I love that [Bonusly] runs itself. I love that it’s connected to our values. And, if I’m having a bad day, I will scroll through the Bonusly feed. It’s so rewarding to see staff members appreciating their peers.
The Hilton Foundation is one of the largest philanthropic family foundations in the United States, funding nonprofits that help people overcome poverty and disadvantage.
During the shift to remote work, the organization faced challenges in maintaining staff connection and morale and was looking for a better way to recognize and reward their team.
Challenges: staying connected during the chaos
When the pandemic hit, The Hilton Foundation had to adjust to a remote model while their HR teams juggled a piling workload. The team knew that keeping their employees engaged and connected was critical, and they were looking for ways to do this that would be immediately impactful but not a time burden.
The team specifically faced these issues:
- Maintaining employee connections: The sudden shift from in-office work to fully remote operations disrupted daily interactions, leaving staff disconnected.
- Admin burden of rewards management: It was time-consuming to manage their manual gifting system, adding to an already overwhelming workload during the pandemic.
- Fostering a values-based culture: In addition to implementing an automated recognition and rewards program it was important that the system brought the company values front and center.
Solution: implementing an effective and time-saving recognition program
Courtney Reed, Senior Manager of Systems and Compensation at the Hilton Foundation, shared how Bonusly became essential to their rewards and recognition strategy. Its ease of use and automation were key benefits that fit the foundation’s needs.
Here are the key Bonusly features and subsequent benefits:
- Automated and customized rewards system: Before Bonusly, the foundation gave away manual Visa gift cards which required cumbersome forms and in-person processes. With Bonusly, the automated rewards system runs itself, eliminating administrative burdens and freeing up time for the HR team. Best yet, staff members can redeem points for gift cards to a company cafe, one of the most popular rewards when team members are at the office.
- Values-driven recognition: Bonusly integrates the organization’s core values through custom hashtags, allowing staff to tie recognition to behaviors that reflect the foundation’s principles.
- Enhanced peer-to-peer recognition: Peer recognition flourishes through Bonusly, with employees taking the initiative to show appreciation for one another, further building camaraderie.
- Outstanding customer support: Courtney praised Bonusly’s customer service, noting that the support team is responsive, helpful, and friendly, standing out among other vendors she regularly works with.
Outcomes from Bonusly
Here are the main benefits the Hilton Foundation has experienced since implementing and becoming power users of Bonusly:
- Seamless program management: Bonusly automations have saved the HR team significant time, reducing the effort required to manage their strategic recognition program.
- Improved employee connections: Bonusly’s activity feed fosters interaction, helping employees stay connected no matter where they work.
- Increased morale: Access to meaningful recognition, especially through peer-to-peer appreciation, has improved morale across the organization.
- Stronger alignment: The use of hashtags to recognize value-driven behaviors strengthens the organization’s culture.
The Hilton Foundation’s experience with Bonusly highlights the power of automation and personalized recognition in building a connected, engaged workforce. By eliminating the burden of manual rewards processes and implementing peer recognition software, Bonusly helps the foundation maintain a positive work environment—even on the tough days. Bonusly's customization features further align the program with the organization’s culture, making it a seamless and impactful part of daily operations.
Courtney’s take:
“I love that [Bonusly] runs itself. I love that it’s connected to our values. And, if I’m having a bad day, I will scroll through the Bonusly feed. It’s so rewarding to see staff members appreciating their peers.”
