21.3%
From 2013 to 2023, portfolios prioritizing employee engagement and development outperformed comparators, with an average return of 21.3%.
—Wall Street Journal
Our Solutions
Drive Performance with Meaningful Employee Recognition and Engagement
When people feel valued, performance follows.
Our employee recognition and rewards solutions help organizations improve engagement, reduce attrition, and reinforce the behaviors that drive real business results. By making recognition timely, visible, and meaningful, we help companies turn everyday moments into sustained motivation, deeper connection, and measurable performance gains.
Employee recognition works best when it’s part of how work gets done. That’s why our solutions embed appreciation into daily culture, so recognition doesn’t fade, it compounds.
For the last 50 years, Next Level Performance has helped organizations engage their employees and drive results with meaningful recognition and rewards solutions.
5x
Employees who strongly agree they receive valuable feedback from the people they work with are five times as likely to be engaged.
—Gallup
19.3%
Portfolios focused on companies scoring highly in employee sentiment and satisfaction with company culture and development opportunities had an average return of 19.3%.
—Wall Street Journal
Our Solutions
Employee engagement isn’t driven by rewards alone — it’s driven by how often people feel seen for the effort they contribute and the impact they make. Organizations that recognize employees consistently and meaningfully build stronger commitment, lower turnover, and higher performance across teams.
When recognition is woven into everyday culture through timely feedback, shared wins, and meaningful rewards, it becomes a powerful performance driver.
Effective employee recognition:
- Reinforces the behaviors that matter most
- Strengthens connection between employees, managers, and teams
- Improves engagement by making effort visible and valued
- Reduces attrition by creating a culture people want to stay part of
Applaudit®
Recognition Builds Momentum
Best for: Ongoing employee recognition embedded into daily work
Applaudit® is a comprehensive employee engagement and recognition platform designed for organizations that want recognition to be a natural part of how work gets done, instead of an occasional initiative.
With Applaudit, recognition happens in the moments that matter — when effort is shown, progress is made, and impact is felt.
Use Applaudit when your goal is to:
- Increase day‑to‑day engagement across teams
- Reinforce company values through visible, timely recognition
- Make great work easier to notice, celebrate, and repeat
- Create social, peer-to-peer connections
Great Rewards®
Instant Recognition with Immediate Impact
Best for: On‑the‑spot recognition when impact happens now
Great Rewards® is a turnkey incentive and rewards solution built for moments when recognition needs to happen immediately. It’s ideal for organizations that want to reinforce behavior in real time — without complexity or long setup cycles.
Recipients receive a reward they can choose for themselves, making recognition feel personal, relevant, and memorable. The interaction is quick, but the motivation lasts well beyond the moment.
Use Great Rewards when you need to:
- Recognize employees the moment impact happens
- Deliver fast, meaningful rewards people actually want
- Create surprise‑and‑delight moments that stick
Great Escapes®
Experiences Inspire Long Term Performance
Best for: High‑impact incentives that motivate top performance
Great Escapes® is a travel and experience‑based rewards solution designed to inspire lasting motivation through unforgettable moments. It’s built for organizations that want to reward exceptional performance with experiences people will remember long after the trip ends.
Recipients have the flexibility to design their own travel experience — choosing where to go, when to travel, and who to bring along on the adventure.
Use Great Escapes when you want to:
- Inspire top performers with aspirational rewards
- Drive long‑term motivation and loyalty
- Offer incentives that are truly meaningful and personal
Recognition Drives Real Results
Organizations that effectively recognize and reward their people unlock stronger commitment and sustained engagement. Top performing companies overwhelmingly agree that recognition programs are a powerful retention and performance motivator.
96%
of top performing companies offer employee reward and recognition programs — significantly more than lower-performing organizations.
—Incentive Research Foundation, 2025 Top Performer Study
40%
Employees who reported that their managers were great at recognizing them were more than 40% more engaged than those with managers who were not.
—Harvard Business Review, A Better Way to Recognize Your Employees
81%
81% of employees who are very satisfied said that their company fostered a culture of appreciation.
