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Unclaimed rewards returned to you
Support | 415-386-8600
Unclaimed rewards returned to you
Support | 415-386-8600
Give employees, customers, or partners a holiday incentive they can choose for themselves. Depending on the account, supplier, recipient location, and current terms, available options may include gift cards, prepaid products, payments, merchandise, charitable choices, or swag.
Gift cards · Prepaid cards · Direct payments · Merchandise · Charity · Swag
Holiday incentives can be more useful when eligible recipients can select an option that fits their circumstances. A curated choice may reduce one-size-fits-all mismatch while allowing program administrators to define eligibility, budget, branding, delivery, and support rules.
Gift cards redeemable for merchandise or services can give eligible recipients a choice within the options configured for the program.
Recipient choice can:
Include an equivalent general-use, charitable, nonholiday, or no-gift alternative without requiring a recipient to explain the choice.
A curated selection reduces the need to guess which physical item is useful or appropriate. Confirm current catalog, value, location, delivery, accessibility, and eligibility rules before presenting a choice.
Recipients can choose among the eligible options configured for their program. Do not use selection data to infer beliefs, health, lifestyle, family status, performance, or engagement.
Choice can reduce mismatch when a single physical item would not fit every recipient. Provide comparable alternatives and a route to resolve unavailable, inaccessible, delayed, or failed delivery.
Recipient choice can reduce one-size-fits-all gifting.
Curate a focused set of comparable options and let each eligible recipient choose a reward that fits their needs. Confirm current availability, value, expiration, replacement, fees, delivery, and location restrictions before launch.
Gift cards can express appreciation while giving employees flexibility within an approved selection. TruCentive supports configurable reward choices; available merchants, products, denominations, currencies, countries, delivery methods, fees, and account features vary by supplier, recipient location, and current terms.
Available selections may include merchant gift cards, eligible prepaid products, direct-payment methods, merchandise, or charitable choices.
Curate neutral categories around the audience or occasion, such as technology, food, coffee, general shopping, local options, or charity. Verify merchant participation, catalog inventory, denominations, currencies, fees, delivery, expiration, replacement, and recipient eligibility before presenting specific choices.
Current campaign-builder tools may support approved branding, messages, incentive selections, and delivery configuration. Preview the recipient experience and obtain required brand approvals before sending.
Use email, SMS, or another supported delivery method only after confirming recipient notice, consent, contact accuracy, accessibility, privacy, quiet-hour, message-frequency, and opt-out requirements. Setup and delivery timing depend on project review, recipient data, supplier availability, and the selected reward method.
A specific, work-appropriate message can connect an incentive to the occasion, while a curated selection lets recipients choose among comparable options.
Use minimum necessary personal data, obtain consent before public recognition, and offer a private alternative with equivalent value.
Digital rewards can reduce some physical packaging, shipping, and return tasks, but they still require eligibility, recipient data, funding, catalog, delivery, support, tax, and policy review.
Current automation tools may help administrators manage approved recipient data, messaging, selection, reminders, and delivery settings in one workflow. Available features and processing time depend on the account and project.
Digital gift cards can be distributed to on-site and remote recipients without physical packaging or return shipping. Actual availability and delivery timing depend on project setup, review, funding, recipient information, geography, supplier processing, and the selected reward method.
Provide an equivalent alternative when a location, channel, device, or reward method is unsupported or inaccessible.
Offering a curated choice can reduce the mismatch created by a one-size-fits-all physical item.
Organizations can define reward values and eligibility in advance, but total program cost can also include funding, delivery, fees, taxes, replacement, support, administration, and unused-value treatment. Review current project terms before launch.
Program organizers can set reward values and documented eligibility rules that align with an approved budget. Configured reminder messages may help recipients act before a project deadline when notice, consent, frequency, quiet-hour, and opt-out rules are satisfied.
The treatment of unclaimed, canceled, refunded, or expired value depends on reward type, project settings, issuer restrictions, applicable fees, jurisdiction, and current contract terms. Refunds or account credits are not guaranteed for every reward.
A gift card can be useful when an eligible recipient prefers to choose how to use the available value instead of receiving a single physical item.
Offer comparable choices and collect optional feedback; do not treat flexibility as evidence of satisfaction or another workforce outcome.
A holiday incentive can provide one channel for recognizing documented work or participation. Pair it with a specific, appropriate message and a relevant set of choices.
Do not require public thanks, testimonials, photos, social posts, endorsements, or praise as a condition of receiving an approved incentive.
Tax treatment is fact-specific and depends on the incentive, value, frequency, recipient, and applicable federal, state, local, and international rules. The IRS explains that cash and cash-equivalent items are generally not excludable as de minimis fringe benefits, and gift certificates redeemable for general merchandise or with a cash-equivalent value are taxable. A certificate for a specific low-value item provided infrequently may qualify depending on the facts and circumstances; there is no universal safe dollar threshold.
Review the IRS de minimis fringe-benefit guidance and current Publication 15-B, Employer’s Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits. Consult qualified tax and payroll professionals before distribution.
