Award industry research constantly points to Gift Cards as the #1 choice by participants in award programs. Gift cards are also the #1 award used by companies implementing these programs. The reasons are simple: they provide the greatest choice at the greatest value to both the client and the award winner. Nothing else even comes close.

Then why does the vast majority of HR management continue to use high priced merchandise as the award of choice in employee recognition and years of service programs?

I’ve asked that question for years. And while the answers given by HR management seem to satisfy them, I wonder if their answers would satisfy their own employees. It is a rare occurrence when their answer is “because it’s really what my employees want, it’s what they ask for, it’s the best value for them and it offers the greatest choice!” All too often the answers are more like this:

• It’s what we’ve always done.
• It’s what we want them to have, something tangible that they can remember us by
• We use merchandise because it’s not taxable.
• We like it because they get an award they wouldn’t normally buy themselves
• I like the infrastructure that the vendor offers; it’s easy to implement my program
• It is not dollar denominated and my employees don’t see the price
• Because it is not dollar denominated it provides more trophy value for our employee
• I want to choose the “gift” that they get

There are many valid scientific and other business reasons to find fault with the above answers, and I will be answering some of them in future posting in this space. For now I would simple ask you “Do you really think that awards that may have motivated their fathers and grandfathers are the same awards that you should use to motivate or recognize the workers of today?”

Of great interest to all HR management in these troubled times should be the actual cost of the merchandise you use in your programs. Would you really pay 50% to 150% or more than retail for anything you buy? If you’re buying traditional merchandise awards from traditional merchandise suppliers, don’t be surprised if you already are.   If you would like to see just a few comparisons of just how much you may be paying for your merchandise awards, please visit us at www.awardemployees.com