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Boost Engagement with Gamification
Turn everyday recognition into a fun and rewarding experience with leaderboards, levels, and Tacotars that spark team spirit.
Track Recognition with Fun Leaderboards
Celebrate acts of appreciation in real-time and make gratitude a natural part of your culture. See who's spreading positivity, strengthening team connections, and inspiring a lasting habit of meaningful recognition.
You will get:
- A fun, visible, and engaging way to encourage appreciation.
- A confidence boost and a stronger sense of belonging for your team.
- A workplace where recognition becomes second nature, fueling a culture of appreciation.
Leaderboard
| Rank | Person | Total Tacos |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
102
|
| 2 |
|
100
|
| 3 |
|
36
|
| 4 |
|
33
|
| 5 |
|
12
|
| 6 |
|
11
|
| 7 |
|
3
|
| Rank | Person | Total Tacos |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
75
|
| 2 |
|
65
|
| 3 |
|
49
|
| 4 |
|
35
|
| 5 |
|
26
|
| 6 |
|
25
|
| 7 |
|
22
|
| Rank | Person | Given | Received | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
100 | 49 |
149
|
| 2 |
|
102 | 26 |
128
|
| 3 |
|
36 | 75 |
111
|
| 4 |
|
11 | 65 |
76
|
| 5 |
|
3 | 35 |
38
|
| 6 |
|
33 | 22 |
55
|
| 7 |
|
12 | 25 |
37
|
What customers are saying
It's simple, but meaningful—being able to give a taco with a quick message of thanks or recognition helps build a stronger, more positive culture without feeling forced.
DeAnna R., QA Manager
It's been a fantastic tool for boosting team morale and encouraging recognition across the organization.
Rebecca S., Quality Operations Lead, QA Wolf
It's low-effort, high-impact culture-building — and honestly, our Slack would feel weirdly empty without it.
Abhinav P., Solutions Engineering
It's brought us closer together as a team, and that's priceless. It also brings more awareness to what everyone's doing, which is another big plus!
Steven B., QA Automation Engineer
HeyTaco is a more grassroots way (compared to shout-outs from team leaders) to get everyone's contributions recognized, especially the little things like helping respond to an incident late at night, or giving really insightful replies or a teammate's questions.
Kalinda P., Software Developer
It's a fun, unusual, and memorable way for people at our company to appreciate one another. And providing this has built a culture of gratitude at our company.
Rakesh A., Founder & CEO
I love how HeyTaco encourages peer-to-peer recognition in a lighthearted and engaging way. It has strengthened our team culture and helped everyone feel appreciated.
Daniel Alberto J., Fraud Analyst
It is a quick and easy way to show recognition and celebrate teammates. Initially, I thought it might be cheesy, but when you are able to acknowledge more wins throughout the organization, they quickly become meaningful.
Elaina C., Compliance Manager
It's simple, fast, and creates an instant boost in morale. People love getting acknowledged publicly, and the taco format makes it feel fun rather than forced. It's especially great in remote teams where spontaneous praise is harder to give. It also encourages a culture of gratitude.
Samantha G., Proposal Manager
This has been a great tool at our office to share kudos on a daily basis. It's thoughtful, and with only five a day, it makes you focus on what's best. Very easy to implement in Slack as well.
Tom S., Growth Architect
When our company first started using this, I thought it was a stupid idea. Then I got my first taco for something and was amazed at how happy I was to get it. It's become a fun way to give my coworkers some appreciation, and I really like the stickers.
Casey P., Senior Analyst
I appreciate how easy it is to share appreciation with teammates on Slack. It's as simple as sending an emoji, but it adds a thoughtful, personal touch to recognize someone's effort. This simplicity encourages frequent, genuine expressions of gratitude, which have positively impacted team morale.
Nick Z., Email Marketing Manager
I love HeyTaco because it fosters a sense of community, encouragement, and empathy among workplace teams.
Jen M., Director of Business Development
The idea, the execution, and the way it brings people together! A little bit of appreciation goes a long way, and HeyTaco helps with spreading love!
Ansh P., Customer Support Specialist
Recognition Levels Keep Teams Engaged and Inspired
Unlock new levels, celebrate milestones, and turn appreciation into a lasting habit that strengthens team connections and engagement.
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Unlock Tacotars & Leave Your Taco Legacy! 
Tacotar are fun, taco-themed avatars you earn as you spread appreciation in HeyTaco! The more tacos you give and receive, the more Tacotars and rewards you unlock.
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Taco Initiate
Taco Recruit
Taco Minion
Taco Tenderfoot
Taco Greenhorn
Taco Plebe
Taco Padawan
Taco Fledgling
Taco Dabbler
Taco Apprentice
Taco Whiz
Taco Guide
Taco Guardian
Taco Savant
Taco Warrior
Taco Honcho
Taco Captain
Frequently Asked Questions
How does HeyTaco use gamification to improve employee engagement?
HeyTaco adds fun, game-like elements, such as taco leaderboards, levels, and tacotars, to make peer recognition more engaging. These mechanics encourage authentic participation and help recognition become a consistent habit across teams.
What is gamification in the workplace?
Gamification is the use of game elements (points, rewards, challenges) in non-game environments to increase motivation and participation. In a workplace setting, it helps boost employee engagement and reinforces positive behaviors.
Can gamification improve employee motivation?
Yes! When used effectively, gamification in the workplace taps into intrinsic motivation—such as a desire to be appreciated, seen, or part of something meaningful. HeyTaco's approach makes recognition feel rewarding without being competitive or forced.
Is HeyTaco's leaderboard solely based on popularity?
Not at all. The leaderboard also shows who's giving the most tacos, not just receiving them. It promotes generosity and gratitude rather than popularity contests. Teams can also choose how much they highlight leaderboards, or whether to use them at all.
How does gamification help with employee recognition programs?
It makes participation feel fun, consistent, and rewarding. Rather than sending reminders or forcing recognition, HeyTaco's gamified elements naturally nudge people to engage and build a positive feedback loop.
Is it possible to turn off gamification features?
Yes! You can hide the leaderboard, adjust taco limits, and customize features to match your team's culture. Whether your team thrives on playful competition or prefers a low-key approach, HeyTaco adapts.
What are the benefits of gamifying employee recognition?
Gamification in the workplace enhances consistency, boosts morale, and fosters a culture of recognition. It turns appreciation into a shared team habit - boosting engagement without extra meetings or top-down mandates, and improving overall gratitude in the workplace.
Do we need to offer prizes or rewards for gamification to work?
Nope. The act of giving and receiving tacos is rewarding in itself. However, for teams that want to offer incentives, the Taco Shop makes it easy to add creative or meaningful rewards, such as team outings, days off, gift cards, or team charitable donations.