Tangible Rewards definition

Tangible rewards are financial rewards or non-financial rewards that can easily be assigned a financial value e.g. gym memberships. Tangible rewards differ from intangible rewards, such as public recognition or inclusion on a new training course, which cannot be easily assigned a financial value. Good managers provide a mix of tangible and intangible rewards to employees; research suggests that both are necessary for long-term happiness and productivity in the workplace.

A common criticism of tangible rewards is that they’re short-term motivators i.e. people come to expect them. As they receive more and more, the effect they have is reduced, essentially reducing the company’s ROI from the reward.