--- title: Everything You Need to Know About Workplace Gamification description: Gamification works for almost anything, including team building, production, and even recruitment, and businesses are seeing some great results. image: https://blog.proliant.com/hubfs/-%203%20-%20Blog%20Images/Workplace%20Gamification.jpg --- [![Proliant - Print Logo - No Strokes](https://blog.proliant.com/hubfs/01%20-%20Website/Logos/Proliant%20-%20Print%20Logo%20-%20No%20Strokes.svg "Proliant - Print Logo - No Strokes")](https://www.proliant.com) [Request Meeting](https://www.proliant.com/request-meeting) ** ** **Payroll** **Talent** **Workforce Management** **Benefits** **Platform** **Integrations** **ProLiant Mobile** Your employees can stay connected. **Anytime, anywhere**. ![proliant-mobile-mockup-mega-menu](https://blog.proliant.com/hubfs/01%20-%20Website/4%20-%20Main%20Pages/Home/proliant-mobile-mockup-mega-menu.png "proliant-mobile-mockup-mega-menu") [![Proliant - Print Logo - No Strokes](https://blog.proliant.com/hubfs/01%20-%20Website/Logos/Proliant%20-%20Print%20Logo%20-%20No%20Strokes.svg "Proliant - Print Logo - No Strokes")](https://www.proliant.com) [Request Meeting](https://www.proliant.com/request-meeting) ** ** **Payroll** **Talent** **Workforce Management** **Benefits** **Platform** **Integrations** **ProLiant Mobile** Your employees can stay connected. **Anytime, anywhere**. ![proliant-mobile-mockup-mega-menu](https://blog.proliant.com/hubfs/01%20-%20Website/4%20-%20Main%20Pages/Home/proliant-mobile-mockup-mega-menu.png "proliant-mobile-mockup-mega-menu") Search **Menu** ** ** [Request Meeting](https://www.proliant.com/request-meeting) ![](https://blog.proliant.com/hubfs/-%203%20-%20Blog%20Images/Workplace%20Gamification.jpg) [Recruitment & Retention](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/recruitment-retention) | 4 min read # Everything You Need to Know About Workplace Gamification [![ProLiant](https://blog.proliant.com/hubfs/Logos/Color%20Proliant/P%20logo%20Glassdoor.jpg)](https://blog.proliant.com/author/proliant) Written by [ProLiant](https://blog.proliant.com/author/proliant) Apr 20, 2022 8:00:00 AM If you’ve been looking into boosting employee engagement in your workplace in the past few years, you have probably come across “gamification” in your search results. Workplace gamification is a new tool businesses are using to encourage employee productivity and promote job satisfaction. Gamification is being applied to almost anything, including team building, process development, production, employee onboarding, and even recruitment.  And people are seeing some pretty impressive results when adding gamification to their processes. According to [a survey by TalentLMS:](https://www.talentlms.com/blog/gamification-survey-results/) ## ![proliant-gamification-stat-callout-1-1](https://blog.proliant.com/hs-fs/hubfs/-%203%20-%20Blog%20Images/Call-Outs/proliant-gamification-stat-callout-1-1.jpg?width=1200&name=proliant-gamification-stat-callout-1-1.jpg)**What is gamification in the workplace?** [Gamification](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074756321630855X) refers to applying elements of game playing to various other activities. Gamification has been used as a [marketing technique](https://neverbounce.com/blog/gamification-marketing-examples) to encourage online audiences to take specific actions, and you have probably run into this quite a lot when shopping online or even in your inbox. In a similar way, gamification in the workplace encourages employees to take certain actions that increase engagement and productivity. Gamification helps employees engage in a number of ways, including:  - Learning new processes with progress badges  - Completing tasks through competition with others - Team building by working together to solve a puzzle ## **How does workplace gamification work? ** Gamification is based on psychology and taps into what people really want to get out of their work experiences in order to drive engagement and increase productivity. People are [driven to compete](https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnewman/2017/11/28/how-to-drive-employee-engagement-with-workplace-gamification/?sh=293676763cf0), improve, and outdo, especially when there is an instant reward. By implementing certain [game design elements](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074756321630855X) (points, badges, leaderboards, performance graphs, stories, avatars, teammates), employees are incentivized, in a way, to engage with their work or tasks.  According to an article from [*Computers in Human Behavior*](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074756321630855X), “enriching the environment” in the workplace with game elements changes the workplace environment and affects “motivational and psychological” experiences. Research suggests that gamification addresses things that people need from their experience at work:  - Everyone wants to feel competent at work.  - Offering autonomy (opportunities for decision-making) makes the work more meaningful.  - Social relatedness helps employees feel like they belong and encourages loyalty.  By addressing these basic needs, gamification increases workplace motivation, which improves engagement and productivity.  ## **How does workplace gamification benefit businesses? ** As of 2021, [70%](https://www.zippia.com/advice/gamification-statistics/#:~:text=70%25%20of%20global%202000%20companies%20use%20gamification%20in%20some%20way.&text=As%20of%20now%2C%20experts%20report,is%20uncommitted%20to%20their%20work.) of Global 2000 companies were using gamification in some way because it improves employee engagement, profitability, and productivity. Workplace gamification offers many benefits for employees that help boost these results, including:  - Immediate feedback - Clear goals - Recognition - Job satisfaction Studies show that engagement increases [60%](https://www.zippia.com/advice/gamification-statistics/#:~:text=70%25%20of%20global%202000%20companies%20use%20gamification%20in%20some%20way.