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Empuls supports the full lifecycle of custom award categories — admins can create, modify, and remove award types such as spot awards, peer-to-peer awards, nomination-based awards, and jury awards, each with configurable names, messages, point values, and approval workflows.
Recognition programs lose impact when they feel generic. Empuls gives HR and People teams complete administrative control to build award structures that reflect the organization’s actual values, culture, and business priorities — not a one-size-fits-all template. Admins can create multiple award categories directly from the Empuls admin panel, each with a distinct name, description, associated message, and point value. Whether you need a daily “Customer First” spot award, a monthly “Innovation Champion” peer recognition, or a company-wide “Values in Action” nomination cycle, Empuls supports all of it within a single admin interface.

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Four core award structures, fully configurable

Spot awards are instant, manager-driven recognitions tied to a specific behavior or outcome — typically carrying a defined point value and no mandatory approval chain. Peer-to-peer awards allow any employee to recognize a colleague, broadening participation beyond the manager layer and building a culture of horizontal appreciation. Nomination-based awards introduce a structured submission process best suited for monthly or quarterly recognition cycles, where candidates are reviewed before a winner is selected. Jury awards add a formal evaluation layer, routing nominations through a designated committee before recognition is confirmed and points are disbursed. Each award type operates with its own independently configured approval workflow, so a spot award can bypass approvals entirely while a nomination award routes through HR — all managed within the same Empuls environment.

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Aligning awards with core values and integrations

Custom award categories in Empuls can be mapped directly to your organization’s core values or strategic competencies. For example, a company running SAP SuccessFactors for performance management can configure Empuls award categories that mirror its competency framework, ensuring recognition stays contextually tied to performance data. Teams using Slack or Microsoft Teams receive award notifications directly in those channels. When an employee is nominated or receives a spot award, the recognition surfaces in the tool where work already happens — increasing visibility without requiring a separate login or workflow change.

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Modifying and retiring award categories over time

As organizational priorities shift, so can your award library. Admins can update names, point values, eligibility criteria, or approval chains on any existing award category at any time. Categories that are no longer relevant can be retired or removed without affecting historical recognition data, making Empuls flexible enough to support programs that evolve through mergers, rebranding, or strategic pivots. New award types can be introduced mid-year without disrupting active programs, giving People teams the agility to respond to real-time business needs without a full program overhaul. Learn more: Empuls Help Centre — Award

How peer-to-peer recognition works in Empuls

Understand how employees can nominate and recognize colleagues directly, and how admins configure participation rules and point limits.

Setting up nomination-based award workflows

Learn how to configure structured nomination workflows in Empuls, including submission forms, reviewer assignments, and award timelines.