What are E rewards?

E-rewards are digital rewards like gift cards, points, and subscriptions that recognize and motivate employees. Understand what they are, why they matter, and how you can benefit from them at work.

What are e-rewards?

E-rewards are digital rewards—like gift cards, points, subscriptions, or experience vouchers—given to employees as appreciation for their contributions, achievements, or milestones. They are quick, flexible, and can be redeemed online or in stores.

Listen, recognize, award, and retain your employees with our Employee engagement software

Why do companies offer e-rewards?

E-rewards make recognition feel instant and personal. They help boost employee morale, encourage better performance, and create a culture where good work is seen and appreciated—without delays or logistical hassle.

What are the types of e-rewards?

E-rewards come in various forms, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Here are the most common types:

Digital gift cards: These are the most popular form of e-rewards. Employees receive gift cards that can be used at a wide range of retailers, restaurants, or e-commerce platforms. Examples include Amazon, Walmart, and Starbucks gift cards.
Points-based rewards: Employees accumulate points over time through performance or milestones. These points can then be redeemed for products, services, or experiences.
Subscriptions: Employees can enjoy free or discounted subscriptions to platforms like Netflix, Spotify, Headspace, or online learning resources like Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
Experience vouchers: These provide access to travel, dining, wellness, or adventure activities, allowing employees to create memorable experiences.
Charitable donations: For socially conscious employees, e-rewards can include the option to donate to a cause or charity of their choice.
Custom rewards: Some programs allow employees to personalize their rewards, choosing products, services, or experiences that resonate with their individual interests and needs.

Who can receive e-rewards?

Any employee can receive e-rewards—whether you're a new joiner, a top performer, or someone who just helped a colleague. Some programs even allow team members to nominate each other for rewards.

When are e-rewards given?

They can be awarded during work anniversaries, birthdays, after completing a project, hitting a sales target, or simply for living the company values. Some are automated, so you won’t miss out on recognition.

Why are e-rewards used in incentive programs?

E-rewards have become a preferred choice in incentive programs due to their adaptability, convenience, and ability to drive engagement. Here’s why they stand out:

Flexibility: E-rewards cater to diverse preferences, making them suitable for a multicultural and multi-generational workforce. Employees can choose what they value most, ensuring higher satisfaction.
Speed: Digital rewards are instantaneous, eliminating the delays associated with physical rewards. This quick turnaround boosts the emotional impact of recognition.
Global reach: E-rewards are ideal for distributed teams, as they transcend geographical and logistical barriers, making them accessible to employees worldwide.
Personalization: E-rewards can be tailored to individual tastes, making employees feel valued and understood, which enhances loyalty and motivation.‍
Cost-effectiveness: E-rewards reduce the costs related to shipping, packaging, and inventory management, offering a more budget-friendly alternative to physical gifts.

Employee pulse surveys:

These are short surveys that can be sent frequently to check what your employees think about an issue quickly. The survey comprises fewer questions (not more than 10) to get the information quickly. These can be administered at regular intervals (monthly/weekly/quarterly).

One-on-one meetings:

Having periodic, hour-long meetings for an informal chat with every team member is an excellent way to get a true sense of what’s happening with them. Since it is a safe and private conversation, it helps you get better details about an issue.

eNPS:

eNPS (employee Net Promoter score) is one of the simplest yet effective ways to assess your employee's opinion of your company. It includes one intriguing question that gauges loyalty. An example of eNPS questions include: How likely are you to recommend our company to others? Employees respond to the eNPS survey on a scale of 1-10, where 10 denotes they are ‘highly likely’ to recommend the company and 1 signifies they are ‘highly unlikely’ to recommend it.

Based on the responses, employees can be placed in three different categories:

Promoters
Employees who have responded positively or agreed.
Detractors
Employees who have reacted negatively or disagreed.
Passives
Employees who have stayed neutral with their responses.

How are e-rewards distributed to employees?

E-rewards are distributed through employee recognition platforms like Empuls, designed to simplify the process while providing a seamless experience.

Manager-initiated rewards: Managers can select and send e-rewards to employees as part of recognition for milestones, performance achievements, or day-to-day excellence.
Peer-to-peer recognition: Some platforms allow peers to nominate or reward their colleagues, fostering a culture of collaboration and appreciation.
Automated distribution: Rewards can be automatically triggered for specific occasions, such as work anniversaries, birthdays, or achieving specific KPIs, ensuring no milestone goes unnoticed.
Self-service portals: Employees can access a rewards catalog where they can redeem points or select their preferred rewards.

These methods ensure that e-rewards are distributed promptly, transparently, and in a way that aligns with the organization's culture and values.

What are the benefits of e-rewards?

E-rewards provide numerous advantages, benefiting both employers and employees:

Accessibility: Employees can receive and redeem e-rewards from anywhere, ensuring convenience for remote and on-site teams alike.
Increased motivation and engagement: Being recognized and rewarded in a timely manner boosts morale and encourages employees to perform at their best.
Cost-efficiency: By eliminating shipping and inventory costs, e-rewards are more economical compared to traditional rewards.
Personalization: E-rewards empower employees to choose what they find most valuable, making recognition more meaningful.
Eco-friendliness: The absence of physical materials makes e-rewards an environmentally sustainable choice.

Improved employee experience: E-rewards contribute to a positive employee experience by combining recognition with instant gratification and flexibility.

Are there hidden costs associated with e-rewards?

While e-rewards are generally cost-effective, organizations should be mindful of potential hidden costs to ensure transparency and value:

Platform fees: Some platforms charge subscription or transaction fees for managing e-rewards.
Currency exchange rates: For global teams, currency conversion rates may slightly affect the cost of certain rewards.
Expiry dates: Certain e-rewards may have expiration dates, leading to unused rewards if employees are not informed in advance.
Redemption limitations: Some rewards might have specific terms and conditions, such as being redeemable only at certain locations or for specific items.

How can Empuls help with e-rewards?

Empuls simplifies the process of recognizing, rewarding, and motivating employees by offering an all-in-one platform designed for modern workplaces. Here's how Empuls helps with e-rewards:

1. Seamless distribution of e-rewards: Empuls allows managers and HR teams to send e-rewards instantly to employees. The platform integrates with workflows, ensuring that rewards are distributed efficiently and without delays.

2. Extensive catalog of rewards: With Empuls, employees have access to a wide catalog of e-rewards, including:

Digital gift cards for popular brands
Points-based rewards to redeem as they wish
Experience vouchers and subscriptions
Options for charitable donations

This variety ensures that every employee can find a reward that aligns with their personal preferences.

3. Global reach: Empuls is built to support global teams, offering e-rewards that can be redeemed across different countries and currencies. This makes it ideal for distributed workforces.

4. Automated recognition and rewards: Empuls automates reward distribution for key milestones like work anniversaries, birthdays, and performance achievements. This ensures that no special occasion or accomplishment goes unnoticed.

By integrating e-rewards into the recognition and engagement framework, Empuls not only simplifies the logistics of rewarding employees but also creates a more engaging, motivated, and connected workforce. Schedule a call now!

Explore how Empuls can help your organization