Higher salary and more free time motivates workers the most

-

Staff offered incentives to increase motivation and productivity would most like to see prizes contain cash and days off, according to a recent survey.

Research conducted by print specialists Purely Digital looked at the types of prize on offer to workers as part of internal campaigns to improve morale and boost performance.

Forward-thinking HR departments have begun to employ a range of incentives aimed at boosting morale and eliciting the best performance from employees

Out of almost 900 answers, 39.1 per cent said they would most like to receive a ‘small financial reward’ as the top prize of a work-based ‘competition’ or strategy, such as a scratch card or bingo campaign.

HRreview Logo

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

‘More annual leave’ came in second at 36.9 per cent, while less than half this number voted for the third most popular answer, ‘activity days’.

Incentives can be used to encourage a type of behaviour or ethos that those in the company believe will lead to greater business success in the future.

The research suggests that the best way to motivate workers when using an internal campaign is to offer prizes that give staff the freedom to choose what they want to do.

Andrew Edmondson, Managing Director at Purely Digital, said:

“Campaigns that involve giving scratch cards or other incentives to staff who have performed well are very popular at present.

“I’ve seen managers and HR departments offer a range of prizes, anything from cash bonuses and extra days off to 10 per cent discounts on the company’s range of goods and services. However, the data seems to show that awaydays and special offers are too prescriptive, with employees preferring to receive prizes that give them more freedom of choice.

“For a company that already realises the importance of incentivising staff through such techniques, this information is very useful and could make the difference between an average-performing campaign and one that truly motivates its employees to go that extra mile.”

Rebecca joined the HRreview editorial team in January 2016. After graduating from the University of Sheffield Hallam in 2013 with a BA in English Literature, Rebecca has spent five years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past she has been part of the editorial teams at Sleeper and Dezeen and has founded her own arts collective.

Latest news

Personalising the Benefits Experience: Why Employees Need More Than Just Information

This article explores how organisations can move beyond passive, one-size-fits-all communication to deliver relevant, timely, and simplified benefits experiences that reflect employee needs and life stages.

Grant Wyatt: When the love dies – when staying is riskier than quitting

When people fall out of love with their employer, or feel their employer has fallen out of love with them, what follows is rarely a clean exit.

£30bn pension savings window opens for employers ahead of 2029 reforms

UK employers could unlock billions in National Insurance savings by expanding pension salary sacrifice schemes before new limits take effect in 2029.

Expat jobs ‘fail early as costs hit $79,000 per worker’

International assignments are ending early due to family strain, isolation and poor preparation, as rising costs increase pressure on employers.
- Advertisement -

The Great Employer Divide: What the evidence shows about employers that back parents and carers — and those that don’t

Understand the growing divide between organisations that effectively support working parents and carers — and those that don’t. This session shows how to turn employee experience data into a clear business case, linking care-related pressures to performance, retention and workforce stability.

Scott Mills exit puts spotlight on risk of ‘news vacuum’ in high-profile dismissals

Sudden departure of a long-serving BBC presenter raises questions about how employers manage high-profile dismissals and limit speculation.

Must read

Deborah Frost: Making reward and recognition personal

"Happy and engaged employees are up to 20 per cent more productive."

Lee Thawley & Vicky Pritchard: How to champion your female workforce

It’s vital to amplify the female voice in the workplace, write Lee Thawley & Vicky Pritchard.
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you