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Purpose and the Workplace—how NXL gets it right

As you can imagine, with my role in Engagement Strategy here at Next Level, and as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF), I spend a lot of time thinking, reading, and talking about how organizations can make deeper connections with their employees, customers, and channel partners. After all, this engagement is proven to drive …

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9 ways to celebrate your employees year-round

The workforce is always evolving—and your recognition and retention efforts should evolve with it. In the past three years, not only did we navigate a global pandemic that made a hybrid work environment the norm, but we welcomed a younger generation of employees into the mix of Baby Boomers and Generation Xers that previously dominated the workforce. According to the …

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Susan Adams: Key Insights in IRR Market Report 2024

Susan Adams, Vice President, Engagement Strategy at Next Level Performance, provided key insights into the IRR Market Report 2024 published by the Rewards Recognition Network. In full, the article compiles the insights of executives from 14 companies about the incentives, rewards, and recognition market in 2024. Susan spoke on growth in the industry in a dispersed workforce, in times of …

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Is your program ready for today’s challenges?

Thoughts on the IRF 2024 Trends Report The last few years have certainly been a time of rapid change from the pandemic to the prevalence of remote work, from inflation to industry-specific layoffs at a time of overall low unemployment. It’s enough to make your head spin! And it’s certainly enough to merit taking a fresh a look at your …

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Customer Appreciation Day is coming up fast. Do you have an appreciation strategy?

According to Gallup, companies that provide an emotional connection with customers outperform the sales growth of their competitors by 85%. Not only can a customer-centric recognition strategy recognize and retain clients that keep your business going—they also have the power to create strong brand advocates to grow your business and meet goals. Easily automate customer recognition with a referral rewards program, …

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Integrating health & wellness into your recognition program

Can promoting employee wellness boost overall well-being? A 2019 study conducted by the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) pointed to a growing body of research demonstrating that promoting employee health and well-being can have a positive impact on company performance. The CDC also says that healthy employees not only have better quality of life,  they also benefit from having a lower …

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Recognition & Incentives: What You Need to Know for 2023

No doubt about it, 2022 was a tumultuous year for businesses everywhere. Many companies strategically increased investment in recognition and incentive programs to stabilize their workforces, and to re-connect after long months of COVID separation from colleagues and clients. It wasn’t always easy, though, as market forces and a re-starting economy created challenges never encountered before – Awards? Stuck on …

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People Seek Fulfillment, Not Perks

Employees seek fulfillment, opportunity, and recognition for their efforts, not perks. An environment in which people feel recognized, welcomed, and appreciated is key to maintaining a competitive, productive business.

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The Current State of Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is at its highest point in decades. However, the majority of employees in the US workforce remain disengaged. Keeping up with trends in employee engagement and developing well-designed employee recognition programs is key to business success.