The competition for top-tier talent was already heating up. The modern-day workforce places as much pressure on employers as it does on employees when it comes to putting their best foot forward.
According to FlexJobs, 84% of remote workers answered that not having to commute to work was their top perk of working from home.
However, there are other ways to improve employee retention, satisfaction, and recruiting efforts — namely, spot bonuses and spot awards. Not to mention, spot awards and employee bonuses really make an impact. According to a 2019 study,
“65% of employees in America prefer bonuses based on personal performance.”
In this HR expert-approved blog, we’ll show you how to give a spot bonus and what the best spot awards are for employees.
Read this step-by-step mini-guide to boost positivity, happiness, and wellness in the workplace!
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What is a Spot Bonus?
A spot bonus is paid on the spot to employees or people within an organization for achieving a particular milestone, producing a certain result, or conducting themselves in a way that meets the target required to unlock the spot bonus.
Typically, a spot bonus is a smaller amount of money than an annual bonus because it is given based on merit or key performance indicators. Spot awards are similar to spot bonuses; however, spot awards tend to differ by being non-monetary.
How To Set Up A Spot Bonus Program
Step 1 – Establish spot bonus tiers.
You can give out rewards ranging anywhere from $50 to several thousand dollars. Tie the tiers into different milestones.
Step 2 – Determine your budget.
Due to the relatively spontaneous nature of on-the-spot bonuses compared to base pay, they can quickly become a large expense. That’s why it’s critical to set a limit and create a structure that ensures everyone is properly compensated for triggering their incentives.
Step 3 – Figure out what to incentivize.
Salaries are paid for doing the basics of the job. Spot bonuses are given for doing something exemplary; something that makes a difference.
Step 4 – Shake things up!
Don’t simply give out spot bonuses at the same intervals. The idea is to generate an emotional response from employees or coworkers and the best way to do that is with the element of surprise.
Step 5 – Let your team know!
Make sure to publicize both the employee bonus program and the winners as well. Get the managers involved and send out emails announcing winners!
10 Fun Spot Awards
1) Digital Gift Card
A digital gift card is a great way to show employee appreciation and recognition. They can be used to purchase items from their favorite stores, restaurants, or online retailers.
Tip: Include a personalized message with your employee’s name or an employee milestone to make the gift card extra special.
2) Coffee, Treat or Snack
A coffee, treat or snack is a simple yet effective spot award for employees. Let them pick up their favorite beverage or snack to enjoy during their break, in between meetings or while working from home.
Tip: Consider delivering snacks or treats right to their desk, so that they don’t have to worry about going out for them.
3) Work Ecard
A work ecard is an easy way to give employee recognition from anywhere, anytime and is a great spot award that requires minimal effort and spending. Choose a funny or heartwarming image, add a thoughtful message, and send it directly to your employee’s email inbox.
Tip: Take things a step further by including some thoughtful words of appreciation in the ecard so employees know how much they’re valued.
Try out Care Cards as a FREE ecard option to send words of affirmation along with your spot bonus!
4) Day Off
A day off is one of the most valuable spot awards you can give. Employees will appreciate an extra day to relax and recharge, while employers benefit from increased employee morale and productivity!
Tip: Consider allowing employees to decide when they want the day off (within certain parameters, of course).
5) Weekend Getaway
A weekend getaway is a great way to reward employees and give them the opportunity to explore a new place without having their budget take a hit. Whether it’s a staycation or an out-of-state adventure, your employees will have all the necessary information they need to make the most of their trip!
Tip: You can also add in any special experiences that you think your employee would really enjoy, such as spa day or dining out.
6) Cash bonus
A cash bonus is an easy and straightforward spot award that your employees will appreciate. Perhaps you do it in the form of a few extra dollars in their paycheck or maybe you give them a surprise check. The certain thing is that they will feel cared about.
Tip: Give bonuses based on performance, not just seniority. This ensures that all employees are rewarded fairly and equally.
7) Recognition email
Celebrate your employee’s hard work by sending out a special email! Show them just how much you admire their dedication with well-crafted words that demonstrate the impressive effect they had on team or company success. You can also include concrete details about what made their effort so noteworthy.
Tip: Send out recognition emails regularly so that your employees know that their efforts are being noticed and appreciated. You can also send recognition points along with your message with Bonusly!
8) Work From Home Survival Kit
For employees who are working from home, a work from home survival kit is the perfect spot award to help them stay productive and motivated. Fill it with all their favorite snacks, drinks, or items that can make working from home easier and more comfortable!
Tip: Make sure to include items that are personalized to the individual – such as their favorite candy or coffee.
9) Employee Appreciation Certificate
Give your employee an appreciation certificate to acknowledge their hard work and accomplishments. You can include a special message, highlight their achievements, or give them a title that reflects how much you value them as part of the team.
Tip: Make sure to keep the certificate somewhere they can easily show it off (like framed on the wall!) so they always remember how valued they are.
10) Personalized Gift
Show your employees how much you care about them by giving them a personalized gift. Whether it’s a desk accessory, tech gadget, or something that reflects their personality – they’ll appreciate the thought and effort that went into selecting something special just for them!
Tip: Feature a hand-written note with the gift so they know just why you chose it for them.
When To Use Spot Bonuses & Spot Awards
1) Sign-on Bonus
A spot bonus is rewarded when a new hire signs on with the company. Sign-on bonuses are a great way to make brand new employees feel welcome and to integrate them into the company. Additionally, these employee incentives set a great tone and help the new hire start off energized and ready to do their best work!
