Rewards FAQ

Rewards can be used anywhere you want to recognize employees or drive engagement: Shout-Out Recognition, birthdays, anniversaries, milestones, surveys, referrals, Employee of the Month, and more.

Employees earn points and accrue points towards a Redemption Balance. Admins configure branding, budgets, rules, and the rewards catalog. Redemptions are delivered instantly via a mobile-friendly experience.

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For Managers & Admins

What can I configure?

• Branding (Reward Currency): Name your currency (e.g., “Acme Awards,” “High Fives”) and upload a custom image or logo.
• Programs & Rules: Configure shout-outs (fixed or variable points), automate birthdays/anniversaries/milestones, give rewards for new hire and engagement survey completion.
• Budgets & Forecasting: See projected annual spend based on your rules and allocations.
• Catalog Control: Turn specific gift cards/charities on or off

Can different roles have different monthly balances?

Yes. For example, managers can receive more points to give each month than team members. Additionally, you can also choose fixed recognition amounts (e.g., every shout-out = 25 points) or allow variable ranges (e.g., 0–100 points).

How do fixed vs. variable shout-out amounts work?

• Fixed: Every shout-out is a set number of points (simple and predictable).
• Variable: Managers choose a value within a range (adds flexibility while staying within guardrails).

Can we automate non-shout-out rewards?

Yes. Configure automated awards for birthday (e.g. 500 points each birthday) or work anniversaries (e.g. 250 points at 1 year, 500 points at 2 years, etc) or for survey completion (e.g. 250 points for a new hire survey and 1,000 points for an engagement survey)

How does the catalog stay current?

We partner with Tremendous, which manages retailer and charity integrations so your catalog is always up to date.

How do budget forecasts work?

As you adjust roles, point amounts, and automated programs, the forecast updates to estimate annual spend—helping you plan and control costs before launch.

Can we restrict/curate the catalog?

Absolutely. Enable/disable brands with a click (e.g. hide competitors, spotlight companies aligned with your values).

How will the Tremendous relationship work?

As part of the onboarding process, you will set up an account in Tremendous and fund your account (see walkthrough tutorial).  Day-to-day you won’t need to access Tremendous, mainly just when you want to update your funding.

How does funding work?

Tremendous offers three ways to fund your account: credit card (instant, but carries a 3% processing fee), bank account/ACH (no fee, funds available next business day), or invoice (Tremendous sends you an invoice, and once payment is received via ACH or wire, funds are added to your balance). All three methods are forms of prefunding, meaning your balance must be loaded before employees can redeem rewards. The good news: goHappy only debits from your Tremendous balance when employees actually redeem their points, not when points are awarded. So your money stays in your account until someone cashes in. And if you ever cancel, Tremendous returns any remaining balance.

What is auto-replenish?

To keep your program running smoothly, goHappy offers an auto-replenish feature. Admins can set a threshold and top-up amount so that when your Tremendous balance drops below a certain level, it's automatically refunded. This means you don't need to load a large amount upfront. Instead, you can start with a smaller balance and let auto-replenish keep it topped off as employees redeem, keeping your cash outlay low while ensuring your program never runs dry.

Can we be billed in arrears (pay after the fact)?

Tremendous's standard model requires prefunding. However, they do offer exceptions for billing in arrears or NET terms on an account-by-account basis. If this is important to your organization, let your goHappy contact know and we can work with Tremendous to explore options before finalizing your setup.

Why Tremendous?

We wanted to partner with a provider who had a large catalog of options that aligned with frontline workers and provided a seamless experience.

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For Employees

How will I know I received points?

You’ll get a text message when you’re recognized and can access your point balance within The Hub at any time from anywhere.

What are the two balances I see?

• Give Balance – the points you can give to others (resets monthly).
• Redeem Balance – the points you’ve received and can spend (accrues over time).

How do employees redeem points?

