33 Creative, Morale-Boosting Ways to Recognize Employees Without Money

Can money buy employee satisfaction? The answer is a resounding “YES!”

That is, until we look beyond payroll and parse the complexities of company culture. What makes great talent stay for the long term? How do we keep morale afloat across the collective?

If you’ve decided that your company should know how to reward employees without money, welcome. HeyTaco is here to show you what money can’t buy.

Why learn how to reward employees without money?

Don’t they want money? Yes, employees want money. But here’s the kicker–earning money shouldn’t be unpleasant. That money doesn’t feel as good.

Instead, create a workplace that values and celebrates them. They’ll feel great about the work they do, and their output will reflect that. Your company excels thanks to its great work, and your bottom line reflects that.

And not to make this all about semantics, but we’re discussing employee recognition, not rewards. Employee rewards are part of a larger culture of recognition. Recognition happens daily.

Is it free for employers, too? ☺️

Sometimes, sure. The best ways to recognize employees without money include verbal affirmations, letting them dip out a little early, and welcoming their feedback. All completely free!

That’s just sometimes, though. Stocking the breakroom with snacks or having their workspace repainted costs money. It can still be an important part of recognizing their daily efforts.

If you crunch the numbers, the expenses associated with a successful culture of recognition can easily pay for themselves with a motivated, loyal team.

So, if rewards are part of recognition, when do we give them? You can find out right here, where we discuss when to introduce rewards to your recognition program. Don’t worry, rewards don’t have to be monetary, either.

How to incentivize employees without money: 5 essential rules for success

Incentivizing employees without straight-up bribery takes care and intention. But hey, you’re building a workplace people genuinely appreciate. Do it right, and you can see growth and savings at once.

1. Consistency

When we talk about a culture of recognition, we put just as much emphasis on culture as on recognition. Cultures have customs. Recognition is customary here, so you have to bake it into your processes and interactions. It’s not just for once-a-week meetings.

There are small ways to include it in every workday without money. Within a few months, you’ll have a set of tried-and-true methods that have become a habit.

2. Scalability

Don’t be stingy, but don’t fly out of the gate with grand incentive programs you can't sustain long-term.

If you do offer certain incentives, such as flexible scheduling, make note of the ceiling. After all, how many afternoons off can one of your top team members reasonably take?

3. Authenticity

Be more mindful about where and when recognition is warranted. Trying to meet a quota or doing a total 180 in how you treat employees will lead to recognition that doesn’t land.

This calls back to the idea of starting small. Suddenly praising employees for every neutral-to-positive behavior isn’t how you create (or benefit from) the culture. It makes people suspicious. It’s also likely that everyone else won’t be able to keep up.

4. Gamification

Feeling a little wary about offering more flexibility to just anyone? If you were paying attention to the pitfalls of doing too much too soon, you should be.

Fortunately, tools like HeyTaco help you make sure it’s warranted. You get a visual representation of who is getting the most kudos on the clock. Employees unlock new levels and earn rewards just by being awesome to work with.

5. Peer involvement

The beauty of a culture of recognition is that it can grow into something you don’t have to tend to meticulously.

Prioritize recognition for and by employees, and they won’t need as much validation from leadership. They already have enough daily support to decide, create, and complete with certainty.

Okay, you’re up to speed, and it’s time for the main event.

30+ ways to recognize employees without money

Recognizing employees without money starts with small, considerate deeds. Some of these ideas aren’t just free–they aren’t even immediately identifiable as personal recognition. They can benefit the company as much as the employee.

What they all have in common is that they uphold the idea of the workplace as a community where everyone matters.

1. Give them a shout-out.

Let’s get the easiest one out of the way. They know they’re doing their best, but does everyone else? At each meeting, mention an employee by name who had an especially good week. Be specific about why.

2. Taco Taker of the Week.

Use HeyTaco’s leaderboard feature to see who received the most tacos. Taco Taker of the Week can get a free perk, like leaving an hour early or passing a task to someone else.

BONUS TIP: Have the person who gave the most tacos present them with the reward (don’t forget to throw them a perk, too).

3. Give them the day off on their birthday.

Many employees actually prefer this kindness to a cake or gift card.

4. Let them help train new hires.

Your employees know what it’s really like to work at your company. Pitching in with training also promotes a sense of community for both new and existing hires.

