We regularly survey employees who've received RewardsCards through their companies. Not HR teams — the actual recipients. Here's what comes back, consistently, across markets.

1. "I got to choose."

The single most common thing employees say. Not what they spent it on — but that they got to decide. Autonomy in rewards creates a fundamentally different feeling than receiving a fixed gift.

2. "It felt personal, even though it wasn't handpicked."

The choice architecture does something interesting: because the employee selects their own reward, it feels curated to them. The company gets credit for personalisation without having to do personalisation.

3. "The brands were actually relevant to me."

Nigerian employees see MTN, Jumia, The Spa. Kenyan employees see Safaricom, Glovo, Naivas. The catalogue is localised, not imported.

4. "I used it for something I wouldn't have bought myself."

This is the magic of a reward card. Employees treat the balance as permission to spend on something slightly indulgent — a dinner out, a spa afternoon, a new pair of trainers. Cash would have paid a bill.

5. "The notification made it feel like an event."

A message saying "You've received a RewardsCard from [Company]" lands differently than a payroll line item. It's a moment, not a transaction.

6. "I told my colleagues about it."

One of the strongest signals in our data: RewardsCard recipients talk about what they spent it on. Cash recipients almost never discuss their bonuses. Word-of-mouth recognition amplification is real.

7. "It worked immediately."

No waiting. No activation form. No branch visit. Employees use the card the same day they receive it.

8. "It covered something that mattered to my family."

Airtime for mum. Groceries from Shoprite. The school supply run. When employees use a reward card for household essentials, the appreciation extends beyond themselves.

9. "The company saw me this week."

Especially for milestone rewards — work anniversaries, project completions — the timing of a RewardsCard sends a signal that someone is paying attention. That's irreplaceable.

10. "I'm looking forward to the next one."

Anticipation is underrated in reward design. When employees know the format of recognition they'll receive, and they've had a good experience with it before, the next send already has value before it arrives.