Shopping for Incentives

Abstract

As compensation and benefits professionals consider incentive packages, they should note an emerging market trend among employees—the desire to be able to redeem rewards both online and off. Ongoing research by American Express Incentive Services, L.L.C., has demonstrated that employees want the ability to select personally relevant rewards. The latest research examined the “choice” preference at the next level. When asked where they would be most likely to redeem a reward gift card, more than one third of incentive users said they would want to use the card in stores and online. Stored-value reward cards not only let recipients reward themselves how and when they want but also can play an essential role in creating good employee relations in a sluggish economy. Recent AEIS research suggests that personally meaningful incentives can help downsizing companies stem the resignation temptation that often follows layoffs.