2) Retention Bonus
Employee retention is prized these days. Retention bonuses are designed to incentivize employee loyalty. Whenever team members stay within the organization for a certain period of time, give them a bonus. Retention bonuses are also known as “milestone bonuses” and can be used to reward birthdays, work anniversaries, and other big life events as well.
3) Holiday or Year-end Bonus
Holiday bonuses and year-end bonuses are usually one-in-the-same. However, if you take holiday bonuses in their most literal sense and are feeling generous, you can give out a bonus for holidays as a way of making the holidays a little more enjoyable for your employees. A year-end bonus is typically a large payment to celebrate all the great work and milestones met throughout the employee’s work year.
4) Referral Bonus
A referral bonus incentivizes employees to actively recruit. This recruiting bonus is provided to employees who refer a candidate who is later hired by the company. In the battle for top-tier talent, referral bonuses are a must-have in your recruiting arsenal.
5) Spot Bonus
Easily the most spontaneous of the bonus types, spot bonuses are given on the spot for a variety of reasons, ranging from company-wide achievements to individual goals achieved. These are often also some of the smaller bonuses of the different kinds because of the frequency and spontaneity in which they are rewarded. A spot bonus or spot award can be as small as a gift card.
Pro-tip: Be sure to keep track of the tax implications when giving out bonuses just as you would with traditional forms of employee compensation.
Spot Bonus Programs & Platforms
1) Bonusly
“For recognition from all angles”
What is Bonusly? Bonusly is an employee recognition platform designed around peer-to-peer recognition and rewarding. Now, instead of only leadership being able to incentivize employees, coworkers can offer each other some serious encouragement in the form of monetary and non-monetary incentives.
How to use Bonusly for your spot program: While peers can shout each other out, managers can also reward direct reports, and employees can also celebrate their managers doing great work as well!
Notable features:
- Team member analytics to identify best abilities
- Social features for social recognition
- Self-curated rewards
- Automated work anniversary celebrations and birthdays
- Monthly stipend features so recognition can go all-around
2) Nectar
“For keeping the hive together”
What is Nectar? Nectar is a multilateral recognition and rewards platform to help every member of an organization celebrate each others’ successes. This culture-building platform rewards team members and managers for their effort and their results.
How to use Nectar for your spot program: Whether it’s peer-to-peer or manager to coworker, these incentives reinforce positive corporate culture. Sign up and let your teams become the tight-knit unit you’ve dreamed of organically!
Notable features:
- Dozens of integrations, including Slack, Microsoft Teams, and other engagement software
- Employee health and wellness programs
- Custom swag storefronts with on-demand dropshipping
3) Confetti
“For celebrating the big, the small, and all the wins in between”
What is Confetti? Confetti is the all-in-one employee recognition and activity platform. This fun-driven employee engagement solution is perfect for spot bonuses and spot awards because it curates ideal vendors to give the best experiences possible.
How to use Confetti for your spot program: Confetti is free to sign up and the sign-up itself only takes roughly 20 seconds. After you get into the system, start customizing your activities instantly! Every event outlines host info, details, and invitations.
Notable features:
- Hosted games and shippable experiences
- Culture budget management
- 14 experience categories
4) Assembly
“For assembling your super team”
What is Assembly? Based on pay-for-usage, Assembly is a 360-degree peer-to-peer rewards and recognition platform designed to help everyone get the encouragement they need. Now, nobody has to fall through the cracks and the whole crew can be seen! Plus, Assembly eases the load off of human resources.
How to use Assembly for your spot program: Simply sign up and let the recognition begin. The sleek color-coded interfaces help lead your team through the process naturally.
Notable features:
- Skill and merit-based badge options
- Core values sidebar to keep the team aligned
- Inclusive work anniversary and birthday feeds
5) Fond
“For keeping employees fond of each other”
What is Fond? Fond is a social-oriented employee recognition for in-person and distributed teams. With a gargantuan rewards catalog, special discounts, and an easily accessible social feed, Fond is perfectly designed to help company cultures scale.
How to use Fond for your spot program: Get started with Fond to develop a supportive, gratitude-filled culture where your employees feel appreciated to the core.
Notable features:
- Deep behavioral analytics and budgetary data for managers and employees
- Language translations, cost of living adjustments, and a nation-wide rewards catalog to support in-person and remote employees
- Custom recognition and communication channels
People Also Ask These Questions About Spot Bonuses
Q: What are the benefits of using a spot bonus?
- A: The benefits of using a spot bonus include boosting employee morale, promoting positivity in the workplace, boosting productivity, motivating employees, and improving employee performance.
Q: How much should you reward an employee with a spot bonus?
- A: There isn’t necessarily one precise amount of money you should reward an employee with a spot bonus. Some of the main factors to think about are your total budget, the frequency you want to give out spot bonuses, and what you’re hoping to achieve with them. As far as amounts, a typical spot bonus might range anywhere from $50 to a few thousand, depending on what it’s for.
Q: How do I know if my spot bonus program is working?
- A: You will know if your spot bonus program is working because you will see genuine excitement from your employees or coworkers, increased positivity in the workplace, better productivity, and massively improved motivation. If you reward employees, the result is usually a reciprocal effort.
Q: Are there digital ways to send a spot bonus to remote employees?
- A: Yes, there are digital ways to send a spot bonus to remote employees through employee recognition platforms and software.
