Encourage collaboration and teamwork with a recognition program that is effective and enjoyable!
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Discover creative ways to distribute gift cards at work and learn how Assembly’s free program makes employee gifting effortless.
Gift cards have become a staple in employee recognition programs, offering flexibility, personal choice, and universal appeal. Yet, the true impact of a gift card lies not just in its value, but in how it’s presented.
Creative distribution methods can transform a simple reward into a memorable experience, boosting morale, reinforcing company culture, and fostering a positive work environment. Whether your team is in-office, remote, or hybrid, the way you deliver recognition can significantly amplify its impact and strengthen team bonds.
The psychology behind recognition reveals that how we receive appreciation is just as important as receiving it at all. When employees experience surprise, personalization, or fun during recognition moments, their brains release more dopamine—the “feel-good” chemical that creates lasting positive memories. A creatively delivered $25 gift card can feel more valuable and meaningful than a $50 card handed over without thought.
Creative methods also help combat “recognition fatigue”—the diminishing returns that occur when rewards become routine or predictable. By varying your approach and adding elements of surprise, you maintain the emotional impact of your recognition programs over time.
Transform recognition into entertainment by hosting office bingo, trivia contests, or scavenger hunts where winners receive gift cards. Create custom bingo cards featuring work achievements or company milestones. For remote teams, use virtual breakout rooms for team-based challenges or online quiz platforms during all-hands meetings. The competitive element adds excitement while the social aspect strengthens team connections.
For in-office teams, secretly place gift cards on desks with handwritten notes explaining the specific achievement being recognized. Add small decorations or themed items to enhance the surprise. For remote employees, coordinate surprise deliveries or create anticipation with mysterious calendar invites that reveal digital gift cards during virtual meetings.
Empower employees to nominate colleagues for gift cards, creating a culture where appreciation flows in all directions. Provide nomination forms that capture specific examples of helpful behavior or outstanding performance. This approach not only distributes the recognition workload but also helps managers discover contributions they might have missed.
Create suspense with sealed envelopes containing different gift card values or types. Use colorful envelopes with fun labels like “Open for Awesome” or “Surprise Inside!” For remote teams, mail mystery boxes with gift cards hidden among company swag or treats. The element of surprise makes even modest rewards feel exciting.
Bring carnival excitement to the workplace with physical or virtual prize wheels. Create wheels with different gift card options, bonus time off, or other rewards. Use this method during team meetings, company events, or as part of larger celebrations. Digital wheel tools work perfectly for virtual teams and can be screen-shared during video calls.
Align gift card distribution with holidays, seasons, or company themes. Create Halloween “treat bags” with gift cards, Valentine’s Day appreciation deliveries, or summer “cool rewards” for hot weather. Themed presentations show extra thoughtfulness and create photo-worthy moments that employees love to share.
Turn work anniversaries, birthdays, and achievement milestones into mini-celebrations. Create personalized presentations highlighting the employee’s journey, contributions, and impact. Include team members in the celebration and present gift cards as part of a larger recognition moment that honors the individual’s value to the organization.
Recognize collaborative achievements by rewarding entire teams for meeting goals or completing projects. Present gift cards during team meetings with speeches acknowledging each member’s contribution. This approach reinforces the importance of teamwork while ensuring individual recognition within the group context.
For remote and hybrid teams, create digital recognition experiences that feel personal and engaging. Use platforms that allow multiple team members to contribute messages, photos, or videos alongside the gift card presentation. These digital keepsakes become treasured reminders of appreciation that recipients can revisit anytime.
Build anticipation over several days with clues leading to gift card reveals. Send daily hints via email, Slack, or team channels, culminating in the final surprise. This extended approach maximizes the emotional impact and creates ongoing excitement throughout the workplace.
Assembly will be launching an innovative gift card program very soon. It transforms workplace recognition from a manual process into a seamless, delightful experience. The platform is free to sign up and includes powerful features in all paid plans, making sophisticated recognition accessible to organizations of any size.
Assembly’s platform is designed to make every step of the gifting process easy, customizable, and enjoyable for both the sender and the recipient.
Creative gift card distribution is more than just a nice gesture—it’s a strategic investment in employee engagement, retention, and culture. By moving beyond traditional handouts to memorable experiences, you demonstrate genuine care for your team while maximizing the impact of your recognition budget.
