43 Employee Reward Ideas: Individual, Team, Monetary, Non-Monetary

Looking for creative reward ideas to recognize and encourage employees? You're at the right place.

Recognizing and rewarding employees is essential for maintaining employee motivation, engagement, and retention. But with so many options available, how do you choose the right rewards for your team? Whether you’re looking for individual or team-based recognition, monetary incentives, or creative non-monetary perks, this guide has you covered.

In this article, we’ll explore 43 employee reward ideas that cater to different preferences and workplace cultures. From performance bonuses to personalized experiences, you’ll find inspiration to create a recognition program that keeps your hard working employees happy, motivated, and productive.

Looking for a recognition App for Slack

Clappy Kudos is great way to boost recognition and integrate these rewards.

Individual monetary reward ideas​

1. Gift cards. ($30-$200)
2. Company Swag like shirt, hat, mug, stickers, socks, bag, etc. ($50)
3. Mystery Box tailored to the specific person redeeming the reward. ($25-$100)
4. Learn something new (Airbnb Experiences) such as learning how to paint, surf, cook, anything! ($50-$150)
5. Digital Workshop or Course like those offered on MasterClass, Udemy, or Coursera. ($50-$200)
6. Spa treatment/day: an hour of massage in your local area. ($50-$150)
7. House cleaning from a provider in your local area. ($150)
8. Movie/Music/Magazine Subscription for a Year (Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, Spotify, Apple Music, etc.). ($100-$150)
9. Fitness/Gym subscription of your choice for six months. ($100-$500)
10. Meal Subscription: get a free month of meals from HelloFresh or Freshly. ($150-$300)
11. Daycare/Pet Stipend. ($100)
12. 2x movie tickets. ($15-$40)
13. 2x tickets for an event of your choosing like a concert, sports game, etc.. ($50-$150)
14. Adventure activity (skydiving, bungee jumping, mountain biking, etc.). ($100-$300)
15. Charity Donation: allow the employee to select a charity and the company makes a donation in their name. ($50-$200)
16. Plant Delivery Service: a potted plant or succulent delivery to brighten up their workspace or home. ($30-$100)
17. DIY Craft Kit: a kit for a craft project, such as knitting, candle-making, or pottery. ($30-$100)
18. Travel Voucher: contribution towards a vacation or getaway. Can be used for flights, hotels, or experiences. ($100-$500)
19. You can also use this tier as part of a points-based recognition program or combine it with financial incentives for top performers.

Why Employee Incentive Programs Work

Recognition doesn’t need to be flashy to be effective, but it does need to be consistent. When people feel seen, their employee morale, engagement, and even retention metrics shift.

The company's recognition platform gives teams a clear way to highlight the right positive behaviors, without waiting for quarterly reviews or top-down approval. And the impact goes way beyond a shout-out. Good employee recognition strengthens company culture, improves overall job satisfaction, and reminds people that their work matters.

Most importantly, it helps employees feel valued. Whether it’s a one-line Slack message or a team-wide reward, it’s proof that their contributions aren’t left unseen.

Bring recognition into Slack. Celebrate wins, give kudos, and boost morale with Clappy Kudos by BuddiesHR.

Individual non-monetary reward ideas​

1. A day off to have some fun and recharge your batteries.
2. 1:1 with CEO/Leadership Team: get an hour with anyone on the leadership team to talk about anything you like, want to learn more about or share your thoughts.
3. All Hands Host: lead, get everyone excited, and emcee an all-hands meeting.
4. Engineering 1-1 Class: get a class on how things work from the head of engineering, or learn a specific tool of your choice with the help.
5. Color of the Day: you get to pick your favorite color for everyone on the team to wear on one Friday.
6. Professional Development Day: spend a day shadowing a colleague in a role or department you’re interested in. This can offer a unique learning experience.
7. Charity Day: a day where the person can volunteer at a chosen charity.
8. A dedicated shout-out in the company newsletter/intranet/linkedin page/investor update, highlighting your accomplishments.
9. Trophies/Badges.

