Here are some creative and offbeat ways some companies reward their employees:

• Zappos has a program to recognize workplace heroes. As part of its Hero Award program, each employee is given a $50 monthly allowance to award a colleague as a bonus. The executive team then picks an overall hero from all the candidates. The winning workplace hero is announced with a mini-parade while a song such as “I Need a Hero” plays on the office sound system. The hero of the month gets a special parking space for a month, a $150 Zappos gift card and, as befitting any true hero, a cape.
• Cable & Wireless Optus in Sydney, Australia held a lottery to name floors in their building after employees. The winning employee gets the floor officially named for them, complete with a plaque and photo on the associated wall.
• A Wells Fargo office in California has a list of 101 awards and prizes, including some rather offbeat ones such as hot air ballooning, getting your house cleaned, music lessons for your child and a complete personal makeover.
• Many companies make a donation to the employee's charity of choice on their birthday.
• Some companies allow employees one "snow day," "surf's up day" or "sun's out day" per year where they can sneak out for the afternoon to take advantage of the weather.
• Some companies are wisely purchasing bulk orders of "The Humor Advantage: Why Some Businesses Are Laughing All the Way to the Bank" as a way to not only thank their employees, but to ensure everyone is contributing to a more inspiring, innovative culture that drives phenomenal results.

(Gee, I'm not sure how that last item slipped in, but since you brought it up...I'd be remiss if I didn't remind you that there's just a few days left for the early bird pricing!  And a HUGE thank-you to all of you who have supported the project and for your enthusiastic encouragement over the last few years. Without you, the book wouldn't have happened, so my sincerest thanks to you all!)