
As the end of the financial year draws to a close, many employees expect staff rewards for the extra work they’ve put in towards stretched goals. So there’s a real danger in plummeting employee engagement and satisfaction levels where rewards aren’t forthcoming. Worse still, star employees may jump ship.
Where business realities rule out financial rewards, it’s important to remember that staff rewards come in many shapes and sizes. There’s more to rewarding staff than cold, hard cash. Benefits and perks play an important role in keeping employees engaged and happy.
A preference for perks and staff rewards
According to a survey by Glassdoor, nearly four in every five (79%) employees would prefer new or additional benefits to a pay increase. Specifically, the survey found more women (82%) than men (76%) prefer benefits or perks to a pay raise.
And, younger employees aged 18-34 (89%) and 35-44 (84%) prefer benefits or perks to pay raises when compared to those aged 45-54 (70%) and 55-64 (66%). Furthermore, there’s also a strong link between employee satisfaction with their benefits programs and retention.
According to a recent MetLife survey, of employees who are highly satisfied with their benefit programs, an overwhelming 85% of them are not planning to make a move anytime soon.
Likewise, Aberdeen research shows that employees are more likely to rate themselves “highly engaged” at companies which take a comprehensive approach to employee benefits and support their social and financial health.
No hefty price tag for staff rewards
With Employment Hero’s HR platform you can give your staff the kinds of benefits that employees love, all without a hefty benefits budget. In fact, totally free of charge. And when we say free, we mean it. Simply reach out to us today and give your staff an EOFY staff rewards package they’ll love.
Flexibility is key when it comes to employee benefits, one size does not fit all. As more businesses focus on employee benefits in lieu of higher salaries, it’s important to understand your workforce demographics. Things like age, income level, gender, are all critical to creating employee benefits that are truly valued by your employees.
With the multigenerational nature of our workforce, this may mean offering everything from student loan repayment programs to retirement assistance, health insurance, and free gym memberships.
Staff rewards are the way of the future
In the US, Government data shows companies’ spending on benefits has jumped 16% since 2004, compared to a 2% increase in wages. Over there, benefits now make up close to a third of workers’ total compensation.
And while you may be thinking that your business just can’t afford to offer a benefits program, there is a surprisingly simple way to introduce a world-class employee benefits program, without the hefty price tag. And without the need to resource and administer it.
If you want some more information about the types of staff rewards, incentives and benefits employees are looking for check out our blog on employee benefits every company should provide and our article about 12 unique ways to appreciate your employees. It provides creative ideas to show your appreciation and enhance employee satisfaction.
Staff reward ideas
Here’s a brain dump of staff reward ideas that you could use in your business! They come in all shapes, sizes and budgets.
A great staff rewards program doesn’t have to be expensive. Getting a bit creative and personal can make all the difference. Here’s a diverse list of 60+ employee reward ideas, from subscriptions and experiences to simple, no-cost gestures (🚫💰 = free or low-cost).
1-10: Unique & Fun Perks
✔ Branded swag – Custom-designed company merch employees will actually wear.
✔ Streaming subscriptions – Cover Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix, or Audible.
✔ Plants 🚫💰 – Boost engagement with easy-care office greenery.
✔ Book of the month – Great for book lovers and building an office book club.
✔ Charitable giving – Donate or match an employee’s chosen charity.
✔ Gift cards – Versatile and always appreciated.
✔ Subscription boxes – Beauty, snacks, coffee, wine, etc.
✔ Coffee memberships – Cover a local café’s unlimited drink subscription.
✔ “Fun” budget – Employees decide how to spend it on team activities.
✔ DJ for the day – Let the employee decide what music to play in the office.
11-19: Thoughtful and personalised rewards
✔ Rented or styled outfits – Cover the cost of formalwear for special events.
✔ Care packages – Snacks, self-care items, or a handwritten note.
✔ Custom stickers & mugs 🚫💰 – Fun, personalised office swag.
✔ Cookies 🚫💰 – Baked treats are a simple, crowd-pleasing reward.
✔ Art for the office – Let employees pick artwork for their workspace.
✔ Custom emoji 🚫💰 – Create a Slack emoji in their honour.
✔ CEO recognition note 🚫💰 – A personal appreciation message from leadership.