5. Offer special snacks on Mondays.

Adding small, bright touches to the least-anticipated times of the week can take the mood up a notch.

6. Give them a new responsibility.

“Wow, more work! Thanks!” On the contrary, this can be much more welcome than it sounds–provided you don’t overwhelm them. Adding to an employee’s role displays trust and confidence in their abilities.

7. Designate time for cleaning the slate.

Give hardworking employees the afternoon to do work-related tasks they’d normally have to handle after hours. Software updates, reorganizing, catching up on emails, and so on.

8. Edit everything for clarity and conciseness.

Employees have more confidence in their work when they are clear on company goals, standards, and other guidelines. Take a second pass over mass emails and instructional documents. Is there a simpler, more efficient way to get the message across?

9. Give entry-level hires a mentor.

If letting employees pitch in with training goes well, set up something more targeted and longer-term. This can fast-track better performance and retention.

10. Make an employee wall.

An employee wall is a visual display perfect for recognition. Refresh it weekly with employee spotlights, adding Polaroids, notes telling of their good deeds, or especially brilliant jokes they’ve told.

11. Create a calendar just for employee milestones.

Never miss a birthday or work anniversary again. You can even add these to a physical calendar in a common area so everyone can benefit from the reminder, too.

12. Give their space a facelift.

Something as simple as rearranging the workspace can create seismic shifts in productivity and morale. Professional cleaning, updated lighting, or new decorative touches can be worthy investments if you have the budget.

13. Work on your “thank you.”

We say “thanks” so often at expected times that it feels offhanded and automatic. Learn to deliver this common, essential phrase with more intention and eye contact. Your employees need to hear it and believe it.

14. Encourage them to use their PTO.

Many highly productive people guard precious PTO because it feels scarce. Reassure employees at risk of burnout that taking time off is important. If there’s an emergency, they’ll still be able to work something out.

15. Hold “office hours.”

Let staff know that your door is open during set times for questions or idea pitches. They’ll feel more welcome and at ease bringing up work-related topics that have been on their minds.

16. Take a step back.

Show your faith in employees and stop hovering around during certain tasks. “I know you’ve got this” can be a major morale game-changer when it comes from a leader who usually helicopters.

17. Walk and work.

Gym memberships and other health subscriptions are a popular employee gift. A free option is holding meetings while taking a walk. Employees can enjoy fresh air, a mood boost, and a change of scenery without missing a beat.

BONUS TIP: If you do want to invest in employee health, but your team is remote, consider walking pads. Remote employees can walk it out during meetings, calls, or brainstorming sessions.

18. Digital detox.

Let the team know you won’t be emailing them this upcoming weekend, and encourage them to unplug from work, too.

19. Consider increasing internal promotions.

If you normally hire new team leads or managers, revisit this. A team member may have been actively expanding their skill set. Never overlook someone who has put in the extra effort to become a long-term asset.

💡Did you know? Job satisfaction polling shows that only 33% of American workers are extremely or very satisfied with their promotion opportunities. Of the 33 items on our list, this one could have the most impact on overall satisfaction and retention.

20. Incorporate more team-building activities.

More bonded teams engage in peer-to-peer recognition and work more efficiently. Keep scrolling, because we’ll be sharing team-building ideas and resources in a bit.

21. Call a surprise break.

Bust up stress by telling them to take a break. The element of surprise makes it feel more rewarding. Give employees 20 minutes to take a breather, grab a coffee, and reconvene with a clearer head.

22. Handwrite a small note of acknowledgment.

In a time when so few people pick up a pen, personal touches matter. Just try to make it legible.

23. Make them a project leader.

If an employee has been putting forth their best, but it’s not quite time for a promotion, give them the reins on something else. It helps sustain their motivation to move forward.

24. Personal check-ins

If you know someone has a sick family member or has gone on a weekend trip, ask them about it. It doesn’t have to be a long, in-depth exchange; it’s just recognizing them as a person with a life outside of their job.

25. Ask them what they think.

Use surveys, polls, or ask them directly. Regularly soliciting employee feedback reminds them that their perspective matters.

26. Put them in charge of an event.

Foster leadership qualities in employees with smaller roles by having them choose activities or food for the next team event or celebration.

27. Anything food-related.

From a pizza party that will take them right back to their school days to a catered lunch, this is a classic way to get the gang together.

