Why Points and Perks Work
Traditional employee advocacy fails because good deeds go unrewarded and impact is invisible. TeamWins fixes this with a simple but powerful system: points for contributions, perks for redemption.
This creates a positive feedback loop where teammates see immediate recognition for helping, can track their impact through points, and redeem those points for rewards they actually want.
The Psychology Behind the System
Immediate Recognition
Every contribution earns points instantly, providing immediate positive feedback. This "micro-reward" system maintains engagement between larger outcomes.
Visible Progress
Points create a clear progression system where teammates can see their impact accumulate over time. The leaderboard adds friendly competition and social recognition.
Meaningful Rewards
Unlike generic gift cards or company swag, perks are chosen specifically for what your team values—coffee credits, learning budgets, wellness programs, or team experiences and much more. You can setup custom perks or choose from a variety of templates.
Outcome-Focused Incentives
The point structure rewards results over activity, aligning individual motivation with business outcomes.
How the Points System Works
Point Categories
Participation Points (5-15 points)
- Reward the effort of contributing
- Ensure everyone gets recognition for trying
- Lower point values encourage outcome focus
Outcome Points (30-200 points)
- Reward measurable business results
- Much higher values than participation
- Tied to specific, verifiable outcomes
Typical Point Scales by Function
Sales Assists: ``` Warm Intro Assist: • +5 points: Introduction sent • +40 points: Qualified response received • +80 points: Meeting booked with decision-maker
```
Marketing Assists: ``` Post Share Assist: • +5 points: Post shared on social media • +20 points: 10 links clickd
Content Creation Assist: • +10 points: Content idea submitted • +30 points: Content approved and published • +50 points: High engagement (100+ reactions) ```
HR Assists: ``` Talent Referral Assist: • +10 points: Candidate referred • +60 points: Candidate passes initial screening • +150 points: Candidate hired
Point Balance and Tracking
- Real-time updates: Points appear immediately after approval
- Running balance: Always visible in dashboard header
- Transaction history: Detailed log of all points earned and spent
- Category breakdown: See points by Sales, Marketing, HR contributions
The Perks System
Perks convert points into tangible rewards that motivate continued participation. The key is offering variety and genuine value.
Perk Categories
Daily Lifestyle (50-100 points)
- Coffee Wallet: $25 credit for coffee shops
- Lunch Credit: $30 for local restaurants
- Commute Credit: $20 for rideshare or transit
- Snack Box: Premium snacks delivered to office
Wellness & Health (75-150 points)
- Wellness Credit: $50 for gym, massage, or health apps
- Meditation Subscription: 3-month mindfulness app access
- Fitness Class Pass: Credits for yoga, pilates, or fitness classes
- Ergonomic Upgrade: Standing desk converter or ergonomic accessories
Professional Development (100-300 points)
- Learning Credit: $100 for courses, books, or conferences
- Conference Ticket: Registration for industry events
- Certification Exam: Payment for professional certifications
- Skill Course: Access to premium online learning platforms
Team & Social (150-400 points)
- Team Dinner: Group meal at nice restaurant
- Happy Hour Credit: Team drinks and appetizers
- Team Activity: Bowling, escape room, or other group experience
- Company Swag: Premium branded items (not generic promotional products)
High-Value Rewards (300-800 points)
- Extra PTO Day: Additional vacation day
- Home Office Upgrade: Premium equipment or furniture
- Travel Credit: $200 toward personal travel
- Experience Gift: Concert tickets, sporting events, unique experiences
Perk Delivery Methods
Receipt Upload (Default mMdthod, Reimbursement)
- Best for: Coffee, meals, wellness, learning credits
- How it works: Employee pays first, uploads receipt, gets reimbursed
- Benefits: Flexible spending, easy administration
- Features: OCR receipt scanning, automatic expense categorization
Teamwins automatically forwards receipts to your fiancne depatment with extracted purchase date, VAT, currency, price etc.
Link-Based (Instant)
- Best for: Gift cards, subscriptions, digital products
- How it works: Teammember receives unique redemption URL
- Benefits: Immediate gratification, zero admin overhead
- Features: Unique codes, expiration tracking, inventory management
You can get these links from various online providers.
