Slack
Microsoft Teams.
In the Flow of Work
Recognition happens where work happens: Slack and Microsoft Teams.
Employee Recognition for Tech Teams
HeyTaco is employee recognition software for tech teams that helps engineering, product, and remote teams recognize great work in the moment—right inside Slack and Microsoft Teams.
What Is Employee Recognition for Tech Teams?
Employee recognition for tech teams is the intentional practice of acknowledging contributions across engineering, product, and support to reinforce the behaviors that help teams ship, collaborate, and stay connected.
Why Recognition Matters Even More in Tech
Tech teams aren't like other teams. The way work happens—async, invisible, fast—changes what people need to feel valued.
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Async is the norm
Tech teams work across time zones. Recognition that happens in meetings misses most of the team.
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Deep work gets ignored
The most valuable contributions—debugging, refactoring, code reviews—happen quietly and rarely get acknowledged.
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Burnout is real
Constant delivery pressure means people run on empty. Without visible appreciation, motivation erodes.
Why Employee Recognition Breaks Down in Tech Teams
Tech teams move fast. Work is asynchronous. Most progress happens quietly—in pull requests, support tickets, reviews, and behind-the-scenes problem solving.
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Invisible work
The most impactful work often happens quietly: fixing bugs, reviewing code, helping teammates unblock issues, or improving systems no one sees.
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Async by default
With remote and distributed teams, recognition doesn't happen naturally in meetings or hallway conversations.
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Shipping > Pausing
When deadlines are tight, appreciation gets postponed—and often forgotten.
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Siloed teams
Engineering, product, and support work in parallel but rarely see each other's wins.
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Constant context switching
Jumping between projects means contributions blur together and get forgotten.
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No systems in place
Most tech teams don't have formal recognition processes—so appreciation falls through the cracks.
Case Study
How Deputy Scaled Recognition Across 5 Countries with HeyTaco
Deputy, a global workforce management platform, needed recognition that worked across distributed teams in the U.S., U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and Vietnam. Luis, a Senior Software Engineering Manager, championed the initiative.
The result?
What started as an engineering grassroots initiative became company-wide adoption—with quarterly town halls highlighting top givers and annual "Taco Wrapped" recognition reports.
"HeyTaco democratizes recognition. It's not top-down—it's everyone, every day." —Luis, Senior Software Engineering Manager
Deputy layered in custom rewards tailored for remote international employees—swag, meal vouchers, and training expenses. The key insight? Celebrating top givers, not just receivers, sustains the culture.
Signs Recognition Is Breaking Down in Your Tech Team
These warning signs often go unnoticed until they're already hurting retention and morale.
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Wins Ship Unacknowledged
Features go live, bugs get fixed, but nobody pauses to celebrate. The team moves straight to the next sprint.
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Cross-Team Work Stays Invisible
Someone helped another team unblock a critical issue. Nobody outside that conversation knows it happened.
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Async Work Hides Effort
Code reviews, documentation, and late-night fixes happen quietly. The effort never surfaces.
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Only Managers Give Praise
Recognition flows top-down. Peers rarely acknowledge each other, even when they see great work firsthand.
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Sprint Completion ≠ Celebration
The team ships on time, but the only response is loading up the next sprint. No acknowledgment of the effort.
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Remote Engineers Feel Disconnected
Distributed team members wonder if anyone notices their work. The distance amplifies the silence.
How Employee Recognition Fits Into Tech Work
Employee recognition for tech teams works best when it's lightweight, real-time, and built into the tools teams already use.
Peer-Driven, Not Top-Down
Anyone can recognize great work—engineers, designers, product managers, and leaders alike.
Async-Friendly
Recognition doesn't require everyone to be online at the same time.
How HeyTaco Supports Growing Tech Teams
HeyTaco is employee recognition software built for modern tech environments—remote, fast-moving, and trust-driven.
Works Where You Already Work
No new tools to learn. No context switching.
Makes Effort Visible
Great work is recognized publicly, not buried in DMs or lost in Git history.
Easy Enough to Stick
Sending recognition takes seconds, so it actually happens—even during crunch time.
Human, Not Performative
Short, genuine messages keep recognition authentic, not awkward.
What Tech Teams See When Recognition Works
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Stronger Employee Engagement
Recognition helps tech teams stay motivated and connected as they scale.
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Better Cross-Team Connection
Engineering, product, and support teams feel more aligned and appreciated.
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Healthier Remote Culture
Recognition bridges the gaps created by async and distributed work.
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Momentum Instead of Burnout
Small moments of appreciation reinforce progress and pride in the work.
Why Tech Teams Choose HeyTaco for Employee Recognition
Because it works without adding process or overhead.
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No Process Overhead
Recognition fits into existing workflows without meetings, forms, or admin work.
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Built for Remote Teams
Async-friendly recognition works across time zones and schedules.
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Trust by Default
Peer-driven appreciation stays human, not tied to performance systems.
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Fast to Start
Teams can start recognizing work within minutes, not weeks.
4.8 on G2 • Trusted by 3k+ teams worldwide
Build a Tech Culture Where Effort Is Seen
Build a culture of appreciation with employee recognition software designed for modern tech teams.
Start for free Get a demoFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions from tech teams.
What is employee recognition software for tech teams?
Employee recognition software for tech teams helps organizations recognize and appreciate engineers, product teams, and support staff in real time. It makes recognition easy, visible, and part of daily collaboration.
Does this work for remote and distributed teams?
Yes. HeyTaco is designed for async and remote-first teams, making recognition easy regardless of time zone.
Will this feel forced or awkward?
No. Recognition is lightweight, peer-driven, and optional. Messages are short, natural, and authentic.
Does this replace performance reviews?
No. Recognition complements performance systems by highlighting everyday effort and collaboration.
Why do tech employees quit?
How do I reduce burnout in tech teams?
Burnout often starts when effort goes unnoticed under constant delivery pressure. Regular peer recognition helps people feel seen, building resilience during sprints and crunch times.
Can recognition align with our engineering values?
Yes. Many tech teams tag recognition to values like ownership, collaboration, technical excellence, or customer focus—so appreciation reinforces what matters most.
Does this create overhead or process?
No. HeyTaco lives inside Slack and Microsoft Teams. There are no meetings, forms, or workflows to manage. Recognition takes seconds and fits into existing work patterns.
How long does setup take?
Most teams are up and running in minutes. Install HeyTaco, choose a few defaults, and start recognizing work immediately.
Will this scale as we grow?
Yes. What works for a small engineering team continues to work as you add people, roles, and departments. Recognition stays simple even as the organization grows.