From perks to rituals: Rethinking team rewards

By Trinity Scarf, Founder, Trinity Curated Wellness 

The old playbook of employee incentives is starting to look outdated. Gift cards, bottles of wine, dinners out… thoughtful gestures, perhaps, but do they really shift the dial on culture, wellbeing, or performance? 

A new reality for employers 

Stress, burnout and fatigue are no longer considered “part of the job.” Under the 2023 Code of Practice, they are formally recognised as workplace hazards. Employers are now legally accountable for managing mental health with the same seriousness as physical safety. 

This marks a significant shift - one that calls for a reimagining of how organisations care for, recognise, and reward their people. It’s no longer enough to hand out transactional perks. The most forward-thinking companies are turning instead to experiences that restore and sustain. 

Experiences that make a difference 

At Trinity Curated Wellness, we see this shift playing out regularly: 

• A marketing team booking a collective bathhouse reset after the intensity of EOFY deadlines. 

• Leaders hosting rooftop breathwork followed by a nourishing lunch as a genuine “thank you.” 

• Teams moving through an Align and Restore session in our studio, leaving not only calmer but more deeply connected than when they arrived. 

These aren’t indulgences. They’re strategic choices that help teams exhale, reconnect and return to work with greater clarity and resilience. 

Learning from the leaders 

Nationally, companies like Woolworths, Medibank and Asahi are being recognised for embedding wellbeing into workplace culture. The results speak for themselves: top-performing Australian organisations achieve up to 85% engagement by prioritising employee wellbeing, recognition and inclusion - not just perks. 

Even global leaders are part of the movement. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has publicly credited daily meditation (NSDR) as a cornerstone of his ability to sustain focus under pressure. Neuroscience continues to affirm what many of us already know: practices and experiences that reset the body and mind deliver tangible benefits for both people and performance. 

A call to reimagine rewards 

As the year draws to a close, many leaders are considering how to recognise their teams for a year of dedication and delivery. Our invitation is simple: move away from “things” and toward rituals that restore. 

Because the best rewards aren’t forgotten after a week. They’re remembered as shared moments of pause, renewal and connection - gifts that ripple well beyond the day itself. 

At Trinity Curated Wellness, we curate experiences that honour both the individual and the collective. If you’re exploring how to create something unforgettable for your team, we’d love to help. 

If you’d like to discuss options, send me a note at trinity@trinityscarf.com