Employees will receive a text that they were awarded points. A link to your company hub will be included in the message.  Click the link to open the employee experience on your mobile browser.

If you haven't visited the site before or it's been a while you will need to verify your phone number in order to confirm you are an active employee.  First, enter your phone number, then wait for the verification code via text and enter it.  If the text does not come through after a few minutes, you can select the option to have a phone call deliver the verification code.

From your rewards hub, tap Redeem Points to open the rewards store. Browse 300+ options, including digital gift cards, charitable donations, and bank deposits. Choose a brand, enter the amount, confirm, and you’ll receive a text with your digital card instantly.

Is this mobile-friendly? Do I need an app?

The experience is mobile-first and works from the link you receive by text, so you can redeem anytime, anywhere from your phone without any app.

How much are my points worth?

100 points = $1.00.  You control how many points each of your employees receives each month.

Can I save points for a larger reward?

Yes. Your Redeem Balance accrues over time. You can redeem whenever you like.

What if I don’t see a brand I want?

Your company chooses which options are available. If something’s missing, check with your manager or HR.

What redemption options are available?

Digital gift cards, charitable donations, and bank deposits. Options may vary based on your employer’s catalog selections.

How quickly do employees receive rewards?

Redemptions are delivered immediately via text with a link to the digital card.

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Troubleshooting

I redeemed but didn’t get my card. What should I do?

Confirm your mobile number and check for the text link. If it’s still missing, contact your program admin or HR for assistance.

My Give Balance didn’t reset.

Give Balances reset monthly based on your program rules. If yours didn’t update, reach out to your admin.

A brand is missing from the catalog.

Your admin controls catalog availability. Share the request with your manager/HR.

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Tax Considerations

The information contained herein is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice, legal advice, or any other professional advice. goHappy makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or currentness of this information.

These FAQs are not intended to be, and should not be relied upon as, a substitute for consultation with a qualified tax professional. Tax laws and regulations are complex, subject to change, and vary based on individual circumstances. The application of tax laws to any specific situation depends on facts and circumstances that are unique to each taxpayer.

Nothing herein creates an attorney-client relationship, accountant-client relationship, or any other professional relationship between goHappy and any reader. goHappy expressly disclaims any liability arising from reliance on the information contained herein.

You should consult a qualified tax advisor or other appropriate professional before making any decisions based on tax-related matters.

Are rewards taxable?

In most cases, yes. The IRS generally treats cash and cash-equivalent rewards (gift cards, prepaid cards, bank deposits) as taxable supplemental income, regardless of the dollar amount. This applies whether rewards are given for recognition, milestones, survey completion, or any other reason.

Generally, points themselves are not taxed when awarded. Tax implications typically arise at the point of redemption, when an employee converts points into a gift card, bank deposit, or other cash-equivalent reward.

What about de minimis (small value) exceptions?

The IRS does allow a narrow exception for "de minimis fringe benefits," which are small, infrequent, non-cash perks where the administrative cost of tracking would be unreasonable (think: a birthday cake or a holiday turkey). However, gift cards and cash equivalents do not qualify for this exception, even at low dollar amounts. Because goHappy Rewards redemptions are cash-equivalent by nature, most organizations treat all redemptions as taxable.

What does goHappy provide to help?

goHappy provides a downloadable Redemption Report that includes all employee redemptions and their dollar values. Most organizations share this report with their payroll team on a regular basis (monthly or per pay period) to ensure rewards are properly included in wages for tax reporting purposes (W-2s, etc.).

What is our organization responsible for?

Your organization is responsible for determining how rewards should be treated for tax and payroll purposes based on your specific program design, policies, and jurisdiction. Common decisions include whether to "gross up" rewards (covering the tax cost so employees receive the full value) and how to report redemptions on employee pay statements.

We strongly recommend consulting with your payroll team or a qualified tax advisor to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Important: goHappy is not a tax or legal advisory service, and this content should not be considered tax advice or relied upon in any manner.