Team monetary reward ideas​

1. Team Lunch or Dinner: allow the team to choose a restaurant and sponsor their meal. ($200-$800)
2. Team-building Workshops: hire a specialist for a day of team-building activities and exercises. ($500-$2000)
3. Guest Speaker: bring in an industry expert, motivational speaker, or even a comedian for a special session. ($200-$5000, depending on the speaker’s prominence)
4. Escape Room Experience: let the team work together and solve puzzles in a fun setting. ($200-$800)
5. Professional Development: sponsor a group course, workshop, or seminar related to their roles. ($500-$3000)
6. Movie Day: a day at the movies with snacks included, or even a projector viewing in the office. ($100-$500)
7. Outdoor Activities: such as a day of paintball, rafting, zip-lining, or a nature hike. ($300-$1000)
8. Wellness Day: hire a masseuse for the day, or bring in a yoga instructor for a group session. ($300-$1200)
9. Team Travel: small weekend getaways or day trips to a nearby attraction. ($500-$5000)
10. Cooking Classes: a fun evening event where everyone learns to cook a particular dish together. ($200-$1000)
11. Music or Concert Tickets: buy group tickets for a popular show or concert in the area. ($100-$2000)

Install Clappy Kudos for your recognition initiative

Clappy Kudos is great way to boost recognition and integrate these rewards.

How to match rewards and recognition to people

Most employees want a bonus. Others just want everyone to stop ignoring their work. There’s no single “perfect” reward—that’s why flexibility wins.

To make recognition stick, personalized rewards are key. People are more likely to remember rewards that align with their values, lifestyle, or personal goals. The way to get it right is by listening.

You can:

• Let employees pick from a set of meaningful rewards
• Offer a choice between tangible rewards (like gift cards) and experiential rewards (like cooking classes or spa days)
• Use tools like Clappy Kudos to tag rewards based on employee achievements or company values
• Track what gets redeemed most, then refine based on actual behavior

When rewards match the person, the effect isn’t just happiness—it’s long-term employee satisfaction and deeper engagement. You can also introduce tiered rewards to let people earn more over time, or give a thoughtful gift just to say “we see you.”

Recognition that works for remote teams

Remote teams don’t have hallway chats or spontaneous “great job” moments. Without those cues, recognition has to be intentional, or it won’t happen at all.

That’s where Slack-native Clappy Kudos by BuddiesHR can help. Instead of bolting on another platform, recognition happens where people already communicate. It feels natural, visible, and immediate.

Ways remote teams use Clappy Kudos:

• Celebrate wins in public Slack channels so employees feel recognized
• Use value tags to reinforce company values while giving kudos
• Shout out personal milestones like birthdays and work anniversaries
• Let co-workers give each other claps to build employee engagement from the ground up

In distributed teams, employee recognition isn’t just about motivation—it’s how you build culture. A Slack-native system helps make that part of everyday work, not a separate process no one uses. It also supports professional growth, makes space for personal development, and helps with building loyalty across time zones.

Team non-monetary reward ideas​

1. Charity Day: a day where the team can volunteer together at a chosen charity.
2. A dedicated shout-out in the company newsletter/intranet/linkedin page/investor update, highlighting the team’s achievements.
3. Collaborative Art Project: dedicate a wall or space where the team can collaborate on an art project over time.
4. Creative Freedom: allow the team to redesign or redecorate their workspace.
5. Game afternoon/night – Get the team together for a live or virtual game moment.

Frequently asked questions about employee rewards

How do I know which rewards will actually motivate my team?

Start by listening. The best way to tailor rewards is to ask what people care about—some value time off, others want a clear shout-out. Offering choice shows you're appreciating employees as individuals, not guessing what motivates them.

What are some ways to reward employees without spending a lot?

There are plenty of low-cost ideas that still feel valuable: public Slack kudos, a handwritten note, or letting someone end the day early after a tough sprint. When it's done with intention, even small things can be great rewards.

Does public recognition really help?

Yes! Public recognition boosts visibility and can directly boost morale. It reinforces what good work looks like and builds a more positive work environment where people support each other.

Should rewards always be tied to performance?

Not necessarily. Recognizing someone for effort, initiative, or even healthy habits matters just as much as hitting a target. You're showing you value the whole person—not just output—which helps retain talent and supports their professional lives.

What if I want to scale rewards across the company?

Use tools that keep it simple. Slack-native apps like Clappy Kudos make it easy to give employees recognition consistently. This helps highlight employees’ contributions, reinforces company values, and ultimately supports the company’s growth.

How do rewards connect to business success?

When you treat employees well, they tend to stay longer, care more, and perform better. That builds the company's success over time, not just in output, but in reputation, engagement, and retention. Even offering options like profit sharing or celebrating work anniversaries can create a sense of belonging that many employees are missing.

Start rewarding with Clappy Kudos today. Simple setup, meaningful results. Your team will feel it instantly!

Final note

Remember, the key to a successful reward program is ensuring that the rewards resonate with what the individual values and enjoys. It’s always a good idea to regularly solicit feedback and see which rewards are most popular, so you can adjust your offerings accordingly.

Install Clappy Kudos for your recognition initiative

Clappy Kudos is great way to boost recognition and integrate these rewards.