Gen Z effect: Companies gamify employee rewards – Times of India

BENGALURU: India Inc is reassessing its approach to employee rewards and recognition as Gen Z enters the workforce. Companies are shifting from the conventional practice of presenting certificates to employees to digital rewards, such as badges, notes, and points, to provide instant gratification.
Epsilon India has introduced a ‘passport’ called ‘Citizen of Youniverse’ to cater to the younger generation’s desire for fun and social media engagement.The company’s HR head Sonali De Sarker said, “People, especially the younger lot, like to post everything on Instagram. The ‘passport’ will get stamped every time an employee takes part in any office gathering or event.”

Roche Information Solutions India MD Raja Jamalamadaka said, “We have an internal marketplace called Applause. Points can be redeemed to buy anything. It could be a pair of headphones or tickets.”
Merck India, Thryve Digital, and Allstate India have implemented leaderboards that allow colleagues to congratulate or thank each other, irrespective of seniority.
Thryve Digital president & CEO Balasubramanian Sankaranarayanan said, “Youngsters are particular about having a social quotient and emotional quotient. Such boards help in achieving this.”
Merck India offers awards in three categories: annual appreciation week, panel-based awards, and spot awards. Allstate India credits each employee with 100 points per month, which can be given to colleagues and redeemed in the firm’s internal marketplace.
Digital badges, which represent achievements or skill acquisition, are becoming increasingly popular among companies to recognise talent. These badges are designed to be shared on social media platforms, allowing employees to showcase their accomplishments.
Randstad Digital India MD Milind Shah said, “Gamification has emerged as an effective tool for employee engagement and motivation within the global capability centre ecosystem. Parallelly, peer recognition facilitates employees to acknowledge and reward each other’s contributions, cultivating a culture of mutual respect and stronger teams.”