Explore the new State of Recognition 2026 report

 

Public Sector Recognition

Elevating public service through recognition

Public service is purpose-driven—but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Recognition programmes uplift those on the frontlines, reduce burnout, and reinforce the value of their everyday efforts.

Why Awardco?

Public sector features

that check every box

Awardco helps government agencies, municipalities, and public institutions implement recognition programmes that are cost-effective, compliant, and impactful.

 
Service Awards
 
Affordable & Compliant
 
Peer-to-Peer Recognition
 
Nomination Programmes
 
Leadership Support
 
Department Recognition

offline recognition

Empower teams, no matter where they work

Appreciate anyone, anywhere with AwardCodes™. Support your diverse, dispersed workforce with offline recognition. Employees redeem physical cards for points, unlocking millions of reward options.

ROI of Recognition

Recognition that drives performance and retention

Public sector employees thrive when they feel valued, engaged, and connected.

Engagement
Person writing and working on laptop in bright, plant-filled office
4
X
more engagement
4
X
more engagement

Better engagement means better performance.

Employees who feel valued are 4X more likely to be engaged, which leads to greater productivity, retention, satisfaction, and more.

Engagement
Satisfaction
Business team meeting in modern office with large windows
25
%
increase in happiness
25
%
increase in happiness

Happy employees are healthier, more resilient, and more productive.

Showing and receiving gratitude increases happiness by 25%—and happiness is the leading cause for employees staying or leaving their jobs.

Satisfaction
Retention
Business team working together analyzing graphs and data on wooden desk
31
%
decrease in turnover
31
%
decrease in turnover

Retain top public sector talent.

A strong culture of recognition lowers voluntary turnover by 31% because appreciation makes people want to stay.

Retention

only from awardco

A-Pay

Reward a diverse workforce with ultimate reward flexibility. A-Pay cards—where employees choose when and where to redeem, almost anywhere in the world.

success stories

Supporting the public sector

America First Credit Union
Previously every manager hand-wrote a message to their employees every six months thanking them for their hard work, and it was all tied in with the bonus distribution. It was very high-touch, very labour intensive, and we had the process down to a science. We liked the connections that formed between managers and employees as a result of this programme, but after COVID-19 most of our workforce went remote. Our semi-annual tradition wasn't possible any longer, nor was it feasible.
Kent Streuling
SVP of HR
4Refuel
We have an on-the-spot recognition programme where leaders can immediately recognise a CRP for demonstrating safe behaviour. That recognition is visible across the organisation, which motivates others to do the same. Instead of focusing on what went wrong, we’ve shifted our culture to spotlight what’s being done right—and that’s encouraged everyone to follow that path.
Roshan Varghese
Sr. Director, Environment, Health & Safety
Quick Quack Car Wash
Getting buy-in was super easy. No one really questions it. After all, what's wrong with recognising people and telling them they did a good job?
Christina Castro
Training Leader
PMG
I genuinely enjoy reading the daily kudos in Slack. Seeing the names and stories of colleagues going above and beyond is inspiring—it motivates me every day and reminds me why I’m proud to be part of PMG.
Melodie Cottingham
Convergent Video/Audio Director
Awardco not only ensures each employee receives the recognition they deserve from the company, but it provides a meaningful way for team members to shine a spotlight on each other's contributions daily, which would otherwise be nearly impossible to do with our 100% remote workforce.
Lindsay Obrentz
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Lockton
Associates love it. We've had over 95% user adoption in the first six months. It's been a huge success.
Selia Wood
AVP, Talent & Engagement
Kodiak
Recognition just reminds you that no, you are seen. Your work is not for nothing. You are appreciated. It feels great and helps you stay motivated, even when things are tough.
Zach Makoutz
Sr. Manager, Category Sales Product
Southern Oregon Head Start
Our job was to solve the continuous problem of helping staff feel connected—to each other and to the organisation.
Shandy Phelps
Family Community Engagement Supervisor
 
 

Integrations & Security

Seamless connections, uncompromising security

Integrations

Awardco works well with all the tools you already use, so you can naturally incorporate recognition into your day-to-day.

Security

Built with enterprise-grade security measures, including GDPR and SOC 2 Type II compliance, to keep your data safe and your peace of mind intact.

Recognition for those that serve

Public sector employees deserve to be recognised for their contributions. Make it easy to celebrate milestones, improve retention, and foster a culture of appreciation for those that need it most.

Diverse team of colleagues collaborating and smiling in modern office