Pioneering Excellence

Madison is a global leader in employee recognition and incentives, pioneering digital programs since 1995. As an employee-owned company, we deliver recognition, events, and incentive travel solutions that strengthen culture and drive results.

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employee traveling
What Actually Drives a Successful Incentive Travel Program After 20 Years in the Field
Incentive travel has never been about the destination. That may sound surprising in an industry that...
employees working together
Sustainability Without Operational Discipline Is Just Messaging
Sustainability is now standard language in meetings and incentive travel. RFPs reference ESG commitments....
Lake Tahoe
Planning a Corporate Retreat in the U.S.? Here’s Why South Lake Tahoe Belongs on Your List
South Lake Tahoe isn’t your typical meeting destination. Nestled where California and Nevada meet, this...

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Knowledge Center

Knowledge Center

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Three Words Sum Up Non-Cash’s Utility

Businesses are always looking for an advantage. Often that comes in the way they utilize the various resources at their disposal to affect outcomes that are important to them. In just about any business model the most expensive (and most critical) business resource is compensation. It can account for a…

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Taking “Fake News” Out of the Workplace

“Fake news” has been all over the “real news” lately. Some people are deliberately publishing hoaxes or circulating conspiracy theories (and other forms of disinformation) to advance their agendas. Fake news has damaging consequences. It can erode perceptions of reality. A constant stream of it can challenge the truth and/or…

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The Difference Between Positive and Negative Stress

It’s already mid-January. The holiday hiatus has given way to a frenetic pace again, hasn’t it? Heavy workloads, long hours and an “always on” mentality are back in vogue. Take a look around you. Some people are falling right back into the swing of things, aren’t they? They seem to…

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Don’t Ask Alexa, Ask Us

Who is Alexa? Or should I ask, what is she? Alexa is the digital assistant inside Amazon’s new voice activated smart speaker called the Echo system. You can ask it to do a lot of different things such as play music, update you on the news, tell you about the…

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What Holiday Returns Teach Us About Reward Offerings

Now that the holiday gift giving frenzy is over, only one tradition remains… the returns! Go to any mall and you will see long lines of people looking to exchange the gifts they got for the stuff that they really wanted. What does the holiday returns process teach us about…

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The Lesson From a Bagel Shop

There it was in plain sight, right next to the list of cream cheese flavors. A simple sign printed in big block letters. “LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND… NOT TO RESPOND” What the heck is that doing in a bagel shop I wondered? So I asked. “It’s an excerpt from The 7…

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Are You Naughty or Nice? (As a Boss That Is)

The quality of bosses (and the impact they have on their employees) is the biggest influence on organizational performance. Lousy bosses create confusion and stress; they contribute to higher turnover and lower productivity. When employees leave a company they often cite poor relationships with their superiors. On the other hand…

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Don’t Commit “Recognition Malpractice”

I was summoned to jury duty the other day. Or should I say I was called to sit in a room for 8 hours waiting to be called. No cases came up and we were eventually dismissed. It got me wondering though, what would happen if you put your recognition…

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Is it Better to Give Than to Receive?

“It is better to give than to receive.” That age old axiom tells us that generosity has its own rewards — especially around the Holidays — and that people on the giving side experience just as much (if not more) satisfaction than those on the receiving end. In the context…

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Imagine What the “Mannequin Challenge” Might Show You

Have you heard of the Mannequin Challenge? I’m sure you have. In some chosen setting people freeze in place for a few minutes while someone else shoots a video that records the scene. The results can be a lot of fun. And, I suppose, they can also be pretty revealing…

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Ask Madison: Milestones At Work – What Should We Celebrate?
A plaque on the office wall may be outdated in an increasingly remote work-world. Rarely do we see 10-year and 15-year work anniversaries, given a recent average tenure of current employers at only 4.1 years in 2020. Particularly with remote work increasing, celebrations can be confusing and challenging. How do...
Ask Madison: What Do Employees Really Want?
Salary aside, here are 4 expectations that top the list of what employees want at work. To reaffirm the value of their teams, and to attract new members, one of the most important things an organization can do is listen . One study suggests that 4 out of 5 employees...
Reimagining Rewards and Recognition
In a tight talent market, a robust recognition program can deliver tangible benefits to mid-market companies. The COVID-19 pandemic has driven massive shifts in the workplace and accelerated new ways of working. Today's mid-market companies are coping with a slew of challenges, from retaining employees in "The Great Resignation" to...
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