Ready to revolutionize your employee recognition program? Schedule a demo with Assembly and discover how easy it is to create moments of delight that your employees will treasure.
Try gamified giveaways, surprise desk drops, themed presentations, peer-to-peer nominations, mystery envelopes, spin-the-wheel events, or digital kudo boards for memorable recognition experiences.
Use digital e-cards, virtual unwrapping events, mystery box mailings, or platforms like Assembly to send animated, personalized gift cards via email or text with team signatures.
Assembly offers a free-to-sign-up gift card program with self-service gifting, automated rewards, customizable e-cards, kudo boards, flexible gifting options, and delightful receiving experiences with animations.
Yes! Assembly’s automated gifting feature lets you schedule and send personalized gift cards for milestones like birthdays, work anniversaries, and other recurring recognition opportunities.
Get the foundational knowledge on creating an employee recognition program that boosts employee engagement and helps them feel valued.
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Yes, at Assembly, security is a top priority. Each quarter, we have ongoing security work that is everyone’s responsibility. While we maintain a strong security posture, it was important for us to prove to our customers that we do everything we claim to do. This led us to pursue a SOC 2 Type II report that would provide evidence of our compliance with industry gold-standard security practice.
There is study after study showing that employee recognition leads to increased engagement. This in return creates an environment where employees are happier and more motivated which increase productivity and reduces voluntary turnover significantly. In order to filled critical roles, companies tend to spend nearly twice the value of an annual salary. Assembly is an investment in your employees that supports your bottom line.
Yes, we will offer contracts for companies with longer-term agreements to help larger customers have more certainty around future costs.
The minimum agreement term is a 12-month subscription.
We do and for FREE! Any new customer needing further support to get started with Assembly to ensure you're set up for success can request custom onboarding support. Improving your employee experience is about much more than just using our amazing software; it’s about transforming your business to create a workplace that people love. That’s much easier to do with the personal support and advice from our passionate people experts.
At the time of redemption (when your employees exchange their points for a paid reward) you'll pay face value. If a reward is a $10 Amazon gift card, your cost will be $10. All paid rewards are billed for on a monthly basis.
The good news is that you don't have to pay for rewards upfront because we only charge you when points are redeemed, not when they're earned.
We offer discounts or educational or charitable organizations. In order to secure a discount, you'll first need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.
For all other organizations, we are willing to consider longer-term agreements in exchange for discounts. To set up annual plans or longer, you will need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.
If you're on a month to month plan, you can go here and cancel anytime. If you're having concerns or need help setting up your account for success, you can always book a demo with a customer support specialist.
If you're on a longer-term custom plan, you'll need to reach out to your customer support specialist to cancel your account or email us at support@joinassembly.com.
Great question! You can customize your core values to match your organization's to boost and track alignment. You can change your currency from the 🏆 emoji (our default) to any emoji of your choice. You can swap our logo for your own. You can also set up company culture rewards such as, "Lunch with the CEO," "Buy a book on us," and so much more!
While we recommend a peer to peer set up where anyone in your organization can give or receive recognition, you can set up Assembly however you want. If you need to limit the people who can give or receive recognition, that's perfectly fine and can be done from your Admin, here.
Assembly connects to the tools your employees use every day to offer an easy, seamless experience with minimal change management.
Assembly has integrations with HCM/HRIS systems like ADP, Google, Office 365, and Slack. We also integrate with communication tools like Slack and Teams so you and your employees can access Assembly wherever they work now.
That depends on the company's permissions set up. That said, over 90% of the employees on Assembly's platform are recognized on a monthly basis. That means nearly every employee across all of our customers are receiving regular recognition from their peers, managers, or leadership. We're extremely proud of this.
They are not required. You can use Assembly without having rewards set up. However, we don't recommend it if you intend to have a high adoption and usage rate. You can always keep the costs down by offering internal culture rewards that are fulfilled by you internally.
No, you can remove allowances from anyone or everyone. It's up to you but we do recommend using points whether they're worth a real dollar value or not. Companies that use points have a much higher engagement rate even if those points don't exchange for real dollars.
Please schedule time with an expert and we will help you to get all your questions answered
