Sky is rewarding staff for good performance with a music and entertainment festival.

Aviva is launching a new reward and peer recognition scheme so staff can nominate colleagues for additional perks to thank them for their efforts.

Almost two thirds of employers (64%) think incentives give a positive return on investment within their organisation but only 40% have a tactical plan for how they will use incentives this year.

Few employers can offer experiences such as balloon flights or exotic holidays in the current climate. Money-off vouchers now have wider appeal to cash-strapped staff.

Peter Crush tests the engagement potential of the Krypton Factor TV series's assault course and runs the gamut of emotions from petrified to exhilarated.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Group announced it will not award pay increases or bonuses to staff associated with the 'major losses' of 2008.

Diageo has boosted employee morale by allowing 130 high-performing employees to meet Formula One celebrities Lewis Hamilton and Mika Hakkinen.

Tesco is to reward staff with over 200 million worth of extra employee benefits over Christmas and the New Year.

Fewer than one in 10 managers in the UK (9%) receive compensation for coaching staff.

Hutchison 3G (UK) has reported a 20% increase in turnover since launching a new incentive scheme for its 1,800 sales staff.

According to Ashridge Business School and the National School of Government, public and private-sector managers ranked challenging and interesting work the number one motivating factor.

There is doubt about the effect on morale and loyalty of rewarding employees with gifts at the festive season. Robert Gray looks at which ones work and suggests 10 of the best.