The HeyTaco Blog

Ideas, research, and stories on peer recognition, employee engagement, and building stronger team culture.

45 Employee Appreciation Ideas, Sorted by Effort
September 22, 2026 ยท Doug Dosberg
45 Employee Appreciation Ideas, Sorted by Effort

Ideas sorted by how much time and budget they take โ€” from five-second Slack shoutouts to bigger, planned moments โ€” so you can actually use this list instead of just bookmarking it.

Company cultureEmployee recognition
Why Unlimited Recognition Points Don't Work (And What Does Instead)
September 21, 2026 ยท Doug Dosberg
Why Unlimited Recognition Points Don't Work (And What Does Instead)

Unlimited recognition points sound generous, but they quietly kill the habit they're meant to build. Here's why daily limits work better โ€” and what that looks like in practice.

Company cultureEmployee recognition
Building a High-Trust Culture for Remote Engineering Teams
September 18, 2026 ยท HeyTaco
Building a High-Trust Culture for Remote Engineering Teams

The unglamorous work is what we really want credit for. When people notice that, from peers to managers, thatโ€™s when we start to trust our surroundings. But remote engineers probably donโ€™t want youโ€ฆ

Company cultureEmployee recognition
What Are the Key Elements of a Strong Remote Company Culture?
September 15, 2026 ยท HeyTaco
What Are the Key Elements of a Strong Remote Company Culture?

Remote workโ€™s flexibility still leads many old-schoolers to think itโ€™s easier. They may even classify it as a perk. However, building a durable remote company culture requires more intention,โ€ฆ

Company cultureRemote work
How to Build a Total Reward Strategy that Actually Retains Staff
August 24, 2026 ยท David Whitfield
How to Build a Total Reward Strategy that Actually Retains Staff

A practical, UK-focused framework for building a total reward strategy that holds up under budget pressure and actually keeps people from leaving.

Employee rewards
Remote-First Work Culture: What It Means & How It Works
August 17, 2026 ยท Una Japundza
Remote-First Work Culture: What It Means & How It Works

Are your processes built to support distributed teams? Find out the difference between a remote-friendly and a remote-first work culture.

Company culture
The Culture Architect: How to Set the Tone as an HR Department of One
August 12, 2026 ยท Una Japundza
The Culture Architect: How to Set the Tone as an HR Department of One

Payroll, compliance, and culture? That's life when youโ€™re an HR department of one. Learn best practices and which tools can take tasks off your plate.

Company culture
How to Build an Introvert-Friendly Recognition Culture
August 8, 2026 ยท Una Japundza
How to Build an Introvert-Friendly Recognition Culture

If you run a remote-first tech team, you need an introvert-friendly recognition culture. Learn more about cringe-free employee recognition for introverts.

Employee recognition
Async Recognition Artifacts: Proof of Praise Remote Teams Can Treasure
August 5, 2026 ยท Una Japundza
Async Recognition Artifacts: Proof of Praise Remote Teams Can Treasure

Learn how async recognition artifacts make appreciation visible, lasting, and part of your culture.

Employee recognition
Recognition Bias: The Squeaky Wheel That Derails Async Teams
August 3, 2026 ยท Una Japundza
Recognition Bias: The Squeaky Wheel That Derails Async Teams

Recognition bias rarely happens on purpose, but itโ€™s the reason many async teams never bond. Learn how to turn a bad bias into a good habit with peer recognition.

Employee recognition
Recognition Without Rollout: Why the Best Programs Are Almost Invisible
July 30, 2026 ยท Una Japundza
Recognition Without Rollout: Why the Best Programs Are Almost Invisible

Ready to launch a new recognition tool? Better to keep it a secret. Find out why the recognition without rollout model is taking hold on remote-first teams.

Employee recognition
16 Remote Team Engagement Activities That Donโ€™t Feel Forced
July 25, 2026 ยท HeyTaco
16 Remote Team Engagement Activities That Donโ€™t Feel Forced

Before you book that Zoom magician for Friday night, read this. Get small, meaningful, or unobtrusive remote team engagement activities here.

Employee engagement