Gotta Catch ’Em All—Employee Trading Cards Boost Engagement

Are you looking for a way to engage the Millennials? For a generation that grew up collecting sports cards or playing card games—such as Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering—employee trading cards may be an employer’s best bet!

Client Solution Architects LLC (CSA), a defense contracting company, has proven that this unique way of engagement has paid off. Announced in a press release, CEO Brian Lebeau highlights the benefits of employee trading cards. According to the release, the trading cards’ “inspiring initiative not only brings a new fun and exciting way for employees to engage with one another, but the trading cards are also a physical manifestation of CSA’s incredible growth as a company.”

Last year, CSA distributed roughly 3,000 packs of trading cards, internally and at random, to its employees, and this year it plans to distribute almost 1,300 more cards. The trading cards feature the company’s 325 eligible employees.

Each card has a professional portrait of the employee on the front and then a “stats” list on the back. According to the release, the “cards reveal small tidbits of information such as an employee’s hometown, years at CSA, greatest accomplishment, professional skills, and much more.” The accomplishments section has been deemed the most interesting amongst the employees. The cards are a great way for the employees to get to know each other, and it helps put a name to a face. So, how do they work?

According to the release, “An employee’s level dictates how many of their cards are printed. For nonleadership, 200 cards of each person are printed while only 25 cards of each executive and 50 of each director are printed. The printed cards are then randomly mixed and packaged into packs of 15 cards. The packs are then given to CSAers at a trading card launch party, and then the fun begins. When employees open their packs they are not only looking to find their face on a trading card, but are also hoping there is a metallic bordered card among them. These ‘specialty cards’ are worth instant cash!”

And what employee doesn’t love instant cash! Do you offer a unique way to engage employees? Share it in our comments section below, or e-mail us, and it could be featured in the next HRSBT!

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