HRreview Header

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 daily HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Weekday HR updates. Unsubscribe anytime.
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

Jo Kansagra: HR builds the benefits strategy, but fails to use them

HR teams are often seen as the designers of employee well-being. They build the benefits strategy - but many of them rarely use it themselves.

Optimism rises among UK workers but retirement fears persist

UK workers feel more positive about work, health and finances, but concerns over retirement savings continue to drive stress and uncertainty.

Pay awards rise to 3.2% as employers balance caution with hiring pressures

UK pay rises tick up to 3.2% at the start of 2026 as employers balance wage pressures, hiring challenges and rising labour costs.

Unemployment rises to highest level in nearly five years as hiring slows

UK unemployment rises to 5.2% as redundancies increase and hiring slows, making it harder for jobseekers to secure roles.
- Advertisement -

Stop waiting for burnout. Build resilient teams now

Burnout prevention starts with structured review questions that build self-awareness, clarify shared responsibility and help managers spot problems early.

New London tribunal centre to open as backlog exceeds 66,000 cases

A new London tribunal centre will begin hearings as delays exceed 66,000 cases, with concerns over staffing levels and system capacity.

Must read

Stuart Hall: A new genre of talent for the neobank

With substantial changes to the banking industry, new senior executives will need a range of diverse skills and expertise to keep up.

Elizabeth Hunt: The year ahead in graduate recruitment

While 2015 brought some very positive stories to the graduate recruitment market, it was also a year of change. A 13.2 percent increase in graduate vacancies and 3.7 percent rise in graduate starting salaries showed growth in the right direction, with more increases on the horizon for 2016.
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you