What sensible incentive would be ideal from your employer for referring a friend or relative to your company?

As a recruiter, my most effective source for candidates is through word of mouth/referrals. I want to motivate my employees to refer their families and friends but want to find out what I could do for them or give to them as an incentive to receive more referrals. So my question is - if you could pick anything within reason to receive as a referral incentive, what would it be? If it's money or a gift certificate, what is the ideal (again, reasonable) amount you would be satisfied with? I'm looking for "outside of the box" ideas. Thanks!!

Answer:
1. Paid days off - for each person they refer that works at least 90 days, give the referrer a week paid (adjust numbers to fit your needs). You're already paying their salary, so unless you have to get extra staff to cover them for a week, this is essentially no cost.
2. Free vacation. Each time someone refers a person (who makes at least 90 days or whatever), they earn one entry into a vacation raffle. Have the drawing quarterly, and award a 4-day/3-night vacation for two to Vegas or somewhere similar. Should cost you no more than $1000/quarter.
3. Gift certificates. I'd think about $100.
4. Cash, but call it a Night on the Town and print up a cute little certificate. Tell them you're paying for them to have a Night on the Town, and give them $200 or so cash they can spend however they wish. You might also have them write a brief description of what they did with their Night on the Town and put that in the company newsletter or on the intranet.
Cash is always good!
Anything under $50 is not worth talking about. If you want to recruit new staff, why not $50 for a hire, and another $100 if the person makes it through probation?
That way you'd only be paying the higher amount for people who turned out to be good hires.
There is no one-size-fits-all incentive. A good approach would be to survey your employees and ask them if they'd like you to implement such a program and what they, personally, would like to receive if they did refer someone they know. You'll be surprised at all the good ideas you'll collect!

Good luck!
Cash-$100 per hire who stays 90+ days

Gift certificates for massage, include paid time off for the massage

Ice cream parties on the beach/park for all the employees who referred someone regardless of the new person's length of service

Raffle a variety of $50 to $100 items each quarter for employees who referred someone who stayed 90+ days

One thing that always disappoints me is being the referred person and not getting anything for joining the company other than a wonderful job. (Matching hiring and referral bonuses for each person.)

Just a few ideas. Pick up a human resources textbook published recently and look in the benefits chapters for other ideas.
Don't go with cash or gift cert since people will easily forget what they used it for. If you give a gift with high perceived value they will remember. You would need to know who the people are you are giving them to..what will they appreciate. Most enjoy electronics, iPod, MP3 players, Cameras, Bose. Or high end Crystal, Coach purses for the ladies. Please google premium and incentive reps and find someone near you to create a presentation of ideas.

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