Appreci8 Recognition Program Relaunch

Transforming recognition from a one-off moment into a global movement of appreciation.

🎯 15.5K+ recognition moments | 💬 3.8K awards | 📊 +2.5 engagement score | 🌍 100% global participation

Relaunching Appreci8 with Reward Gateway | Edenred

🔍 The Challenge: Recognition Wasn't Reaching Its Potential

Recognition had always been part of the culture at Reward Gateway | Edenred, but by early 2024, it was falling short.

Across different teams and regions, appreciation was inconsistent. Employees wanted to feel seen and valued, but the existing program was underused and disconnected from the company’s business priorities. Managers weren’t sure how to recognize effectively, and the tools available weren’t sparking meaningful moments.

At the same time, leaders were asking a big question:
How can we make appreciation a true driver of engagement, morale, and retention—at scale?

📌 Why It Was Time to Relaunch

Appreci8 wasn’t just getting a facelift. It was becoming something bigger.

With a refreshed EVP and an upcoming Thank You Festival, we had a unique opportunity to reignite appreciation in a way that would reach every corner of our business. I led the global redesign and relaunch of Appreci8 as part of our engagement strategy—anchored in purpose, built for scale, and designed to stick.

A side-by-side comparison of our relaunched appreciation program.

Where we are now with our new and improved program

🛠️ My Role: Strategy, Storytelling, and Global Activation

As the program lead and internal comms strategist, I partnered across the People Team, leadership, and our people experience communities to bring the new Appreci8 to life. We focused on building a recognition experience that was easy, inclusive, and aligned with what mattered most.

Here’s how we made it happen:

• Repositioned the program to reflect our business goals and global values

• Introduced the AVI Framework (Action, Value, Impact) to shape meaningful messages

• Launched new features, including:

  • Strategic Goal eCards aligned to quarterly priorities

  • Tiered manager-initiated monetary awards with greater flexibility

  • Themed eCards tied to wellbeing, DEIB, and culture moments

• Built executive sponsorship through:

  • A company-wide launch during Thank You Festival

  • “Recognition Roadshows” and virtual events

  • Guest speaker session with Olympic medalist Kate Richardson-Walsh

  • Local celebrations, peer-to-peer challenges, and global toolkits

• Rolled out a multichannel comms plan using boom!, SmartHub, Teams, and social media:

  • Story-led content and how-to guides

  • Recognition inspiration from real employee moments

  • Shareable assets for champions and managers

💥 The Results: Recognition That Resonates

The impact was immediate—and lasting.

• 🚀 15,530+ recognition moments were shared in 2024

• 💸 3,814 monetary awards distributed

• 📈 27% increase in manager budgets and 117% increase in employee budgets

• 🌍 100% participation across all regions and business units

• 📊 78.7 global engagement score, up 2.5 points year-over-year

❤️ Why It Matters

This wasn’t just about launching a new tool. It was about creating a shared language of appreciation across our global company.

When recognition becomes a daily habit—rooted in values, driven by purpose—it becomes more than a feel-good moment. It becomes culture.

And that kind of culture? It fuels connection, engagement, and performance.