The Secret to Google-Level Employee Retention? It Might Be Peer Bonuses — And Now, You Can Do It Too

Built by xGooglers. Designed for everyone.

If you’ve ever worked at Google, you already know: recognition isn’t just a top-down affair. Some of the most meaningful moments come when a colleague takes a moment to say, “I saw what you did. That mattered.”

That’s the spirit behind Google’s peer bonus system, a legendary internal tool that lets employees nominate each other for small spot bonuses—no manager approval required (well, almost). Darragh, Sitar, and Neil, all on the founding team of OnMe.com, lived this system firsthand at Google. Now, they’ve brought its magic into a tool anyone can use.

Why We Built On Me’s Peer Recognition Tool

We’ve launched onme.com/corporate-gift-cards to give modern teams a fast, flexible way to reward colleagues with gifts that feel personal, not generic. Think of it as your own lightweight, modern peer bonus program—without building your own internal software.

With On Me, you can:

• Send digital gift cards that feel like a genuine “thank you” — curated around interests like self-care, running, gaming, and food.
• Deliver instantly by email or SMS — with a personal note.
• Let recipients choose where they spend — from Nike and Nordstrom to niche favorites.
• Skip the admin overhead — no HR bottlenecks required.

What Makes Peer Bonuses So Powerful?

Research shows that recognition from peers is just as impactful—if not more so—than top-down praise. According to Gallup and Workhuman, employees who receive peer recognition are:

• 3x less likely to feel disengaged
• 39% more likely to stay long term
• 24% less likely to struggle in their roles

Why Peer Gifts > Traditional Spot Bonuses

Let’s face it: spreadsheets, HR approvals, and generic rewards don’t inspire. But a note from a teammate? A gift card that shows someone actually knows you love trail running or cozy cafés? That hits different.

With On Me, we’re bringing that human, high-context touch to peer recognition—whether you’re a 10-person startup or a scaling company looking to build culture without bureaucracy.

Built for Today’s Teams — Fast, Flexible, Real

We designed this for teams who don’t want to wait on HR to make appreciation real. You can:

• Bulk upload a CSV of gifts to send after a big product push
• Let managers or teammates send peer-to-peer gifts anytime
• Integrate into rituals — like Friday wins, project retros, or offsite wrap-ups

And if you’re a leader? You get visibility, accountability, and zero paperwork.

TL;DR: On Me = Peer Bonuses Without the Red Tape

We’re not Google. But we learned from it. And now, we’ve built a way to bring that same energy—authentic, thoughtful, culture-boosting recognition—into your team.

👉 Explore our corporate gifting tools today and start rewarding your people in a way they’ll actually remember.