Work Prizes That Actually Motivate: Creative and Meaningful Rewards for Remote Employees
“People work for money but go the extra mile for recognition, praise, and rewards.” That’s what Dale Carnegie said. And he was right.
Here’s the thing—most work prizes are boring. A generic “employee of the month” certificate? A $5 coffee gift card that barely covers a latte? A company-branded stress ball? No thanks.
If you want to truly motivate remote employees, you need to get creative. A well-thought-out reward can boost morale, reinforce company culture, and even improve performance. But the wrong one? It lands with a thud. And worse—it makes employees feel undervalued.
This guide is not about handing out meaningless corporate trinkets. It’s about real work prizes that employees actually care about. From high-impact incentives to fun, low-cost rewards, let’s dive into what actually works.
Remote employees appreciate thoughtful rewards that make them feel valued. To keep your team motivated, consider a mix of monetary and non-monetary incentives.
Monetary Prizes
• Gift Cards – Give employees the freedom to choose their own rewards with gift cards to Amazon, Starbucks, Uber Eats, or their favorite online retailers.
• Cash Bonuses – A straightforward but highly appreciated prize, especially for outstanding performance or achieving specific goals.
• Tech Upgrades – Reward employees with a new keyboard, noise-canceling headphones, or ergonomic chair to improve their home office setup.
• Subscription Services – Offer Spotify, Netflix, Audible, or meal kit delivery subscriptions to enhance their personal time.
Non-Monetary Prizes
• Extra Paid Time Off – Let winners enjoy a bonus half-day or full day off to relax and recharge.
• Flexible Work Hours – Allow employees to start later or finish earlier as a prize for great performance.
• Professional Development Opportunities – Sponsor a LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, or Udemy course aligned with their career goals.
• Custom Swag – Send personalized company-branded gear like hoodies, water bottles, or notebooks.
Personalized & Experiential Rewards
Standard prizes are great, but personalized rewards make employees feel truly valued. Here are some experience-based prizes to elevate your incentive program.
• Virtual Experience Gifts – Reward employees with a virtual cooking class, wine tasting, or online escape room experience.
• Custom Care Packages – Send a box with snacks, coffee blends, or wellness items tailored to the winner’s preferences.
• Recognition Features – Highlight top-performing employees in team meetings, newsletters, or on social media.
• Personalized Thank-You Video from Leadership – A simple yet effective way to make employees feel appreciated.
Health & Wellness Prizes
Encouraging employees to prioritize mental and physical well-being can boost morale and productivity. Consider these health-focused rewards:
• Mental Health Days – Offer employees an additional wellness day off to focus on self-care.
• Fitness Subscriptions – Provide a membership to Peloton, Apple Fitness+, or a yoga app.
• Healthy Meal Kits – Cover a week’s worth of healthy meals delivered to their home.
• Therapy or Meditation App Access – Support employee well-being with subscriptions to Calm, Headspace, or BetterHelp.
Recognition-Based Rewards
Public recognition can be just as impactful as material rewards. Boost team morale with these simple but effective recognition-based prizes:
• Employee of the Month Award – Feature a top performer in a dedicated Slack channel or company-wide newsletter.
• Shout-Outs in Meetings – Recognize employees in virtual team meetings with a customized “thank you” message.
• Peer Recognition Bonuses – Allow teammates to nominate each other for rewards, creating a culture of appreciation.
• LinkedIn Endorsements from Managers – Offer a personalized skill endorsement as a career-boosting incentive.
Team-Building Rewards
Remote work can sometimes feel isolating. Strengthen team connections with group-focused prizes:
• Virtual Game Nights – Treat the team to a hosted online trivia, bingo, or escape room challenge.
• Collaborative Creative Projects – Give employees time to work on a fun, non-work-related team project.
• Company-Sponsored Lunches – Provide a DoorDash or Uber Eats credit for a team lunch.
• Surprise Happy Hour Kits – Send cocktail or mocktail kits for a virtual team happy hour.
Encouraging Employee Engagement
Want to keep employees excited about these prizes? Consider:
• Voting for Rewards – Let employees choose their favourite prizes each quarter.
• Raffle Drawings – Make incentives fun by turning them into a lottery-style prize draw.
• Leaderboard Challenges – Gamify performance with a points-based system where employees earn rewards.
Meaningful Christmas Gifts for Employees
The holidays are the perfect time to show appreciation, but not all gifts are created equal. Skip the generic fruit baskets and go for something thoughtful and useful instead.
Personalized & Practical Gifts
• Customized Gift Boxes – Curate a box with premium coffee, snacks, and a handwritten note for a personal touch.
• Tech Upgrades – Wireless earbuds, ergonomic keyboards, or a smart mug for keeping coffee hot? Employees will actually use these.
• Company-branded high-quality Swag – Think luxury hoodies, insulated tumblers, or a stylish backpack—not cheap pens and keychains.
Experience-Based Holiday Rewards
• Extra Paid Time Off – The most requested gift? More time to relax. Offer an extra day off as a holiday bonus.
• Virtual or In-Person Holiday Events – Host a fun online trivia night, a team cooking class, or even a surprise holiday raffle.
• Donation in Their Name – Let employees choose a charity and make a company-sponsored donation on their behalf.
Festive Bonuses & Financial Perks
• End-of-Year Performance Bonuses – Show appreciation with a holiday cash bonus for outstanding work.
• Gift Cards With a Personal Twist – Instead of a generic Visa gift card, go for one tailored to their interests (e.g., Spotify, Amazon, Airbnb).
A well-thought-out Christmas gift isn’t just a holiday gesture—it reinforces company culture and keeps employees engaged into the new year.
Conclusion: Make Work Prizes Meaningful (or Don’t Bother)
A prize isn’t just a prize. It’s a signal. It tells your employees, “We see you. We appreciate you. And we value what you do.”
Half-hearted rewards don’t cut it. If you’re going to do it, do it right. Choose prizes that match your company culture, excite your employees, and make their work-life better.
Want to know the easiest way to tell if your rewards are working? Listen. If employees are talking about the prizes, competing for them, and sharing them on Slack or LinkedIn—you nailed it. If they say, “Oh… cool, thanks,” and forget about it five minutes later? Time to rethink.
Great rewards create great work environments. Make yours count.
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FAQs
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Good prizes include gift cards, extra PTO, high-quality swag, tech gadgets, wellness perks, and personalized experiences like online classes or meal delivery credits.
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The best rewards are personalized and meaningful. Employees value flexibility (like remote work perks), monetary incentives (bonuses, raises), and recognition-based rewards (public appreciation, career growth opportunities).
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A mix of immediate recognition and long-term benefits. For example, a cash bonus for hitting a goal, followed by career development opportunities like promotions or leadership training.
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Use a blend of financial, experiential, and recognition-based incentives. Offer spot bonuses, team shout-outs, extra time off, or meaningful perks tailored to what employees actually want.