There is never a good time to switch to a new system, but I also know that employees were eager for something new. Awardco has given us incredible power and flexibility with our recognition programs because of the millions of options to choose from, and the ability for employees to choose their own rewards has been a game changer. We know what we're getting, we know we're getting the best price, and our employees couldn't be happier.

We wanted everything to go through one platform—and that's how we landed on Awardco.

After COVID hit we had over 1800 employees go remote. Our HQ campus became a ghost town. We couldn't do the high touch thing anymore, but still wanted to engage our workforce. Because of the nature of remote work, we didn't even know which employees were where, and there was no way we could use our old system of bi-annual distribution. We had gotten so much positive feedback with our service anniversary program that we reached out to Awardco to see if they could do something to help us with our bonus program.

We can now give a shoutout to someone even if they’re in a different location—something we couldn’t do before. It just makes it easy when it’s all in one place.

We have a lot of different programs to ensure we encompass all our employees. Three of them tie directly to our core values: our peer-to-peer program, our manager-led programs, and our safety programs—like our Safety All-Stars, which is a monthly automated award.

Awardco is a great way to give rewards and shoutouts to our employees who sacrifice and assist and go above and beyond.

The High Flyer program has created a culture where contributions—big or small—are celebrated. Everyone feels seen and valued, reinforcing our belief that success is a shared journey and that we grow together.

If you want a feel-good moment, just log in and scroll through the recognition feed.

One year into having sunshine, our recognition, feeling like we're recognized went up ten percent. I think that's just a true testament of how much it means to us. We do have those hard days. And again, the Sunshine Recognition Hub empowers our nurses and team members. It's given us a platform to recognize, those moments of of excellence.

And we've also tied that to wellness in the sense that, you know, every year, we encourage our associates to go get their annual physical. So part of that though is if you turn that form in, then you get Awardco points. So it's another way to tie healthy lifestyle to what's important to us in the bank to making an impact with our associates.

Awardco is truly better than any other vendor I've implemented for any type of platform—and I've done a lot! The user experience is second to none.

Before Awardco we had no idea how many gift cards were going out or when, but now we have real-time budgetary updates. It's been a game changer.

myKudos [Awardco] has been a powerful tool in fostering a culture of appreciation within our craft. By providing an easy, visible way to celebrate all wins, both big and small. It helps boost morale and the impact is immediately felt.

Companies that invest in recognition are seen as people-centric. When people feel appreciated for their contributions and are truly engaged, they’re more innovative, more creative, and more willing to think beyond the status quo. This elevates work, fuels stronger business outcomes and can foster deeper customer relationships.

Since joining, I’ve found myKudos [Awardco] posts to be a great way to learn what others are doing across the agency. I’ve even picked up ideas from shoutouts that I’ve been able to implement on my own accounts. It’s more than recognition—it’s a source of inspiration.