This content is general information, not tax, legal, payroll, accounting, or financial advice.
Fiserv’s Q4 2024 Gift Card Gauge surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. consumers aged 18 and older in August 2024. In that dated survey, 86% of respondents said gift cards were an appropriate incentive; cash or checks were preferred by 72%, prepaid gift cards by 58%, and store- or brand-specific gift cards by 41%. The reported margin of error was ±3 percentage points.
Use the result as dated survey context rather than a prediction for every workforce. Review the Fiserv findings and methodology →
Optional branded merchandise can complement gift cards or other supported choices when recipients have comparable alternatives.
Review item quality, sizes, specifications, accessibility, inventory, minimums, branding approval, pricing, taxes, shipping, lead time, destination coverage, replacement, return, and supplier terms. Do not infer personal characteristics or require recipients to display or endorse the brand.
Offer flexible rewards alongside any optional holiday gathering. Keep eligibility and value rules comparable for employees who cannot or choose not to attend.
A gift centered on the giver rather than the recipient can create mismatch. Use voluntary recipient input, neutral categories, and comparable alternatives to guide the selection.
Use expressly shared recipient preferences—not assumptions—and collect only the minimum data needed for eligibility and fulfillment.
A traditional company party is not the best fit for every employee. Distributed teams, schedules, accessibility needs, religious or cultural observances, caregiving, transportation, health, and personal preferences can affect participation. Keep events voluntary, avoid inferring why someone declines, and offer comparable ways to participate in recognition. See Rethinking the Holiday Party for additional planning context.
Visier surveyed 1,000 full-time U.S. employees in 2023 about workplace socializing. The source reported that 64% had reduced or stopped attending after-hours company events during 2023. Separately, the leading reported deterrents to a company year-end or holiday party were enough coworker socialization during the workday (36%), preferring to separate personal and professional life (33%), time away from family or friends (28%), limited connection with coworkers (24%), prior events not being enjoyable (20%), plus-ones not being allowed (19%), remote or hybrid attendance not being covered (8%), and health concerns (5%).
Source: Visier’s 2023 workplace holiday-party survey. Treat these dated U.S. survey results as context, not a prediction for every organization.
Use voluntary feedback, accessibility review, and comparable alternatives to plan for the actual workforce.
Gift cards can fit a holiday program because eligible recipients choose how to use the available value within the configured selection.
Digital distribution can reduce some physical shipping, packaging, and return logistics. TruCentive supports configurable branding, messages, recipient management, and reward choices; available features, brands, payment methods, countries, currencies, fees, and delivery timing vary by account, supplier, recipient location, and current terms.
Program organizers can define value limits, eligible recipients, delivery settings, and supported options. Treatment of unclaimed, canceled, refunded, or expired value depends on reward type, project expiration, issuer restrictions, fees, jurisdiction, and current contract terms.
Use specific messages, comparable choices, and optional feedback. Personalization and choice do not establish satisfaction, engagement, retention, performance, or return on investment.
Eligible unclaimed reward value may be returned or credited according to reward type, project expiration, issuer restrictions, applicable fees, jurisdiction, and current program terms; it is not guaranteed for every reward.
Use the campaign builder to configure approved branding, eligible recipients, messages, reward choices, and delivery settings. Before launch, review catalog coverage, denominations, currencies, funding, fees, expiration, replacement, cancellation, delivery, support, privacy, messaging consent, accessibility, payroll, tax, gifting, employment, procurement, anti-bribery, and regulated-industry requirements.
Related reading: holiday swag ideas and company holiday party ideas.
Review current setup and billing terms before launch.
Review current security, privacy, payment, accessibility, communications, employment, payroll, tax, gifting, procurement, anti-bribery, and regulated-industry documentation for the program.
Gift cards that are redeemable for merchandise and goods provide recipients the freedom to chose the holiday incentive that they want.
Providing your employees, customers and partners a choice of incentives has many benefits:
Holiday incentive / gift preferences survey (9/24)
Gift cards show appreciation and empower employees to use their incentives in a way that’s meaningful to them.
Incentive automation in the TruCentive Incentives fulfillment and reward delivery platform provides the tools to deliver rewards and incentives in ways that delight your recipients.
Curate a group of cards and gift selections and offer your recipients a choice of gift selections. “Recipients Choice” lets your recipient choose which gift works best for them.
Offer a selection from thousands of gift card options.
Mix merchant gift cards, funds delivery, and pre-paid cards to give recipients the ultimate choice.
Select a theme of high-tech and offer specific choices such as Apple or merchandise from BestBuy.
You can select certain themes such as food, with Coffee, Pizza, and home delivery via Doordash, GrubHub or Uber Eats.
Design features include advanced editing capabilities to create stunning experiences, and the flexibility to personalized messages along with gift cards gives you full control over your incentive, message, and delivery.
Build beautiful emails and SMS message that create a memorable impression. You get total control over the design of each campaign. Use the pre-designed templates or build your own from scratch and you can be ready to start your gift card delivery in minutes.