Will employees owe taxes on rewards?

In many cases, yes. The IRS generally treats gift cards, bank deposits, and other cash-equivalent rewards as taxable income. If your employer includes reward redemptions in your wages, you may see the amount reflected on your paystub or year-end tax forms (W-2). If you have questions about how rewards affect your personal taxes, contact your HR/payroll team or a tax professional.

Important: goHappy is not a tax or legal advisory service, and this content should not be considered tax advice or relied upon in any manner. You should consult a qualified tax advisor or other appropriate professional before making any decisions based on tax-related matters.

What can employees redeem their points for?

Grocery and Supermarkets (16) 1-800-PetSupplies, Albertson's/Safeway US, Albertsons - Alcohol/Tobacco Prohibited, Chewy®, Giant Eagle US, Harris Teeter, Harvey's Supermarkets USA, Hello Fresh, Instacart, Kroger US, Petco US, PetSmart, Publix, Walmart, Walmart – Alcohol/Tobacco/Firearms Prohibited, Winn Dixie USA

Home and Living (20) 1800Flowers US, Ace Hardware, Bath & Body Works, Bed Bath & Beyond, Burlington, CB2, Cost Plus World Market US, Crate & Barrel, Home Chef, HomeGoods, IKEA, Lowe's, Michaels, Pottery Barn, The Home Depot, Tractor Supply, Wayfair, West Elm, Williams-Sonoma, Yankee Candle®

Fashion (35) Abercrombie & Fitch, adidas US, Aerie - US, Aeropostale, Allbirds, American Eagle US, ASOS, Baby Gap, babyGap, Banana Republic, Carter's - US, Columbia Sportswear, DSW Everyday, Famous Footwear US, Gandy Dancer US, Gap US, H&M, Harley-Davidson™, Kendra Scott, Land's End - US, Lululemon, Lulus.com, Nautica - US, Nike, Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack US, Old Navy US, Ray Ban US, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sunglass Hut, The Children's Place US, Under Armour® US, Victoria's Secret, Victoria's Secret PINK, Zappos

Sports and Outdoor Gear (17) Academy Sports & Outdoors US, Athleta, Bass Pro Shops US, Cabela's®, Callaway Golf - US, Dick's Sporting Goods - US, Fanatics, Finish Line, Foot Locker US, Go Play Golf by Fairway Rewards US, Hibbett Sports US, L.L.Bean, NFL Shop, PGA TOUR USA, REI, Sierra, Sportsmans Warehouse US

Mobility and Fuel (11) Advance Auto Parts, Chevron and Texaco US, Conoco, Jiffy Lube®, Lyft US, Phillips 66 - Conoco - 76, Pilot Flying J, Sheetz US, Shell, Turo US, Uber

Travel and Hospitality (14) Airbnb, Amtrak, Carnival Cruise Line, Dave & Buster's, Delta Air Lines, Four Seasons, Global Experiences Card US, Global Hotel Card US, Hotels.com US, Outdoorsy, Southwest Airlines, Tripgift - AirlineGift, TripGift US, Virgin Experience

Charity (50) Alzheimer's Association, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Animal Shelter Crisis Aid, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Black Emotional and Mental Health Collection, Black Girls Code, Black Health Matters, Black Trans Advocacy Coalition, Black Women's Health Alliance, Campaign Zero, Canine Companions for Independence, Children International, Clean Water Fund, Direct Relief, Doctors without Borders, Dreams & Ducats, Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, Equal Justice Initiative, Everytown for Gun Safety, First Nations Development Institution, Folds of Honor Foundation, Girls who Code, Grameen Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, International Rescue Committee, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Loveland Foundation, March of Dimes, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Association For The Advancement of Colored People, National Organization for Rare Disorders, Red Tab Foundation, Save the Children, Southern Poverty Law Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, The Bail Project, The Skin Cancer Foundation, The Trevor Project, Tides Foundation, Trinity Educational Community Center, United Help Ukraine, VHL Alliance, World Wildlife Fund