&text=As%20of%20now%2C%20experts%20report,is%20uncommitted%20to%20their%20work.) with gamification, and companies that have more engaged employees see some significant results:![proliant-gamification-stat-bar-callout](https://blog.proliant.com/hs-fs/hubfs/-%203%20-%20Blog%20Images/Call-Outs/proliant-gamification-stat-bar-callout.jpg?width=1200&name=proliant-gamification-stat-bar-callout.jpg) ## **How do you implement gamification in the workplace? ** Google once used a [mysterious billboard game](https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/google-recruits-eggheads-with-mystery-billboard/) with a complex math problem in its recruitment efforts. [Cisco ](https://www.gamification.co/2014/02/05/cisco-drives-social-media-training-gamification/)has used gamification for social media training. You can use gamification for just about anything, but it works best when you are working with results that are easy to measure.  Here are steps you can take to implement gamification in your workplace:  1. Explain the benefits of gamification to employees. What is the purpose of the game you are putting in place? How will it promote corporate, team, or individual success? 2. Communicate the goals, tasks, or outputs for employees.  3. Establish criteria for good performance, win conditions, and other rules. 4. Provide rewards for progress or completion (badges, points, leaderboards, progress charts).  5. Give detailed feedback as goals are reached.  The most important thing is to be clear on all aspects of how you will be implementing gamification in your workplace. Companies have experienced some major failures trying to use gamification to motivate their employees because of a lack of clarity and consideration. ## **What gamification mistakes should companies avoid? ** Around [80%](https://www.zippia.com/advice/gamification-statistics/#:~:text=70%25%20of%20global%202000%20companies%20use%20gamification%20in%20some%20way.&text=As%20of%20now%2C%20experts%20report,is%20uncommitted%20to%20their%20work.) of workplace gamification efforts fail because of “poor planning and design and a lack of creativity and meaning.” For [example](https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/technology/pages/gamification-at-work-can-go-very-wrong.aspx), in 2008, Disneyland Resort Hotels in Anaheim, CA, started using an electronic leaderboard with red, yellow, and green lights to track the performance of their laundry staff. In the end, workers felt so much pressure to keep up that they skipped bathroom breaks, calling the game “the electronic whip.”  The problem was that the company didn’t design the game with the employees in mind. For a gamification solution to be successful, it has to provide a sense of purpose for employees, encourage growth, and take into account the unique attributes of each employee.  ## **Gamification in Your Workplace ** If you take into account the unique attributes, goals, and needs of your employees, you can create a gamification solution that will improve engagement for your business. The results can be pretty amazing, which is why gamification has become a staple for building strong company culture and increasing employee retention.  It can be challenging for management teams, owners, and other decision-makers to implement gamification when they are already juggling so many processes. However, if you have the right HR and payroll solutions in place, you can streamline your processes and use tools for gamification all in one place. Here are a few ways great HR and payroll solutions can help you implement gamification elements in your workplace. - Customizable learning management systems allow you to modify lessons to fit into your game plan.  - Streamlined processes for data management give teams more time for culture development and growth.  - Options for easy online employee management allow managers to give updates on progress, badges earned, or other gamification elements. [![proliant-gamification-worksheet-download-cta](https://blog.proliant.com/hs-fs/hubfs/-%203%20-%20Blog%20Images/Call-Outs/proliant-gamification-worksheet-download-cta.png?width=2448&name=proliant-gamification-worksheet-download-cta.png)](https://www.proliant.com/gamification-101-planning-implementing) Proliant makes it easy to update processes and implement new tools like gamification. If you’d like to learn more about Proliant’s robust HR and payroll solutions, check out our [solutions page](https://www.proliant.com/solutions). ### About ProLiant *ProLiant puts the human in human resources. We provide a fully integrated, cloud-based HCM solution that simplifies payroll and HR processes. The company serves small to large clients in multiple industries in all 50 states and is committed to providing the highest quality customer service in the industry.* ### Subscribe to Blog - [Recent](https://blog.proliant.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-workplace-gamification#recent) - [Topics](https://blog.proliant.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-workplace-gamification#topics) - [Archive](https://blog.proliant.