In this edition of the Customer Spotlight series, meet Gian Palmieri, People & Culture Coordinator at Carpe Data, where employee recognition is a core part of the company culture. From monthly affirmation meetings to milestone celebrations, Gian ensures employees feel valued and connected. Here, Gian shares how small gestures create a big impact on team morale and engagement.
How does your organization celebrate major milestones like work anniversaries, promotions, or team successes?
Celebrating milestones is an important part of Carpe Data culture because we believe recognition fuels engagement and motivation. Work anniversaries are acknowledged with personalized messages and store credit for our Swag Store, reinforcing our gratitude for each employee’s contributions. Promotions are celebrated both privately and publicly—managers recognize individual growth, and we highlight these achievements across the company to inspire others.
Recently, we introduced a fresh way to honor significant milestones: employees celebrating their 5th work anniversary receive a custom Carpe-branded jacket, accompanied by a personal letter from our CEO. This special gesture reflects our appreciation for their dedication and strengthens their sense of belonging.
What’s a small but powerful way your team fosters appreciation in the workplace? What other approaches does your organization take for employee recognition besides using digital cards?
One small but powerful way we foster appreciation at Carpe is through our monthly affirmation meetings. These meetings provide dedicated time for us to come together and actively foster gratitude, recognition, and appreciation within the team. During these sessions, we not only celebrate individual and team achievements but also reinforce our Core Values and strengthen our sense of connection and collaboration.
Do you incorporate peer-to-peer recognition in your programs, or is it mostly led by management?
We believe in the power of peer-to-peer recognition as much as management-led recognition. While managers play an important role in celebrating achievements, providing feedback, and public recognition, we’ve created spaces for employees to recognize each other in meaningful ways.
Our monthly affirmation meetings are a great example of this. Colleagues are welcome to share affirmations and acknowledge each other’s efforts, reinforcing our Core Values and creating a culture of mutual appreciation. Additionally, during Appreciation Week, we take the opportunity to celebrate peer recognition on a larger scale. Employees craft appreciation cards for one another, which are shared across teams, offering personal recognition beyond formal channels.
How do you measure the success of your employee recognition programs?
At Carpe Data, we measure the success of our employee recognition programs through a mix of qualitative and quantitative indicators, specifically engagement, participation, and feedback. Employee engagement is a key factor, which we assess through pulse surveys to understand how valued employees feel. These include specific questions about appreciation and recognition, asked anonymously to understand how employees think and gather ideas on how we can enhance our recognition system. This direct feedback helps us continuously refine our approach based on what employees value most.
We also track participation in recognition initiatives, such as milestone celebrations and peer recognition programs. A great example is our Appreciation Week, where employees craft digital appreciation cards for their colleagues using Google Slides—an initiative that goes beyond our recognition platform, reinforcing that appreciation can be personal and creative. Last year, we had 668 cards sent by 85 employees, which we believe was a huge achievement, showing one more time how recognition is important at Carpe Data.
Have you noticed a correlation between employee recognition and retention at Carpe Data?
Absolutely. At Carpe, we’ve seen a strong connection between employee recognition and retention. When employees feel valued for their contributions—not just in big moments like promotions, but also through everyday appreciation—they are more engaged, motivated, and committed to Carpe Data. While there’s no single factor that drives retention, recognition plays a critical role in making employees feel seen, valued, and motivated to contribute to the company’s success. A culture where appreciation is frequent and genuine helps strengthen both individual and team commitment, ultimately leading to higher retention rates.
How do small gestures, like sending a GroupGreeting card, contribute to building a positive workplace culture?
Small gestures, like sending a thoughtful birthday card, have a significant impact on building a positive workplace culture. They reinforce a sense of belonging, appreciation, and connection—key ingredients for an engaged and motivated team. At Carpe Data, we believe recognition doesn’t always have to be grand; sometimes, a simple, personal touch is enough to make someone feel valued. Over time, these moments add up, shaping a culture where appreciation is the norm, not the exception. When employees feel valued, they’re more engaged, more connected to the company’s mission, and more likely to celebrate each other—creating a ripple effect of positivity throughout the organization.
How do you think tools like GroupGreeting contribute to a positive employee experience?
GroupGreeting plays a crucial role in fostering a positive employee experience by making recognition and appreciation feel personal and meaningful. Birthday cards are a great example because when an employee receives a thoughtful and personalized card, it reminds them that they are a valued part of our team, which is part of our ongoing commitment to creating an environment where team members feel seen, appreciated, and celebrated. It also reinforces one of our core values, “Lead with Empathy” by ensuring that recognition is heartfelt.
If you’d like to share your thoughts on employee recognition with our audience, email us at [email protected].
Interested in recognizing a team member? Send a card today!