Holiday incentive / gift preferences survey (9/24)
Recognizing and rewarding your employees with holiday incentive Gift Card choices offers many advantages, and helps to build a positive organizational culture.
Gift cards are easy to administer and maintain. They are especially easy to distribute compared to other types of holiday gifts, particularly during the busy holiday season.
Incentive automation makes the whole process simple.
Digital gift cards can be sent instantly to large teams of people, on site and those that are remote.
Logistical hassles are eliminated. Shipping and packaging, as well as returns are eliminated.
Gift cards provide employees with the freedom to choose the gift or memento that really matters to them. Whether it’s a specific retailer, or a general-purpose card employees appreciate having the independence to choose how to redeem the gift.
Bad gift blowback, the problem with one-size-fits-all gifts, is avoided.
Employees overwhelmingly prefer gift cards because of the flexibility they provide.
Organizations can easily control the amount of spending by pre-selecting gift card amounts.
Gift card value can be selected and tied to the performance level of employees. Consistency and budget adherence are ensured.
Employees may be reminded to redeem unclaimed gifts to ensure that no employees miss the opportunity.
100% of the value of unclaimed merchandise is automatically returned to the sender’s account based on their selected expiration timeframe along with excess merchandise funds.
Research shows that employees often perceive gift cards as a high-value reward because of their potential to fulfill personal wants, rather than a one-size-fits-all item they may not need or want.
This higher perceived value boosts employee satisfaction and engagement.
The Incentive Marketing Association found that the perceived value of gift cards makes them a popular choice for reward programs.
Incentives, like gift cards, let the company participate in the season’s spirit of giving, and allow for recognition of the hard work and success of employees.
When incentives are presented with appropriate personalization and during festive times such as the winter holidays, the recipient experience becomes even more memorable.
Employee choice lets employees pick what they find to be most appealing and appropriate and helps ensure that gifts are remembered.
Of course tax issues should be left up to your finance folks, but gift cards for merchandise may typically be managed more easily than cash bonuses.
Gift cards that allows an employee to receive a specific item of personal property that is minimal in value, provided infrequently, and is administratively impractical to account for, may be excludable as a de minimis benefit, depending on facts and circumstances.
Always consult with your finance folks for their advice. IRS
Enhance your gift with a choice of memorable swag added to your holiday gift.
Holiday swag is more than just branded merchandise. It is a chance to spread cheer, celebrate your company’s culture, and wrap up the year on a high note. Think of it as a heartfelt holiday gift for employees, loyal customers, and trusted partners, not just a marketing item with a logo.
Choose quality over quantity, keep inclusivity at the heart of your selections, and present your gifts with care. A thoughtfully chosen and beautifully delivered holiday gift makes a far greater impression than a box of random trinkets.
The most memorable gifts feel personal and meaningful. Whether you are giving a cozy winter kit, a personalized tech accessory, or a unique experience, holiday gifting is your opportunity to show gratitude and make people feel truly valued.
When you give with intention, you give more than just a gift. You give a moment of joy that lasts well into the new year. Done right, your holiday swag will inspire smiles, spark connection, and leave employees and clients feeling celebrated as they head into the year ahead.
What about just holding a traditional holiday party or celebration for employees?
Probably not the best idea. (Rethinking the Holiday Party)
It’s becoming increasingly evident that not all employees feel the same way about traditional ways of celebrating the holidays.
Companies used to have holiday parties and hand out branded coffee mugs or frozen turkeys or other such one-size-fits-all gifts.
Holiday parties are just not as popular with employees as they once seemed.
The traditional holiday party celebration may just not be effective anymore.
And your employees may not even want the celebrations.
Life sems to be more fast-paced. Having to give up increasingly rare personal time is a burden. Employees may already be caught between the the demands of commuting, work, family, and the demands of a personal life.
Spending time, particularly extra time, at a work event may not be the best use of your employee’s time.
Holiday incentive / gift preferences survey (9/24)
Gift cards are a holiday incentive favorite because they offer employees the ultimate freedom of choice, giving employees and recipients control over how they want to use their reward. Choice and flexibility lead to happier recipients. According to a TruCentive survey, 73% of employers prefer gift cards as a holiday incentive, with merchandise trailing far behind at 19%.
Convenience is one of the key benefits of gift cards. For employers, they’re easy to design, administer and distribute. With just a few clicks, you can send out personalized gift cards to teams across various locations. There is no longer the need to deal with shipping, packaging, or returns. Incentive Automation tools like TruCentive make it easy to create a memorable and engaging experience for employees with customization of emails and SMS messages.
Gift cards also help boost employee morale by giving them something they actually want, ensuring that your holiday incentives are well-received and remembered. Personalized messages and themed options (like tech or food) add to the appeal, making the gift feel more meaningful.
Gift cards are cost-efficient. Employers can set fixed spending limits, and if a gift card goes unclaimed, the value is returned to the organization, making sure every dollar counts.
Gift cards are a leading choice for rewarding employee achievements with holiday incentives while keeping things festive during the holiday season. Gift cards are a perfect holiday incentive solution for both employers and employees.
