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Dear Bosses: Here Are 20 Rewards That Employees Actually Want

Updated 6/19/2020
Dear Bosses: Here Are 20 Rewards That Employees Actually Want
As Jessie J famously said, "It's not about the money, money, money."

In current workplace culture, there’s an obsession with companies (both big and small) throwing in perks to entice employees. And while ping-pong tables and free lunch Fridays can be great, they’re expensive, and they’re often just temporary fixes to keeping employees engaged and excited. Better rewards are those that are a bit more permanent and longer lasting (because, hey, that free Chipotle will go quickly).

What do employees really want? Very simply, recognition. Here’s how bosses can recognize people for stellar work without spending a cent.


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Lily Herman is a New York-based writer and editor. In recent months, her work has been featured in Teen Vogue, Glamour, Refinery29, Cosmopolitan, TIME, Newsweek, Fast Company, and Mashable. You can check out her website, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
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