General Merchandise (18) Amazon.com, Babylist, Belk, Bloomingdale's, Charity on Top US, eBay, Etsy, Groupon US, JCPenney, Kohl's, Macy's, Marshalls, Meijer USA, Sam's Club, Shutterfly US, Staples, T.J.Maxx, Target

Entertainment (36) AMC Theatres, Aquarium US, Barnes & Noble, Disney, EA Play, Fandango US, FreeFire USD, GameStop, Google Play, Hulu, Kemah Boardwalk US, League of Legends, Lego, Meta Quest Digital Gift Card, Mobile Legends Global 11 Diamonds, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Nexon Game Card, Nintendo eShop US, Paramount+ - US, PlayStation™Store (Dual Brand), PUBG New State - 300 NC, PUBG New State - 1500 NC + 80 Bonus, PUBG New State - 3600NC + 250 Bonus, PUBG New State - 9300NC + 930 Bonus, PUBG New State - 30,000NC + 5,000 Bonus, Razer Gold USD, Regal Cinemas US, Roblox, SiriusXM US, StubHub, Topgolf, Twitch, VALORANT, Vudu, Xbox, Xsolla

Electronics (3) Apple, Best Buy USA, Crutchfield

Food and Drink (92) Applebee's, Babin's Seafood House US, Bahama Breeze, Baja Fresh US, Baskin Robbins US, Bertucci's - US, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - US, Blaze Pizza - US, Bloomin Brands, Bob Evans Restaurants® US, Bonefish Grill US, Brenner's Steakhouse US, Bubba Gump Restaurant, Buffalo Wild Wings USA, Burger King, California Pizza Kitchen, Chart House Restaurant, Cheddars Scratch Kitchen, Chili's, Chipotle, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Cold Stone Creamery, Cracker Barrel, Darden Restaurants, Domino's, DoorDash, Dunkin' US, El Pollo Loco, Embers Restaurant US, Factor US, Famous Dave's® US, Five Guys US, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs, Grand Concourse US, Grotto US, GrubHub US, Hard Rock Cafe, Harry & David, IHOP, Jamba, Jersey Mike's - US, Joe's Crab Shack, KFC, Krispy Kreme, Landry's Restaurants, Landry's Seafood House, Longhorn Steakhouse, Maggiano's Little Italy US, McAlister's Deli US, McCormick & Schmick's, Moe's Southwest Grill, Morton's The Steakhouse, O'Charley's - US, Ole & Steen, Olive Garden®, Omaha Steaks US, Outback Steakhouse, P.F. Chang's, Panda Express, Panera Bread, Papa John's, Paul Martin's American Grill US, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Peohe's US, Puckett's Grocery US, Qdoba, Quizno's US, Rainforest Cafe Restaurant, Red Lobster, Red Robin, Ruby Tuesday US, Rusty Pelican US, Ruth's Chris Steak House US, Saltgrass Steak House Restaurant, Schlotzky's US, Shake Shack USA, Shoney's US, Sonic USA, Starbucks US, Steak 'n Shake US, Subway®, sweetFrog® US, Taco Bell, Texas Roadhouse, TGI Fridays, The Cheesecake Factory, The Oceanaire Restaurant, Uber Eats, Wawa, Willie G's US, Zaxby's

Beauty and Health (8) CVS Pharmacy, GNC, Oura Ring, Sephora, Spa & Wellness by Spa Week, The Vitamin Shoppe®, Ulta, Walgreens US

Cash/Transfer Options (9) Bank Transfer (4% employee fee), Cash App (4% employee fee), Instant Debit Transfer (4% employee fee), PayPal USA (4%employee fee), Venmo (4% employeefee), Physical Visa, Virtual Visa, Razer Gold US, WWF