CSV Upload (Pre-Purchased)
- Best for: Bulk gift cards, voucher codes, partner perks
- How it works: Admin uploads list of codes, distributed automatically
- Benefits: Volume discounts, partner integrations
- Features: Automatic distribution, inventory tracking, usage analytics
You can get these links from various online providers.
Perk Configuration Best Practices
Point Pricing Strategy:
- Align with effort: Higher effort contributions should afford better perks
- Market research: Ensure point-to-dollar ratios feel fair
- Consistent scaling: Similar value perks should cost similar points
Availability Management:
- Popular perks: Set higher inventory or make unlimited
- Expensive perks: Limit availability to control costs
- Seasonal perks: Time-limited offers create urgency
Auto-Approval Settings:
- Low-risk perks: Enable auto-approval for instant gratification
- High-value perks: Require manual approval for cost control
- Receipt perks: Consider auto-approval up to certain amounts
Advanced Point Strategies
Bonus Point Events
Launch Campaigns: Double points for new Assist types Quarterly Pushes: Bonus points during busy seasons (hiring, sales quarters) Team Challenges: Group goals with collective bonus rewards
Recognition Beyond Points
Leaderboard Features: Monthly winners, category leaders, improvement awards Public Recognition: Slack announcements, team meeting shoutouts
Setting Up Your Points & Perks System
Phase 1: Foundation (Week 1)
1. Choose point scales based on typical business outcomes 2. Select 2-5 starter perks across different categories and price points 3. Configure delivery methods (start with receipt upload for simplicity) 4. Set auto-approval policies (conservative at first)
Phase 2: Optimization (Month 1)
1. Monitor redemption patterns to identify popular perks 2. Adjust point values based on actual participation and outcomes 3. Add new perks based on team feedback and requests 4. Refine approval processes to reduce admin overhead
Phase 3: Scale (Month 2+)
1. Introduce bonus events and multipliers for special campaigns 2. Partner integrations with benefits providers or local businesses 3. Advanced analytics to optimize point-to-outcome ratios 4. Team-specific perks tailored to different departments
Measuring Success
Business Impact Metrics
- Outcome conversion: Points earned from results vs. participation
- Cost per outcome: Total perk cost divided by business outcomes achieved
- ROI calculation: Business value generated vs. total program cost
- Participation sustainability: Consistent engagement over time
Satisfaction Metrics
- Perk ratings: Team feedback on reward desirability
- Program NPS: Would teammates recommend the system?
- Retention impact: Does the program improve overall job satisfaction?
Integration with Benefits Platforms
Many companies already have employee benefits platforms (Benify, Edenred, etc.). TeamWins can integrate with these systems:
Link Integration: Connect TeamWins perks to your existing benefits portal CSV Upload: Bulk import voucher codes from your benefits provider API Integration: Direct connection for seamless redemption experience
See the Integrating with HR & Benefits Platforms guide for detailed setup instructions.
Success Story: SaaS Company Results
Company: 85-person B2B SaaS company Program Duration: 6 months Focus: Sales introductions and talent referrals
Point Structure:
- Warm intro sent: +5 points
- Qualified meeting: +50 points
- Deal closed: +200 points
- Candidate referred: +10 points
- Candidate hired: +300 points
Popular Perks:
- Coffee wallet ($25): 75 points
- Team lunch ($40): 120 points
- Learning credit ($100): 250 points
- Extra PTO day: 500 points
Results:
- 47 warm introductions leading to 12 qualified meetings
- 8 candidate referrals resulting in 3 hires
- $180K in new pipeline from employee introductions
- $45K saved in recruiting fees from referral hires
- 94% team participation rate over 6 months
- $8,200 total perk cost for $225K in business value
Key Success Factors:
- Points heavily weighted toward business outcomes
- Perks chosen based on employee survey preferences
- Monthly celebration of top contributors
- Regular adjustment of point values based on results
The points and perks system works because it makes the invisible visible—transforming goodwill into measurable contributions and rewarding those contributions with genuine value.