—Canva, Workplace Recognition Survey Results
9 Ways to Celebrate Your Employees Year-Round
The workforce is always evolving—and your recognition and retention efforts should evolve with it. And as younger generations enter the workforce, it’s crucial to find ways to motivate and engage this new audience. As we near Employee Appreciation…
Get to Know Us
Engagement & Recognition
Meaningful engagement starts with the people who bring it to life. From strategy to execution, our team brings the vision, care, and execution that makes every program feel personal and powerful.
Interested in exploring possibilities?
Let’s set up time to talk about a solution that fits your goals.
Jay Patel
Director of Technology Integrations
Jay is the technical lead for Applaudit, our employee engagement and recognition platform. With extensive experience across marketing software and solutions, architecture and development, UX and UI design, program alignment, and relationship management, Jay understands what your team needs to maximize engagement and how to provide the most effective solution. His goal is to equip your team with the tools they need to improve performance and drive tangible results.
Real Testimonials from Real Program Participants
Real Testimonials from Real Program Participants
Distributors
“My landscaping company runs the large majority of our material purchases through our supplier. Because of their rewards program, my husband and I were able to use our points to get an Airbnb gift card that supplemented our holiday vacation to Maui. As small business owners, this time to unplug and relax was a godsend.
“
Financial Services & Insurance
“I was able to buy my first pair of snowboarding boots and learn how to snowboard through my rewards purchase!
“
Wholesalers
“[Our] Rewards [program] has become the secret sauce for our annual Christmas party. We save points all year, then turn them into gifts so every employee goes home with something they love. The format changes to keep it fresh. Sometimes we run friendly competitions. Other years we do a white elephant style exchange, with every single gift provided by us through rewards. The best part is the energy in the room. People cheer for teammates, trade stories, and leave feeling appreciated. Using points this way stretches our budget, supports a great vendor relationship, and turns a simple year-end party into a memory our team talks about long after the holidays.”
“
Financial Services & Insurance
“The best reward I purchased was a few years ago — booked New Years Eve at Margaritaville in Gatlinburg, TN with my rewards for the year. Had an amazing time!!
“
Financial Services & Insurance
“This holiday season, the rewards program Applaudit turned my hectic plans into stress-free success. By earning points at work, I snagged a gift card for Amazon, perfect to purchase gifts for my friends and family!
The real magic? A week before my friend’s birthday, I used my points to purchase some shoes and surprise my him. His joy when he opened the gift had made it all worthwhile.
Thanks to Applaudit, I saved money, gave thoughtful gifts, and created unforgettable memories.
“
Distributors
“My landscaping company runs the large majority of our material purchases through our supplier. Because of their rewards program, my husband and I were able to use our points to get an Airbnb gift card that supplemented our holiday vacation to Maui. As small business owners, this time to unplug and relax was a godsend.
“
Financial Services & Insurance
“I was able to buy my first pair of snowboarding boots and learn how to snowboard through my rewards purchase!
“
Wholesalers
“[Our] Rewards [program] has become the secret sauce for our annual Christmas party. We save points all year, then turn them into gifts so every employee goes home with something they love. The format changes to keep it fresh. Sometimes we run friendly competitions. Other years we do a white elephant style exchange, with every single gift provided by us through rewards. The best part is the energy in the room. People cheer for teammates, trade stories, and leave feeling appreciated. Using points this way stretches our budget, supports a great vendor relationship, and turns a simple year-end party into a memory our team talks about long after the holidays.”
“
Financial Services & Insurance
“The best reward I purchased was a few years ago — booked New Years Eve at Margaritaville in Gatlinburg, TN with my rewards for the year. Had an amazing time!!
“
Financial Services & Insurance
“This holiday season, the rewards program Applaudit turned my hectic plans into stress-free success. By earning points at work, I snagged a gift card for Amazon, perfect to purchase gifts for my friends and family!
The real magic? A week before my friend’s birthday, I used my points to purchase some shoes and surprise my him. His joy when he opened the gift had made it all worthwhile.
Thanks to Applaudit, I saved money, gave thoughtful gifts, and created unforgettable memories.
“
Let’s Talk
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Employee recognition works best when it reflects what people truly value. Share your goals with us, and let’s design a recognition approach that feels personal, purposeful, and impactful.