all fall into a rut every now and again at work. Surprise your team with a cache of Nerf guns and inject some fun and unpredictability into the office. This old-school classic toy is sure to bust your team members out of any rut.

Cost: $10-25

29. The prize wheel

Create a wheel of prizes to reward employees for their performance.

SnackNation spins a prize wheel at their weekly all-hands meetings to reward people for things like referral hires and goal completion. Prizes include gift cards, movie tickets, coffees, and other niceties. It’s always a crowd favorite.

Cost: about $35

30. Offsite

Nothing breaks up routine like a day spent away from the office.

Offsites don’t have to be expensive. A day at the beach, with fun, low-cost team bonding activities like touch-football or tug of war can do wonders for morale.

Cost: Varies

31. Uber of Lyft credit card

Whether it’s for a night on the town, or an airport drop-off, we all need rides from time to time.

Give the gift of convenience with an Uber or Lyft credit card.

Cost: Up to $35

32. The wall of fame

Reward employees for exemplary contribution with a spot on a wall of fame. To make this truly special, limit the number of inductees, and create criteria (like minimum number of years worked at the company). The wall of fame should be something employees aspire to, so make it an exclusive honor.

Mimic your favorite sports arena by making mock-jerseys and hanging them from the rafters.

Cost: Varies

Schedule rewards and shifts at the same time to boost morale and save hours in your week. Sign up for your free 14-day trial of When I Work today!

Why should management invest in employee rewards?

Employees want to feel valued, and they want to know that what they do every day is important to you and your business. Investing in employee rewards is a key way to show your appreciation for your team, helping to boost employee engagement and making for a better workplace atmosphere. 

Employee recognition improves that feeling of community at work, and when your staff has a strong sense of community, they are eight times more likely to feel like they belong. 

In turn, that sense of belonging leads to a 43% increase in retention and an 84% increase in estimated tenure or intent to stay. With 51% of all U.S. employees looking for a new job, using motivational rewards for employees is an easy way to keep them on staff longer.

Companies with strong recognition and employee rewards programs see 31% lower turnover rates and 69% of employees said they would work harder if their contributions were recognized.

Creating a culture where employees are recognized for their contributions is also a great way to attract and boost employee retention. Workers want to be at a job that values and appreciates them, so rewarding your team actually gives you a competitive hiring advantage.

Benefits of rewarding employees

When your employees know they’ll be rewarded for doing a good job, they’ll be more motivated and productive. You’ll also build a better, more supportive workplace environment. 

That great culture you’ve built will help you retain staff and reduce turnover, which is high on every manager’s priority list. And when you have your team of valued employees all working together in such a great way, they’ll feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment at getting the job done every day. 

Types of employee rewards

Not all employee reward ideas are created equal, and the best recognition strategy is to use a mix of different incentives. Be sure to mix and match the list of 32 motivational rewards for employees and the categories they fall under:

Monetary and material rewards

These are tangible rewards that carry a direct financial value or include an actual item your team members can hold and use. They’re really effective for performance milestones and giving employees something concrete to take home. These include:

• Gift cards: UberEats, Uber, or Lyft credits to cover meals and commutes
• Company swag: Custom t-shirts, custom phone cases, or S’well water bottles
• Personalized keepsakes: One-of-a-kind items like custom coffee mugs, custom stickers, or a fathead

Non-monetary and recognition rewards

These free or low-cost gestures focus on a personal touch, visibility, and making employees feel deeply valued as individuals, without breaking the bank.

• Personal appreciation: A heartfelt handwritten note or a personalized thank you video featuring the whole team
• High-profile recognition: A reserved front-row parking space for the month’s top performer or a permanent spot on the company Wall of Fame
• Thoughtful gifts: Tailored books that align with an employee’s career development or a copy of The Five Minute Journal
• Charitable donations: A donation made by the company to a cause that’s close to the employee’s heart

Experiential and workplace perks

These rewards break up the monotony of the standard workday, inject some fun into the office culture, and focus on unique experiences.

• Office celebrations and events: Throwing a Monday Night Football party, renting local food trucks for lunch, or spinning a prize wheel at weekly all-hands meetings
• Unique office days: Hosting a “bring your dog to work day” or allowing a casual dress day
• Team bonding: Stepping away for the office for low-cost offsite activities like a day at the beach or a cache of Nerf guns for an impromptu office battle

Time-based and flexibility rewards

Time is the ultimate commodity, and these rewards give employees their time back, offer flexibility, or offer a much-needed mental break.

• Rest and rejuvenation: A mandatory day off with a strict “no email” rule to ensure star players actually disconnect
• Schedule flexibility: Implementing summer hours where employees can wrap up early at 2pm on Fridays to jumpstart their weekend
• Time-saving services: Covering the cost of lifestyle conveniences, like an on-demand car wash at the office or laundry services

Professional growth and role reversal rewards

You can invest in an employee’s long-term career development as a reward, which is a win for you both. This fosters cross-department empathy and can provide a fresh perspective on the business.