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-workplace-gamification#archive) - [Applicant Tracking & Recruitment (15)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/applicant-tracking-recruitment) - [Automation & Workflows (5)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/automation-workflows) - [Benefits Administration (14)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/benefits-administration) - [Compliance (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/compliance) - [Earned Wage Access (12)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/earned-wage-access) - [Employee Onboarding (9)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/employee-onboarding) - [HR (32)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/hr) - [Industry News (11)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/industry-news) - [Integrations (5)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/integrations) - [Learning Management System (4)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/learning-management-system) - [Payroll (30)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/payroll) - [Performance Management (11)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/performance-management) - [Recruitment & Retention (12)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/recruitment-retention) - [Security (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/security) - [Tax Services (8)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/tax-services) - [Time & Labor Management (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/time-labor-management) - [Toast (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/toast) [More...](https://blog.proliant.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-workplace-gamification#) - [June 2026 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2026/06) - [April 2026 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2026/04) - [February 2026 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2026/02) - [December 2025 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2025/12) - [October 2025 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2025/10) - [July 2025 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2025/07) - [June 2025 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2025/06) - [May 2025 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2025/05) - [April 2025 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2025/04) - [March 2025 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2025/03) - [February 2025 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2025/02) - [January 2025 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2025/01) - [November 2024 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2024/11) - [October 2024 (4)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2024/10) - [September 2024 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2024/09) - [August 2024 (4)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2024/08) - [June 2024 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2024/06) - [May 2024 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2024/05) - [April 2024 (3)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2024/04) - [March 2024 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2024/03) - [February 2024 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2024/02) - [January 2024 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2024/01) - [December 2023 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2023/12) - [November 2023 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2023/11) - [October 2023 (8)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2023/10) - [September 2023 (5)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2023/09) - [August 2023 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2023/08) - [July 2023 (3)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2023/07) - [June 2023 (6)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2023/06) - [May 2023 (4)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2023/05) - [April 2023 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2023/04) - [March 2023 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2023/03) - [February 2023 (3)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2023/02) - [January 2023 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2023/01) - [December 2022 (3)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2022/12) - [November 2022 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2022/11) - [October 2022 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2022/10) - [September 2022 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2022/09) - [August 2022 (5)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2022/08) - [July 2022 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2022/07) - [June 2022 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2022/06) - [May 2022 (6)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2022/05) - [April 2022 (5)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2022/04) - [March 2022 (4)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2022/03) - [February 2022 (3)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2022/02) - [January 2022 (3)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2022/01) - [December 2021 (3)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2021/12) - [November 2021 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2021/11) - [October 2021 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2021/10) - [September 2021 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2021/09) - [August 2021 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2021/08) - [July 2021 (3)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2021/07) - [October 2020 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2020/10) - [September 2020 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2020/09) - [August 2020 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2020/08) - [June 2020 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2020/06) - [January 2020 (3)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2020/01) - [December 2019 (4)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2019/12) - [November 2019 (3)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2019/11) - [October 