28. Praise their mistakes.

If someone has an idea that doesn’t work out, compliment their efforts and encourage them to keep digging deep.

29. Make a record of their achievements.

Add completed projects, troubleshooting wins, and other wins to an individual’s file. Recognize their achievements when it comes time for raises, performance reviews, promotions, or other one-on-ones.

30. Start a Bring Your Pet to Work program.

Lift everyone’s spirits by occasionally allowing a furry four-legged visitor (that’s right, we’re excluding the employee who owns a ball python). Just make sure everyone’s disclosed any allergies first.

31. Flexible work arrangements.

We can’t say it enough. If cash rewards aren’t in the cards, give your best employees more options. Remote opportunities, alternative scheduling, and other considerations that make their lives easier will help retain them.

32. Offer expert advice.

Share a tip or piece of information that helped you simplify a task or overcome a challenge. Employee morale and motivation improve when they know you’ve been in their shoes and want them to succeed.

33. Offer more training.

Whether it’s a free seminar or a standard industry learning module, more employees want this than you probably think. And remember, their growth is inextricably tied to the company's growth.

What about low-cost rewards for employees?

You’ve been recognizing employees like crazy, and it’s really going gangbusters. They love recognizing each other, too, and the whole team chat is just raining tacos.

Motivation, morale, and hope for the future have never been higher. But…what’s this? Everything has gone so well that now they’re earning rewards. And you still have a shoestring budget.

Here are some of everyone’s favorite low-cost rewards for employees:

• Subscriptions! Those automatic charges we don’t remember agreeing to pay for services we somehow can’t live without. Cover an employee’s Spotify Premium, Headspace app, Prime, or Apple Music.
• Event tickets. Since we’re keeping it low-cost, they won’t see Beyoncé.😔 But if they like culture outside the company, get them a ticket to a local festival, museum, or brewery/vineyard event.
• A THOUGHTFUL gift card. Gift cards work for almost anything, anywhere, at any price point. So there’s no excuse for not getting them one for their favorite place. Learn more about gift cards as employee rewards.

Want more ideas? We share these and many more on our grand list of 35 employee rewards. Some are free, some are low-cost, and some are most definitely reserved for the employee you can’t function without.

Team-building activities that promote peer-to-peer recognition

Team-building is another vine that winds its way into every cranny and crevice of a healthy company culture. Recognition isn’t doing its magic if employees aren’t all in. Morale and collaboration will stay in the basement without trust or appreciation.

Clever ways to pack team-building, peer-to-peer recognition, and leadership-to-employee recognition into one event or exercise: Behold:

Host a hackathon.

What it is: Employees gather in one place to solve a challenge or complete a tough task. Usually with refreshments.

How employees recognize one another: They overcome a problem together, collaborating closely with people they may not normally team up with.

How you recognize employees: You can provide the refreshments, but giving employees a dedicated place and space to untangle a knot is very considerate, too.

Coworker-led creative workshops.

What it is: An employee shares a personal interest and shows others how they can enjoy it, too. This can include crafts, cooking, martial arts, or dancing.

How employees recognize one another: Learning more about a coworker, appreciating their skills, and trying something new with them.

How you recognize employees: Giving an employee the spotlight to share more about who they are.

Lunch and learns.

What it is: A lunchtime meeting where employees receive training, attend a presentation, or join a company discussion.

How employees recognize one another: Having lunch together instead of going their separate ways. Uniting on new concepts and asking helpful questions.

How you recognize employees: Buy them lunch and help them develop their skills or stay up to date on company news.

If you want to create stronger bonds among employees, see our list of decidedly not-lame team-building activities — there’s plenty there for remote teams as well as small, in-person groups.

HeyTaco helps recognize employees without money.

You can take what we shared today and leave without committing to a single taco. We swear–this isn’t a shameless plug. Most of what you read can be implemented without using it.

However, HeyTaco is a carefully designed solution to the common conundrums of building company culture. Small, near-effortless positive interactions that add up to an atmosphere of appreciation are our entire reason for existing.

Laura, a Manager of Customer Success at CRM platform Insightly, explains: “HeyTaco offers a chance to take a break, have some fun, and lighten the mood during the day…it's not just for recognition; it also adds a lighthearted, enjoyable element to our routine, which can be a refreshing part of the day.”

Read more about how companies implement HeyTaco, or try it yourself (for free, of course).