• Mentorship and learning: One-on-one mentoring programs paired by goals, or gifting an Audible account to turn daily commutes into professional development time
• Perspective shifting: Swap jobs for a day to boost creative thinking across departments, or let an employee act as CEO for the day to shadow leadership and weigh in on high-level discussions
• Peer-to-peer systems: Use platforms like Bonusly to empower staff members to directly recognize and reward each other with micro-bonuses

How to build an employee rewards program

Creating a successful rewards program doesn’t mean you need to have a massive budget, but it does mean you need a plan. Here are six steps to help you design a program that can actually motivate your team:

1. Define your goals

Start by identifying what you want to achieve with your employee rewards program. Are you looking to boost overall employee engagement? Are you trying to lower turnover rates? Do you need to motivate your sales team to hit a specific goal? Clear objectives will shape your entire program.

2. Set a budget

Decide how much you can afford to spend. Rewards don’t have to be expensive to be impactful. You can blend low-cost items with completely free incentives to come up with a well-rounded program.

3. Choose your rewards types

Select a mix of employee incentives that appeal to different personalities. Balance tangible monetary gifts with non-monetary recognition, lifestyle perks, and professional growth opportunities.

4. Establish clear criteria

Your employees need to know exactly how to earn a reward. Build transparent, fair criteria for achievements, like hitting a monthly goal, reaching a work anniversary, or receiving a peer nomination. This makes the process feel fair for everyone.

5. Communicate the program

Launch the program clearly so the entire team understands it. Use a weekly meeting, email update, or a group team message in the scheduling software to keep the rewards top-of-mind and build excitement around the program.

6. Measure and adjust

A good rewards program is flexible. Track its impact on team morale and productivity. Ask for feedback regularly to see which rewards your team likes the most, which are the most effective, and which ones need to be swapped out for something else.

Make their lives easier with When I Work

As you can see, there is no shortage of affordable rewards that let your team know that you care. These are just some ideas to get you started—there are so many more ways you can reward your employees for their hard work. The point is that it doesn’t have to be something expensive or outrageous. You just have to get started.

One of the easiest ways to show employee appreciation is to make scheduling, time tracking, and team communication easier with When I Work. Team members can choose their own shifts, swap and drop shifts when needed, and set their availability so they know you value their time. 

Try When I Work for FREE with a 14-day trial. Sign up for your free trial today!

Rewarding employees: FAQs

Why is it important to invest in employee rewards?

Investing in employee rewards helps boost employee morale, engagement, and motivation. It creates a positive work environment, increases job satisfaction, and fosters loyalty among employees. This, in turn, leads to improved productivity, lower turnover rates, and enhanced overall company performance.

Will employee rewards really help my workplace culture?

Absolutely. A culture of recognition and appreciation, fostered through rewards, contributes to a positive and supportive work environment. It promotes teamwork, collaboration, and a sense of camaraderie among employees, which, in turn, enhances overall company culture.

How do rewards affect employee performance?

Employee rewards serve as incentives for staff members to perform at higher levels. When employees know their hard work will be acknowledged and rewarded, they are more motivated to excel in their roles, leading to improved individual and team performance.

What impact does employee rewards have on retention?

Employee rewards play a significant role in retaining valuable talent. By recognizing and rewarding employees’ hard work and accomplishments, you can create an environment where employees are less likely to seek opportunities elsewhere. 

This reduces turnover rates and the associated costs of recruiting, onboarding, and training new employees.

How do I get started with employee rewards?

You can start small with some of the ideas in this list. Employee rewards don’t have to be expensive, you just need to do something. Put together a plan on how you might start rewarding or recognizing your team and try out a few different ideas.

What are examples of employee rewards? 

Examples range from monetary items like custom phone cases, S’well water bottles, and UberEats gift cards, to free experiential perks like summer hours, mandatory days off, or letting a star performer act as CEO for a day.

What’s the difference between employee rewards and recognition? 

Recognition is the act of showing praise and appreciation to build employee motivation. Rewards serve as tangible items like custom mugs or books that reinforce that culture of appreciation.

How much should I spend on employee rewards? 

You don’t need to spend much. While some gifts range from $10 to $40, many of the most impactful ideas like job swapping, casual dress days, or mentorship programs are completely free to implement.

What are good low-cost employee rewards? 

Great low-cost options for employee motivation include writing a heartfelt handwritten note, gifting a custom coffee mug, purchasing a book tailored to their growth, or filming a free, highly personalized team thank you video to celebrate an achievement.

How do you reward remote employees? 

A recognition program for remote staff works best with digital or deliverable rewards. You can send them a digital UberEats gift card, set up an Audible subscription, coordinate a mandatory day off, or use an online recognition program like Bonusly for peer-to-peer micro-bonuses.

Start your free trial of When I Work today!