Virtual Incentives outlined employee gift card selection, delivery and programme administration in guidance published on July 25, 2018. It recommended setting budgets and measurable goals, including staff across roles and offering more than one opportunity to earn recognition.

Its design recommendations included attainable targets and smaller, regular rewards rather than relying on a single annual prize. The company suggested involving department managers and HR when deciding how participation and achievement would be measured.

For the reward itself, Virtual Incentives described virtual cards, brand-selected gift cards and physical options. It argued that recipient choice and prompt delivery should form part of the programme design.

The article said its Gift Card PASS offering let businesses select from more than 600 retailers at the time. It also described branded messages, mobile access and centralised ordering and tracking.

Support was another priority. The company recommended considering both programme administration and the help available to employees when they redeem a reward.

The guide cited external employee-recognition research but did not report a new controlled study or measured client result. Its contribution was provider guidance on how to organise, deliver and manage employee incentives.