✔ Office library 🚫💰 – Buy books employees want for professional development.
✔ Online courses & webinars – Help employees learn new skills.
20-28: Professional development and growth
✔ Seminars & conferences – Fund participation in industry events.
✔ Professional memberships – Cover fees for career-related organisations.
✔ Leadership & soft skills books 🚫💰 – Provide books for growth.
✔ Hackathons 🚫💰 – Dedicated time for innovation and creativity.
✔ Team lunch or dinner – A shared meal fosters connection.
✔ Premium office tools – Upgrade software or resources employees need.
✔ Financial advisor session – Help employees plan for their future.
✔ Skill-sharing 🚫💰 – Host lunch-and-learns to exchange expertise.
✔ Recreational passes – Subsidise national park, ski, or gym memberships.
29-38: Lifestyle and well-being
✔ Dog-friendly office (or Zoom) 🚫💰 – Encourage pet-friendly interactions.
✔ Work from elsewhere 🚫💰 – Cover costs for a “work anywhere” day.
✔ Fly in remote team members – Fund a visit to HQ.
✔ Meditation apps – Provide Headspace or Calm subscriptions.
✔ Wine or brewery tour – A fun and social team experience.
✔ Local restaurant experience – Treat employees to a great meal.
✔ Cooking class – Virtual or in-person, it’s a hands-on reward.
✔ Pottery class – Let employees get creative with ceramics.
✔ Event tickets – Concerts, sports games, or festivals.
✔ Yoga classes – Promote physical and mental well-being.
39-48: Time and flexibility rewards
✔ Remote work travel program – Support participation in Remote Year.
✔ Volunteer day 🚫💰 – Paid time off to support a chosen cause.
✔ Skip-the-line pass 🚫💰 – Front of the line privileges at the office.
✔ Employee-designed swag – Let them create company merch.
✔ Airbnb experience – Give employees a unique local adventure.
✔ Museum membership – A rewarding cultural perk.
✔ Music lessons – Help employees explore a musical hobby.
✔ Gym memberships – Support physical fitness goals.
✔ Personal training vouchers – A step beyond gym memberships.
✔ Spa day – A well-earned reset after a big project.
49-62: Convenience and daily life perks
✔ Sponsor a race entry – Cover the cost of a marathon or fun run.
✔ Food truck lunch – A unique alternative to a regular catered meal.
✔ Extra PTO 🚫💰 – Give time off as a performance reward.
✔ House cleaning service – Eliminate a major weekend chore.
✔ Laundry service – A practical and time-saving reward.
✔ Project takeover 🚫💰 – Let an employee delegate a task.
✔ Subsidised commute – Cover transport or parking costs.
✔ Rideshare credits – Offer Uber or Lyft vouchers.
✔ Car maintenance – Oil changes, tire rotations, or detailing.
✔ Bike share membership – Encourage eco-friendly commuting.
✔ Bike maintenance – Cover annual tune-ups.
✔ Catered meals – Deliver lunch to remote or in-office teams.
✔ Dog walking or doggy daycare – Support pet parents (this pet in the workplace policy template could come in handy).
The best rewards aren’t always the most expensive—thoughtfulness, personalisation, and creativity make all the difference!
There are plenty more ways you can reward your staff! Get creative, and show your employees that you appreciate them.
For more tips on fostering a rewarding workplace and maintaining high employee engagement, read our guide on employee rewards and recognition. This resource can help you develop a strategy to keep your top talent loyal and engaged.
Who are we? 🤔
Employment Hero is an all-in-one HRIS that allows you to manage HR, payroll and employee benefits all in one place.
How can we help? 💡
Employment Hero has a fully integrated employee engagement software built into our HRIS. In order to build this, we had to complete a lot of research on what employees really want from their employers. Find out everything you need to know in our amazing insight report here.
For strategies on boosting employee engagement on a budget, consider our low-cost ways to boost employee engagement. This free eBook provides effective, affordable tactics to enhance engagement without breaking the bank.
To learn how Employment Hero can assist you in retaining top talent during challenging times, explore our insights on ways Employment Hero can help you retain top talent. Discover how we can support you in navigating the Great Resignation and keeping your valuable employees.
The Ultimate Employee Engagement Guide