Matter Spot Awards let admins create named awards, with or without coins, that chosen Award Managers give to people or groups in Slack, Microsoft Teams, or the Matter Web App.
Spot Awards are available on all paid Matter plans. Matter admins set up the awards, Award Managers give them, and anyone in your workspace can receive them.
đĄ Your workspace may use its own name for Spot Awards, like Hero Award. Everything here works the same way.
What are Matter Spot Awards?
In Matter, a spot award is formal recognition given right after great work happens. Anyone can send kudos, but a spot award comes from someone your company has chosen, like a manager or leader, so it carries more weight.
Every Matter spot award has:
A name and image, like Customer Hero or Rookie Award.
A default message the giver can edit.
Optional coins for each person who receives it.
Award Managers: the people allowed to give it, each with their own budget.
Why Spot Awards with Matter
Fully integrated in Slack/Teams: Awards are given and celebrated where your team already works, and they also appear in the Web App.
You choose who gives each award: Pick specific people, all admins, or all group managers. Award Managers don't need to be Matter admins.
Budgets you control: Give each Award Manager an unlimited or fixed budget that refreshes weekly, every two weeks, monthly, quarterly, or yearly.
Coins or no coins: Turn rewards on to add coins people can redeem, or leave them off for recognition only.
Your program, on the record: Download one report with every award, giver, recipient, and coin amount.
Spot award examples
Your workspace starts with eight ready to use spot awards, including Above and Beyond, Customer Hero, and Rookie Award. They start turned off, so you can edit them before anyone sees them.
âĄď¸ Learn More: See all default spot award examples
How Spot Awards work
1. Create a spot award
Admins create awards in the Web App under Awards Manager, then Spot Awards. Choose a name, an image, and a default message.
âĄď¸ Learn More: Creating a spot award
2. Choose Award Managers and budgets
Decide who can give the award, how many coins each person receives, and how much each Award Manager can give.
âĄď¸ Learn More: Setting up Award Managers and budgets
3. Give a spot award
Award Managers give awards from the Web App, Slack, or Microsoft Teams, to one person, several people, or a group. Awards can be public or private.
âĄď¸ Learn More: Giving a spot award in Slack, Teams, or the Web App
4. Recipients are notified and get their coins
Each recipient gets a notification from Matter and, if rewards are on, the full coin amount.
âĄď¸ Learn More: Receiving a spot award
5. Manage awards and track results
Edit, duplicate, turn off, or delete awards at any time, rename the program, and download the Awards report.
âĄď¸ Learn More: Managing spot awards and Awards report
Which Matter feature should I use?
Feature | Who gives it | Best for | Coins |
Kudos | Anyone | Everyday thanks between teammates | Optional, from each person's allowance |
Spot Awards | Award Managers you choose | Formal recognition for big wins | Optional, from the Award Manager's budget |
Challenges | People claim them, Award Managers approve | Rewarding a specific action, like finishing training | Optional, set per challenge |
Direct Rewards | Admins | Sending a gift card, prepaid card, or swag directly | No coins, paid directly |
Terms to know
Award Manager: a person allowed to give a specific spot award.
Awards Manager: the section of the Web App where admins manage Spot Awards, Challenges, and Reports.
Spot bonus vs spot award: a spot bonus is usually cash added to pay. A Matter spot award is recognition, with optional coins people redeem for rewards. To send a gift card or prepaid card directly, use Direct Rewards.
FAQs
Q: Can I rename Spot Awards?
Yes. Admins can give the program a custom name, like Hero Award, in Settings, then Spot Awards. The new name shows across Slack/Teams and the Web App. Learn how
Q: Who can give a spot award?
Only the Award Managers chosen for that award. If you don't see Give Spot Award, you aren't an Award Manager for an active award.
Q: Can employees nominate someone?
Not in Matter. Tell an Award Manager, or send kudos.
Q: Can I give a spot award without coins?
Yes. Turn rewards off for that award, or for your whole workspace, and Spot Awards still work as recognition.
Q: Can I give a spot award to a group?
Yes. Pick a member group and every person in it receives the award and the full coin amount. If you're in the group, you're left out.
Q: Can a spot award be private?
Yes. Choose Private when you give it, and only you and the recipients see it. Admins can see it in the Awards report.
Q: Do spot awards cost anything when they're given?
No. Coins are free to give and receive. You're only charged when an admin approves a reward redemption. Learn more
Q: Are spot awards taxable?
Coins people redeem for rewards may count as taxable income, depending on where you are. Please check with your payroll or finance team, and see Rewards impact on company taxes.
Q: Which plans include Spot Awards?
All paid Matter plans.