Slack
Microsoft Teams.
Posters Don't Change Behavior
Hanging values on the wall is easy. Making them part of daily work requires ongoing reinforcement.
Reinforce Company Values Through Recognition
Values on a wall don't change behavior. Values connected to everyday recognition do. HeyTaco makes it easy to tie appreciation to the behaviors you want to see—right inside Slack and Microsoft Teams.
What Are Company Values?
Company values are the core principles that guide how your team works together, makes decisions, and treats customers. When values are reinforced through daily behavior—they become culture.
Why Company Values Often Feel Abstract
Most companies have values. Few teams live them daily. The gap between stated values and everyday behavior is where culture breaks down.
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No clear examples
"Integrity" sounds great, but what does it look like in practice? Without real examples, values stay vague.
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No way to measure
How do you know if your team is living your values? Without data, it's guesswork.
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Annual reviews only
Values discussed once a year don't shape daily behavior. Reinforcement needs to be continuous.
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Leadership disconnect
When leaders don't model values visibly, employees assume they don't matter.
Signs Your Values Aren't Sticking
When values exist on paper but not in practice, the symptoms show up in everyday work.
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Nobody Can Name Them
Ask five employees what your values are—you get five different answers. Or blank stares.
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Eye Rolls at All-Hands
When leadership mentions values, people tune out. They've heard it before with no follow-through.
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Wrong Behaviors Rewarded
Promotions and praise go to people who don't embody the values. Actions speak louder.
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New Hires Are Confused
They read the values in onboarding but see different behaviors in practice. Mixed signals erode trust.
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Generic Interview Answers
Candidates can't find real examples of your values in action. Your culture isn't visible externally.
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Values Change Too Often
New leadership, new values. Without consistent reinforcement, nothing sticks.
Case Study
How Ndustrial Made Their Values Part of Everyday Work With HeyTaco
Ndustrial is a platform that optimizes operations and energy efficiency for industrial facilities. With a team of 40 employees in a hybrid environment, Director of People Operations Laura MacLachlan needed a way to break down barriers, build community, and reinforce their four core values: Quality, Customer First, Teamwork, and Curiosity.
They chose HeyTaco—and tied recognition directly to their values.
How they use it:
- Every taco is tagged with a core value
- 25 tacos = $25 gift card reward
- Creative program: 100+ trees planted through One Tree Planted donations
"Values are often just words on a wall, but with HeyTaco, we're living them every day."
The program won over initial skeptics through organic adoption. Cross-functional connections strengthened, departmental silos broke down, and remote employees felt more connected.
"Getting a taco always feels good. Who doesn't like to be appreciated?"
HeyTaco transformed their values from abstract ideals into daily behaviors—reinforced every time someone gives recognition.
Why Traditional Values Programs Don't Work
Most values initiatives fail because they're events, not habits.
Annual Reviews Are Too Late
Discussing values once a year doesn't shape how people act the other 364 days.
Top-Down Doesn't Scale
Leaders can't be everywhere. Peer recognition spreads values across the entire organization.
How Taco Tags Make Values Visible
Create custom tags that match your company values. Use them when giving recognition. Watch your culture come to life.
Create Custom Tags
Define tags that match your values: #integrity, #innovation, #customer-first, #teamwork.
Tag Recognition
When giving a taco, add a tag: "@Sarah 🌮 for staying late to help the team #goaboveandbeyond"
Make Values Visible
Tagged recognition shows up in channels, feeds, and leaderboards—visible proof of values in action.
Track What Matters
See which values are recognized most, and which might need more attention.
What Teams See When Values Come to Life
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Clearer Expectations
New hires see real examples of what your values look like in practice.
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Stronger Alignment
Teams rally around shared behaviors, not just shared words.
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Culture You Can Measure
Analytics show which values are thriving and where to focus.
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Values That Scale
As you grow, recognition habits carry your culture forward.
Why Teams Use HeyTaco to Reinforce Values
Because it works without adding process or overhead.
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Simple to Start
Create your value tags in minutes. No complicated setup or training required.
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Optional, Not Forced
Tags are encouraged but not required. Recognition stays natural, not bureaucratic.
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Data You Can Use
See which values resonate and which need reinforcement. Real insights, not guesswork.
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Culture That Grows
The more people use tags, the more values become part of everyday language.
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Make Your Values More Than Words
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Start for free Get a demoFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about reinforcing company values through recognition.
How do you reinforce company values through recognition?
By tagging recognition with specific values. When someone thanks a teammate and adds #integrity or #innovation, it connects everyday behavior to what your company stands for—making values visible and actionable.
What are Taco Tags?
Taco Tags are custom hashtags you create in HeyTaco that represent your company values. When someone gives a taco, they can tag it with one or more values to show which behavior they're recognizing.
Can we track which values are being recognized most?
Yes. HeyTaco analytics show which values are tagged most often, helping you see which behaviors are being celebrated and where you might need to focus more attention.
Do we have to use values tags?
No. Tags are optional. Teams can give recognition with or without tags—whatever feels natural. But when tags are used, they add meaningful context.
How do values affect employee retention?
Employees who believe their company lives its values are more likely to stay. When values are reinforced daily through recognition, people feel aligned with the mission—not just collecting a paycheck.
Can new hires learn values through recognition?
Absolutely. When new employees see tagged recognition in public channels, they quickly learn what behaviors matter. It's onboarding through observation—faster and more authentic than a handbook.
What if our values feel too generic?
Many companies have similar values on paper. The difference is in execution. When people tag recognition with values, you see specific examples of what those values look like in practice at your company.
How do we get people to start using value tags?
Lead by example. When leaders and early adopters tag their recognition with values, others follow. You can also create value-specific Slack channels or celebrate when certain values hit milestones.
Sources
- Gallup – Only 23% of employees strongly agree they can apply their organization's values to their work; 27% believe in their company's values