2019 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2019/10) - [September 2019 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2019/09) - [July 2019 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2019/07) - [June 2019 (4)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2019/06) - [May 2019 (11)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2019/05) - [April 2019 (3)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2019/04) - [January 2019 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2019/01) - [December 2018 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2018/12) - [November 2018 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2018/11) - [August 2018 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2018/08) - [February 2018 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2018/02) - [January 2018 (3)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2018/01) - [November 2017 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2017/11) - [October 2017 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2017/10) - [August 2017 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2017/08) - [May 2017 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2017/05) - [March 2017 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2017/03) - [January 2017 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2017/01) - [August 2016 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2016/08) - [April 2016 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2016/04) - [March 2016 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2016/03) - [February 2016 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2016/02) - [October 2015 (2)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2015/10) - [July 2015 (1)](https://blog.proliant.com/archive/2015/07) [More...](https://blog.proliant.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-workplace-gamification#) Previous Story [← Why You Should be Taking Advantage of WOTC in Your Business](https://blog.proliant.com/why-you-should-be-taking-advantage-of-wotc-in-your-business) [** ](https://blog.proliant.com/) Next Story [The History of Payroll and On-Demand Pay →](https://blog.proliant.com/history-of-payroll) ## You May Also Like These Stories on Recruitment & Retention [![](https://blog.proliant.com/hubfs/03%20-%20Blog%20Images/01%20-%20Proliant%20Blog/01%20-%20Feature%20Images/Transforming%20Workplace%20Culture-%20Hiring%20and%20Developing%20Soft%20Skills.jpg) ](https://blog.proliant.com/hiring-and-developing-soft-skills) [Recruitment & Retention](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/recruitment-retention) ### [Transforming Workplace Culture: Hiring and Developing Soft Skills](https://blog.proliant.com/hiring-and-developing-soft-skills) Jun 29, 2023 2:37:41 PM | 3 min read [![](https://blog.proliant.com/hubfs/03%20-%20Blog%20Images/01%20-%20Proliant%20Blog/01%20-%20Feature%20Images/Overcome%20the%20Massive%20Job%20Loss%20in%20the%20Senior%20Living%20Industry.jpg) ](https://blog.proliant.com/solving-caregiver-shortage) [Recruitment & Retention](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/recruitment-retention) ### [Four Strategies to Solve the Caregiver Shortage](https://blog.proliant.com/solving-caregiver-shortage) Jun 27, 2023 12:50:53 AM | 3 min read [![](https://blog.proliant.com/hubfs/03%20-%20Blog%20Images/01%20-%20Proliant%20Blog/01%20-%20Feature%20Images/Maximizing%20Hiring%20Efficiency-%20The%20Role%20of%20Background%20Checks%20and%20Reference%20Checks.jpg) ](https://blog.proliant.com/background-checks-reference-checks) [Recruitment & Retention](https://blog.proliant.com/topic/recruitment-retention) ### [Maximizing Hiring: The Role of Background Checks and Reference Checks](https://blog.proliant.com/background-checks-reference-checks) Jun 15, 2023 1:07:30 AM | 4 min read ** ### Subscribe by Email ## No Comments Yet Let us know what you think [![proliant-white-logo-no-strokes](https://blog.proliant.com/hs-fs/hubfs/0%20-%20Proliant%20Branding/ProLiant%20Logos/proliant-white-logo-no-strokes.png?width=205&height=40&name=proliant-white-logo-no-strokes.png "proliant-white-logo-no-strokes")](https://www.proliant.com/) **Headquarters** 1100 Abernathy Road, Suite 850 Atlanta, GA 30328 877.896.9523 [Need Help?](https://www.proliant.com/contact-us) [Login](https://www.readypayonline.com/Proliant/Login/Login.aspx?) Copyright © 2022 Proliant, Inc. All Rights Reserved. #### Solutions [Applicant Tracking & Recruitment](https://www.proliant.com/applicant-tracking-recruitment) [Time & Labor Management](https://www.proliant.com/time-labor-management) [HR & Benefits Administration](https://www.proliant.com/hr-benefits-administration) [Employee Onboarding](https://www.proliant.com/onboarding) [Online Payroll Services](https://www.proliant.com/payroll-services) [Payroll Tax Services](https://www.proliant.com/payroll-tax-services) [Performance Management](https://www.proliant.com/performance-management) [ReadyPay Today](https://www.proliant.com/readypaytoday) [Learning Management System](https://www.proliant.com/learning-management-system) #### Who We Serve [Your Industry](https://www.proliant.com/your-industry) [Integrations](https://www.proliant.com/integrations) [Partners](https://www.proliant.com/partners) #### Why Proliant [About Us](https://www.proliant.com/about-us) [News](https://blog.proliant.com/inthenews) [Careers](https://www.proliant.com/careers) [Automation](https://www.proliant.com/payroll-automation) [Workflows](https://www.proliant.com/hr-workflows) [Services](https://www.proliant.com/services) #### Legal [Legal](https://www.proliant.com/legal-notices) [Terms](https://www.proliant.com/terms-of-use) [Privacy](https://www.proliant.com/privacy-policy) [Form 1095-C Notice](https://www.proliant.com/employee-1095c-notice)